After leaving the plumbing and heating business, Dan Riley set up his new venture, Flyover Aerial Imaging Solutions, with business partner Kyle Garside, 12 months ago. During this time they have built a growing and enthusiastic client list. Dan spoke to us recently about how NBV’s Grant for Enterprise has helped them to build the foundations beneath their upcoming ‘big project’.
Can you tell us a little bit about your business?
Yes, our business, Flyover Aerial Imaging Solutions, is based in Nottingham, Sutton-in-Ashfield, but we travel all over the country. We are commercial drone operators and the type of work we undertake ranges from creating 3D tours and associated media for estate agents to working with surveyors to bring them drone captured progress imaging and inspection photos. It’s a unique business as 3D tours and drone operations are all very new markets, yet to be fully explored!
What was your past career?
Both Kyle and myself had businesses in plumbing and heating and property. Flyover is around 12 months old but our previous businesses were around 6/7 years old. We are now proud members of the Drone Safe Register; we are fully qualified, insured and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) approved Drone operators.
How did your hear about NBV’s Grant for Enterprise, and how has it helped your business?
We heard about NBV via the Government website. During the process of applying for the Grant for Enterprise our main contact, Gina Taylor-Burgess, was very helpful and guided us through what we needed to do. It was great working with NBV, the service was fast, friendly and helpful.
As Drone operators, our drone activities are limited by weather conditions. The Grant for Enterprise helped us to purchase a 3D camera which means we now have a service that is not weather dependent and we can supply this service throughout the year. It has given us more stability.
What are your future plans for the business?
We now have long term plans around developing a web platform for 3D tours. This is our planned ‘big project’, and, if all goes well, it will enable us to be in a position to expand and employ staff such as camera operators and web developers. We would like to move into more complex drone operations and expand our work force to diversify our skills and opportunities.
This project is in its early development stage but is by far our biggest project so far. This project would not have been possible without the 3D camera.
Do you have any tips or advice for others starting out on their business journey?
Businesses is not a fight, it’s a collaboration, the more people you work with the more people want to work with you!
We are still taking applications for Grants throughout the Coronavirus lockdown. If you are interested in taking advantage of NBV’s Grant for Enterprise* you can read more about the terms & conditions of funding and fill out an Expression of Interest form here
*subject to eligibility