Member Spotlight: Ross Exton, Watch & Learn Productions

Why Storytelling matters

For Ross Exton, founder of Watch & Learn Productions, the story has always been the most powerful tool. Whether explaining complex academic research or helping a founder distil their pitch into something memorable, storytelling is at the heart of everything he does.

Watch & Learn Productions is a video production company with a difference - focused on helping innovators, researchers, and educators communicate with clarity, confidence, and creativity. Based at the SETsquared Bath Innovation Centre, Ross and his team work with clients across science, tech, and academia to make complex ideas accessible and engaging.

But his journey into storytelling wasn’t a straight line. After completing a Master’s in Chemistry at the University of Bath, Ross pivoted into journalism and then into science communication more broadly, spending over a decade creating video content for educational charities and public engagement initiatives.

“I’ve always been passionate about communication," he says "and about inspiring curiosity in others.”

That commitment to clarity is personal, too. Having grown up with a hearing loss, Ross developed the skills to make communication inclusive and accessible. It’s one of the reasons his production work is so engaging: helping people not just understand, but authentically connect.

From creator to founder

In 2023, Ross turned years of experience with content creation into his own business. “Redundancy gave me the nudge I needed,” he says. “It was the moment to start something of my own.”

Within a year, he joined the START programme - a collaboration between techSPARK, WEMCA, and local universities - designed to support early-stage founders. The experience helped sharpen his thinking around scale, strategy and sustainability.

Crucially, it also led to a place at the SETsquared Bath Innovation Centre.

Why place matters

“The mentorship, the network, even just having a space to ask questions - it changed everything,” Ross reflects. “As a founder, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But being surrounded by other people going through similar things is incredibly inspiring.”

The value, he says, is more than just operational. “You get advice that’s practical and focused—without being transactional. No one’s trying to sell you something. They’re genuinely there to help you grow.”

Now, Watch & Learn Productions is growing into its own role within the Innovation Centre community - offering video and storytelling support to fellow founders who want to improve how they present their ideas to the world.

“There’s so much innovation happening here in the South West,” Ross says. “Our work is about helping people share that - and making sure those stories connect with audiences.”

For Ross, the Innovation Centre isn’t just a workspace. It’s a creative and collaborative environment that’s helped turn a dream into a growing business with impact across the region.

And for others thinking about taking that next step?

“Being part of a community like this accelerates everything. It’s not just about where your desk is - it’s about who you’re building next to.”