Around this time of year, many of us wait in anticipation for 5pm to escape the office and spend more time outdoors.

For adventure filmmaker, Ed Birch, the beautiful hills, mountains and fells of the Peak District are his office.

While studying photography at Sheffield Hallam University, Ed set up Salt Street Productions, a production company making adventure films set against the backdrop of the Peak District National Park.

Ed said: "I was studying photography, but it was filmmaking that really interested me."

Ed's films began to get noticed after he started entering them into competitions and festivals, including Sheffield Adventure Film Festival (ShAFF). He was given his first big break in the summer of 2014 when he was commissioned to shoot the Tour de France promotional film, when Sheffield Hallam University welcomed the largest annual global sporting event to the streets of Sheffield.   

With his first pay packet, and with the support of the University's Enterprise Team, Ed began setting up Salt Street Productions. Ed said: The support I received from Sheffield Hallam was fantastic, they were able to provide a trained accountant, specialist advice, and free access to the Hatchery office space. I used that for a year after I graduated, but it's available for up to three years after graduation. It was the perfect stepping stone I needed and I learnt so much in that short time.

Since then, Ed has gone on to make the last two trailers for ShAFF, the official Outdoor City promo films, and he also went viral with his film Red Run, which follows three intrepid explorers, two on skis, the other on a snowboard, tackling the long abandoned slopes of Sheffield’s Ski Village. More recently, Ed has been working on a series with Channel 4 called Abandoned Playgrounds, a six-part series that explores some of Britain’s most interesting locations via a group of urban athletes which is due to be released in the Autumn. 

When asked why he decided to base himself in Sheffield, the Norfolk native said: "Sheffield has felt like a home ever since I arrived. It's the centre of UK adventure sport at moment especially for mountain biking, road running, fell running and cycling. Plus the Peaks are an endless inspiration to me. I feel very lucky to have them on my doorstep."

If, like Ed, your ambition is to become self–employed, you don't have to get there on your own. As a Sheffield Hallam student – or a graduate from the last five years – you have free access to our specialist business knowledge and resources to improve your chances of success. Last year, we supported almost 600 students with their business ventures.