Case Studies

Upperton is a contract Research & Development company which provides spray drying services to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. In 2016 they were awarded an Innovation Support grant from Medilink East Midlands, helping the business to expand its services and capabilities and increase the company turnover by fourfold since 2015.

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After successfully making the transition from farrier to artist blacksmith and changing the direction in his business, David was seeking support with business growth and sales. As a sole trader and maker he was in a situation faced by many sole traders of having to do everything himself and just needing intervention and support as required, to help him plan a strategy for growth, make the business run more smoothly and to help to ‘keep his eye on the ball’.

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Double T is taking an innovative approach to the business of driving up employment in Nottingham.

The business owners had a range of ideas and potential development routes and timing was right to complete a strategic review of the next 3 years evolution of the enterprise.

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With a distinctive name and a signature look, Elphius Flux had grown rapidly. The business had developed a successful repeat, business to consumer, base who really love their creative pieces. This in turn had begun to spawn work which was on a significantly larger scale directly for businesses (initially emanating from owners of their consumer work).

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With over 30 years experience in advising start up businesses and working with organisations of all shapes and sizes Julie Mather decided in 2017 it was her time to shine and she created Julie Mather Associates.

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Rockpecker Ltd design and manufacture a range of drill heads for mining. With targeted support from the D2N2 Growth Hub and Invest In Nottingham the company found a great opportunity to expand the business in the UK and chose Nottingham as its European location - the first one of its kind of in the county.

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Platelet Solutions Ltd, a spin-out company of the University of Nottingham, was formed in 2009. The company is the outcome of many years of research and experience in the Thrombosis and Haemostasis Group and focuses on the provision of products and services for platelet function testing.

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When Tim Beech set-up his cycle concept café he had no experience of the duty of care and regulatory issues associated with running your own business. A free workshop from Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service provided him with the knowledge and peace of mind to ensure he met and adhered to the required standards.

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KC Building Services (Midlands) Ltd is a family run building contracting business incorporated in 2003. Kier personally has 27 years’ experience in the industry.

In recent years, the business has expanded into a full service building contractor and has undertaken more commercial work. Kier approached the D2N2 Growth Hub for advice and support in achieving his growth ambitions.

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The Food Safety Team at Chesterfield Borough Council wanted to reward businesses and help promote them through social media; encourage food handlers to wear protective clothing and to promote the Food Hygiene Rating scheme. They decided to offer branded aprons and hats to small independent businesses that had made significant effort and improved their food hygiene rating score and approached the businesses soon after their inspection and offered them the opportunity to participate.

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Established in 1990, following significant industry experience, Richard Reith's financial services business is based at Dunston Innovation Centre, Chesterfield. As the sector has changed over the years, Richard has developed significant business to business opportunities and now services individual needs where there is the most to gain from careful investment, retirement and life insurance planning.

Examination of the customer service model in conjunction with the Growth Hub Advisor enabled the business to fine tune systems and processes to successfully grow the business and develop capacity. This included different approaches to the use of seminars, alternative time management approaches within the review system, use of web-based communications and additional ways to develop referrals.

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Cobden Chambers, an old factory of four floors situated in the Creative Quarter of Nottingham city centre built in the Victorian era, has been sympathetically restored to house an exciting collection of emerging and established businesses in an open plan co-working environment.

Needing to make fire safety investments involving difficult access, a Notts Fire Officer with a Fire Engineer Degree was consulted to look at the problem. A Building Control Officer was also brought in. Together they quickly came to a compromise with the original design and the outcome was a successful conclusion with the project getting back on track to open within the target time with minimum outlay whilst not compromising safety.

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