Sector: Luxury Paper Goods Manufacture

Location: Derby

Abigail Warner, based in Derby’s historic Friars Gate Quarter, is a design studio with two full-time employees, supplemented by skilled consultants during peak seasons.

The business was established in 2007 and specialises in crafting bespoke, high-quality stationery and gift items. It has earned a reputation for its heritage-inspired designs, customised products and exceptional customer service.

Challenges faced

The greatest barrier to its growth has been the lack of resources post-pandemic, which has significantly impacted the retail and design studio. Covid-19 brought about a severe contraction in demand, leading to a reduction in available capital and workforce. Additionally, the rising cost of living and energy has posed significant challenges for Abigail Warner Ltd.

These crises have put immense pressure on its operations, making it difficult to maintain its growth trajectory and meet increasing market demands. Furthermore, the strain on cash flow has been substantial, affecting its ability to invest in new technologies, marketing efforts and inventory. The cumulative effect of all these factors has been a major hurdle in scaling the business and expanding its reach.

Solution and Impact

Last year owner, Abigail Warner, got in touch about the fully funded support available from the Derby Accelerator. The Accelerator project is delivered by East Midlands Chamber, Derby City Council and Derby University. It is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

Abigail has been working with Business Adviser, Aruna Bhagwan who has helped to refine the business strategy, understand market trends and identify new opportunities.

Through a Growth Voucher, the business has taken advantage of specialist consultancy and one-to-one support. This tailored advice has provided insights, particularly in digital sales and marketing strategies.

Abigail was also successful in her application for a grant from Derby City Council. This has enabled the implementation of advanced digital marketing tools and enhanced eCommerce capabilities, helping the business to expand its customer reach.

Abigail comments that in addition to the above support, workshops on digital marketing and eCommerce optimisation have equipped them with best practices to refine their online presence.

The support has had a huge impact on the business including:

• Increased competitiveness – a stronger digital presence and streamlined online process have improved their market position
• Job safeguarding – stabilised revenue streams have allowed them to safeguard existing roles and create new seasonal opportunities
• Operational efficiency – implementing new technologies has saved approximately 150 hours annually, freeing time for growth initiatives
• Cost reduction – Resource management has optimised costs by around 10%
• Sustainable growth – energy efficiency practices have reduced the business’s environmental footprint and overheads

Abigail commented: “Overall the Accelerator Project has empowered us to strengthen our digital presence, navigate challenges and position ourselves for long-term success.”
 

“The support from the programme has been invaluable. It has provided us with the expertise and resources needed to overcome our challenges and achieve our growth objectives. We are now more competitive, efficient, and well-positioned for future success. This grant has been a game-changer for Abigail Warner.”

- Abigail Warner, Founder

Read the full Case Study

This initiative is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and delivered by East Midlands Chamber on behalf of Derby City Council.

Sector: Deli & Cookery School

Location: Broxtowe

Bees Knees Deli & Cookery School is a family business, run by mother and daughter, Elaine and Rachael Harrison.

They produce an array of homemade pastries, cakes and patisserie, alongside a delicious changing menu of breakfasts and lunches in their Deli in Eastwood, Notts. They also run a school, teaching cookery to kids and adults offering a wide range of classes for people in the local area.

They have years of experience, and it shows in their fantastic outside catering for a variety of events. Both Elaine and Rachael credit their passion for food and cookery to Elaine’s mum, Shirley Palmer. Elaine and Rachael started Bees Knees Catering in 2019. Bees Knees Deli & Cookery School was established a few years later in September 2021.

Challenges faced

The business duo needed to promote the cookery lessons and services more effectively, especially to passing trade and residents. They wanted to create new marketing collateral to explain what was on offer and improve the visibility of the deli premises.

Solution and Impact

Elaine heard about support from the Accelerator Project from Broxtowe Borough Council and East Midland Chamber’s Business Adviser, Cat Walls. The Accelerator Project is funded by Broxtowe Borough Council’s share of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and delivered by East Midlands Chamber.

The business successfully applied for a Broxtowe High Street Business Grant where the total funding requested was £3,570 and the business contribution was £900. This funding will be used to pay for training to enable the team to enhance their skills so they can offer a more diverse range of classes.

In addition, it will be used to purchase electronic display boards, new marketing leaflets for the cookery school and business cards for Elaine and Rachael to use at events.

Elaine said: “We are the only cookery school in Eastwood. We can offer a variety of classes to help people eat healthier, cater for special dietary requirements, as well as kids and teenager classes to get them started, and just bring the fun to cooking. We would love to give people the passion and skills to cook their own meals and enhance their lives for the better.”

“The funding was great for us as it helped us become more visible and helped people become more aware of the services we provide.

Without this funding we would not have been able to increase footfall and awareness on this scale. We are very grateful for the assistance provided by the Accelerator Project."

- Elaine Harrison, Director

Read the full Case Study

This initiative is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and delivered by East Midlands Chamber on behalf of Broxtowe Borough Council.

Sector: Bakery

Location: Amber Valley

The Evans family established Luke Evans Bakery in 1804. The family business manufactures bread and confectionery for retail and wholesale and has an onsite bakery shop.

Based in Riddings, Amber Valley it currently employs 49 people and runs a click-and-collect service, six days a week, through its website lukeevans.co.uk

Challenges faced

The business is facing several challenges which have created barriers to further growth. Like many businesses, Luke Evans Bakery's growth has been hampered by increased wage bills, ingredients, utilities and living costs.

The business has also wanted to maximise technologies and processes for manufacturing efficiencies. However, it’s been hard to meet production demands in a working space that is challenging and with equipment that is expensive to maintain and replace.

In addition, recruiting and retaining staff has been a problem, particularly with a reduction in government-funded training provision and less accessibility and interest from those who want to learn bakery skills.

Finally, though there is a desire to scale up the business, introducing new products and lines, sustainable packaging, marketing agency support plus needing modern bakery equipment is hugely challenging in a competitive market. This is all in an environment where corporate/ wholesale markets are becoming increasingly price sensitive.

Solution and Impact

Last year Managing Director, Helen Yates attended the Amber Valley Accelerator launch event. The Accelerator project is delivered by East Midlands Chamber and funded by Amber Valley Borough Council’s share of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

Helen was introduced to Chamber Business Adviser, Peter Lawrence for business support. Helen commented that the regular, scheduled meeting with Peter had been instrumental in progressing and achieving their growth ambitions.

Helen said: “Peter has been a highly effective business adviser to me which has in turn benefited the business. From the moment we started working together he has made a significant impact on our strategic journey.”

Peter has also signposted and connected the business to other support services and organisations. Operations Manager Laura O’Bierne has been on the Help to Grow: Management Course which supports her personal development and the bakery's strategic direction.

An introduction to the East Midlands Made Smarter digitalisation support has resulted in manufacturing process road mapping and recommendations for improved production and cost savings. The opportunity for £20,000 grant funding is currently being explored to support the recommendation costs.

Luke Evans Bakery is a member of the East Midlands Manufacturing Network (EMMN) and Helen regularly attends the Derby events. These have provided peer networking and support opportunities, along with the latest updates on market trends and activities impacting the manufacturing sector. It was at one of these meetings Helen was introduced to Devtank, who are specialists in test and measurement solutions. The business has taken advantage of funded IOT (Internet of Things) monitors which Helen heard about as part of the Smart Manufacturing Data Hub presentation.

A free energy audit through the Accelerator project has identified cost and carbon footprint reductions. It provided some useful recommendations such as solar panels, a chiller upgrade, compressed air testing and optimisation, individual machinery metering, portable heating reduction and improved heating controls.

Its IOT monitors will be fitted in the coming weeks and together with the measures above will support energy saving and reduce costs, and help it become a greener business. Helen is also being supported by Peter for a decarbonisation grant to help with funding to optimise savings.

Helen added: “Peter creates a comfortable environment where anything can be discussed without feeling judged. His open line of communication and excellent ability to provide constructive criticism has helped me ‘see the wood for the trees’ on many occasions which enables me to focus on the strategy and planning.”

“Peter has an excellent understanding of what funding and support options are available and has pointed me in the right direction for opportunities we have taken advantage of, which I wasn’t aware of, or previously considered.

Thank you, Peter and the Chamber.  I hope there aren’t plans to stop this very valuable support."

- Helen Yates, Managing Director

Read the full Case Study

This initiative is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and delivered by East Midlands Chamber on behalf of Amber Valley Borough Council.

Sector: Garden Design/ Horticulture

Location: High Peak

Buxton Gardens was founded in 2020 by Martha Everett. Located in the scenic High Peak, the business specialises in organic gardening with a focus on designing and cultivating cottage gardens.

Buxton Gardens exclusively uses peat-free plants, all of which are grown in-house in Buxton. In addition to garden design, the company offers expert advice on organic gardening practices, promoting biodiversity, supporting local wildlife, and growing your own food.

Challenges faced

The main challenges the business faced has been a lack of marketing expertise and infrastructure. Martha planned to expand the plant sales side of the business but faced difficulties due to limited sales experience, extreme weather causing damage to polytunnels and a shortage of growing space and equipment, which significantly slowed progress this year. Even when the necessary infrastructure was finally in place, the cycle of plant growth presented an additional challenge, meaning they would have to wait until the following year to fully implement their plans.

Solution and Impact

Martha discovered the Accelerator Project while researching online for small business support available in High Peak. She found the information on High Peak Borough Council's website. The Accelerator Project is funded by High Peak Borough Council’s share of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and delivered by East Midlands Chamber.

Seeking guidance on how to recruit new staff, Martha reached out to the project and was connected with Business Adviser Manager, Abi Phillips. Abi conducted a business review and outlined the various types of support available to Martha.

Through the Accelerator Project, Martha accessed several valuable services, including:

• Various workshops focused on Email Marketing
• Growth Voucher for marketing consultancy with Lindsey Newman-Wood, which helped her develop a new marketing plan
• Assistance with writing a successful grant application, which resulted in £1,600 in funding for a new polytunnel and solar irrigation system, awarded through the High Peak Borough Council’s Business Grant Scheme
• Advice and support on hiring staff for the first time

The funding allowed Martha’s business to expand and cultivate plants on a larger scale, leading to a significant boost in plant sales. The marketing consultancy helped her create a comprehensive marketing plan that will be launched next year, aimed at promoting their subscription service and increasing plant sales both online and at markets. This new marketing strategy is projected to double the subscription service, attracting new customers while retaining existing ones and further increasing sales.

Martha now employs two staff members and one freelancer. The team’s morale is high, benefiting from the outdoor work environment. One team member transitioned to this role for better work-life balance, while another returned to work after a period of unemployment.

Beyond the financial growth, the support through the Accelerator Project has also had a positive psychological impact on the team, enhancing both individual well-being and company culture.

“I am so, so grateful for the huge amount of support I’ve received. The business has grown hugely over the past year, partly due to the financial support, but also in a large part because just having someone to talk to who understands the challenges and is unendingly supportive has pushed me to keep jumping over the next hurdle!” 

- Martha Everett, Owner

Read the full Case Study

This initiative is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and delivered by East Midlands Chamber on behalf of High Peak Borough Council.

Sector: Heritage/ Visitor Economy

Location: Derby City

Derby Uncovered is a heritage centre situated on Sadler Gate in the heart of Derby City.

Established in February 2024 by Directors David Turner and Stephen Culf, the centre is dedicated to showcasing the rich history and heritage of Derby and Derbyshire. In addition to its historical exhibits, the centre features a curated selection of books, prints, and gifts related to the area, all created by local artists. It also supports the community by offering locally sourced groceries and provisions.

Challenges faced

One key barrier identified was the low footfall in Derby's Cathedral Quarter, and David was actively seeking strategies to attract more visitors.

Solution and Impact

David initially received start-up support from Lara Beardsmore, a Start-Up Adviser, when the business was first launched. A few months later, Lara referred them to Steve Phillips, an Accelerator Business Adviser, to further assist with the growth of the heritage centre.

The Accelerator Project is funded by Derby City Council’s share of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and delivered by East Midlands Chamber.

After a one-on-one meeting with Steve, David applied for a High Street Business Grant to improve the shop frontage and overall visual appearance of the premises. They were awarded £2,040 to purchase a digital display unit to show information regarding Derby City and the historical centre.

The enhancement to the shop front has helped increase foot traffic and attract more customers to the centre. Since completing the improvements, they have seen a noticeable rise in both visitor numbers and sales.

“We’re very grateful for the support. Steve Phillips was invaluable in terms of helping and guiding us through the process and it’s something that I’d recommend other business get in touch about. Our shop front now attracts more customers into our premises which in turn leads to more revenue.”

- David Turner, Director

Read the full Case Study

This initiative is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and delivered by East Midlands Chamber on behalf of Derby City Council.

Sector: IT

Location: Chesterfield

Bitz 'n' PC'z Ltd t/a Black Swan Cyber Security was started in February 2006 by Kevin Walker providing IT support services to schools and other educational organisations in and around Chesterfield.

Today the business supports SMEs and not-for-profits with all kinds of cybersecurity solutions.

Challenges faced

The business faced several challenges. The market for IT support/ managed services to schools is shrinking due to government policy changes. By 2030 all independently maintained schools need to join a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT). Most of these MATs and other education providers (universities/colleges) are large enough to have in-house IT resources so will no longer need independent IT providers.

There’s been increased competition in IT support services and a growing demand for competitively priced cyber security solutions.

Finally, like most businesses, rising energy and transport costs are impacting the cost of sales and for Kevin, this impacts regular client site visits.

Solution and Impact

Kevin heard about support from the Accelerator project via an email from Chesterfield Borough Council.

The Accelerator project is funded by Chesterfield Borough Council’s share of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and delivered by East Midlands Chamber. Kevin was put in touch with Business Adviser, Peter Lawrence who initially carried out a business diagnostic to see where the business was and where it wanted to be.

Peter discussed new market opportunities and a new subscription-based business model with Kevin as part of a growth plan. Black Swan Cyber Solutions successfully applied for a Growth Voucher to provide specialist consultancy support to help transition to a recurring income-based model based on subscription-licensed products. This has enabled the business to widen its reach into new and growing commercial markets, reduce costs through remote delivery and generate income revenue without employee capacity limitations.

Kevin was also supported by Peter when applying for a grant from the Council. This funding of £8,000 has resulted in the development and launch of a new subscription based eCommerce platform together with branding, messaging and multi-channel promotion to generate awareness, interest and sales.

Kevin commented: “Pete’s assistance with the Growth Voucher and grant applications was instrumental in their success. Having run my business for 18 years with minimal marketing, this was a completely new area for me. The support from Pete and LikeMind Media has enabled me to identify and pursue new market niches.

“I’m excited about the launch of my new website, which I’m confident will drive significant traffic and generate the required new business.”

The website and marketing development provided by Accelerator and the Council have saved Kevin approximately four weeks of work, enabling him to focus on growing his business. The quality of the website and marketing activities have also been done to a higher standard than would have been possible without support.

Kevin also took advantage of one of the fully funded workshops - 20 Simple Ways to Get your Website Generating more Business - to develop his own knowledge.

“The support I received from Pete has been invaluable. His guidance throughout the process was exceptional. He truly understood my business challenges and helped me pivot into new sectors.

If you’re seeking growth or want to expand your business, I wholeheartedly recommend the Accelerator project.”

- Kevin Walker, Managing Director

Read the full Case Study

This initiative is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and delivered by East Midlands Chamber on behalf of Chesterfield Borough Council.

Sector: Event Management

Location: Bassetlaw

Trans-Sport.TV is a second-generation family business operating in the media events industry, predominately in live broadcast, for the last 30 years.

It provides event infrastructure and support services that include design and manufacture, entertainment rigging, storage and transport, and temporary broadcast structures.

Based in Nottinghamshire the business is proud of its heritage and is the contractor of choice for the BBC Events Team covering Royal and parliamentary events. Other customers include Matchroom, IMG, PDC and WST.

The company has grown organically from a man and a van to today where it has two sites and employs 40 people. The business strapline is ‘Our clients choose the venue, provide the talent and we take care of the rest’.

Challenges faced

During the Covid pandemic Trans-Sport.TV drew on its manufacturing capability by modifying broadcast trucks and studios to provide safe working environments for their clients which meant the ‘show could go on’. 

The business worked closely with the Department for Digital Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) for test events proving its capability to flex to whatever the world wanted to throw at it. The company also provided a bespoke manufacturing service for Covid screens to help keep everyone safe (once they’d managed to secure Pet 2 plastic!)

More recently, with the increased cost of raw materials, lack of vehicle and equipment stock, rising energy costs and a world post-Brexit, entering and exiting global event locations is a daily challenge.

Managing Director, Rosie Cope comments: “The biggest challenge to date would be around our people – recruiting and retaining staff, which we probably share with all businesses throughout the UK. Getting and retaining the competitive advantage, whether that’s via our people or processes is a constant challenge for our executive team.”

Solution and Impact

The business heard about the Accelerator Project from Bassetlaw District Council. Accelerator is funded through the Council’s share of the UK Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and delivered by East Midlands Chamber.

At the start of the year Trans-Sport.TV successfully accessed a Growth Grant from the Council to purchase 20x steel mesh-sided stillages (a type of pallet) used to store material stock rented to clients. These brought a reduction in loading time and eliminated damage to material stock to improve efficiencies within the storage offer to clients as well as adding value to the business’s offer.

Since then, Trans-Sport.TV has also taken advantage of a free energy audit and grant which funded improvements to its energy efficiencies. Future energy consumption will depend on the growth of the business, but making the move toward electrification of transport, the impact of implementing just two of the suggestions from the recommendations will save the business 10,500kWh per annum. Rosie has been supported by the Chamber’s Head of Business Support Services, Paul Stuart.

She said: “Paul acts as a one-stop shop of signposting and has a wealth of knowledge. He opened conversations with the Made Smarter team who have made such a positive impact on our operational activities not only with their knowledge in manufacturing and how that links into our day-to-day business but also through our successful grant application to implement barcoding which is impacting positively on the efficiency of our operation in Treswell.”

The implementation of barcoding is new technology to Trans-Sport.TV. This initiative ensures improved productivity and increased market share which will positively impact the profitability of the business.  The equipment purchase supports the rental of goods which is an identified growth area for the business. It also reduces the amount of time spent using a forklift so cuts diesel emissions and ultimately further reduces its carbon footprint.

The anticipated improvements in delivery performance are from 85% to 99% and Rosie anticipates an increase in turnover of 7% because of this support.
Rosie adds: “Big picture, the project impacts positively on the overall digitalisation strategy for our business which has doubled in size in the past 5 years in sales, people and equipment.”

As a spin-off from this, Trans-Sport.TV’s Operations Manager, Grace Woodhead has been accepted onto Made Smarter’s Leading Digital Transformation Programme at Loughborough University, which is underpinning not only Grace’s personal development but the whole team. Rosie adds: “There is still work to do but with the help and assistance of David Dobson and his colleagues at Made Smarter, we have the momentum to continue to review and Road Map our processes.”

The team at Trans-Sport.TV has also attended several free Accelerator training workshops to support individual and team development. This includes Building a High Performance Team, Getting Started with Leadership & Management, Managing Finance and Recruiting in a Tight Labour Market.

“We are forever grateful for the continued support from organisations such as the Chamber of Commerce, Bassetlaw District Council and the team at Made Smarter.

We came out of Europe unsure as to the complexity and validity of funding streams accessible to the business. We are delighted with the help in tackling real business challenges and the funding available around those issues."

- Rosie Cope, Managing Director

Read the full Case Study

This initiative is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and delivered by East Midlands Chamber on behalf of Bassetlaw District Council.

Sector: Food & Drink

Location: Broxtowe

Rigsby’s Seasonal Foods is based in Beeston, Nottingham and is run by sole trader, Dr James Marsh and his foraging buddy Rigsby Dog!

This unique business is coming up to its first anniversary. All Rigsby’s products are either foraged, homegrown or made from surplus food donated by supermarkets and food banks. It covers the entire value stream from growing and foraging locally through to development, manufacture, packaging and logistics. It has zero product waste and reuses bottles and jars through a returns policy to reduce CO2 impacts.

Its products include shrub cordials, liqueurs, compotes, chutneys, pickles, ketchup, chocolates, infused honey and more. On top of this, being an agile business with the ability to make small batches cost-effectively and in-house, it makes products for customers and keen collaborators including Oak Tree Alpacas, The Mammoth Cinema, The Moot Bar and Nottingham Forager.

Challenges faced

For Rigsby’s the challenges can be seasonal as ingredients are only available at certain times of the year. This has led to drying out ingredients to allow for these ‘lean’ times.

Another issue is capacity. Due to the equipment it has as a start-up business, Rigsby’s is continually looking at ways to increase capacity but on a tight budget.

The operation is run on low-tech which Dr James would like to improve as the business grows. There is an ambition to become carbon neutral which is in keeping with the ethos of the business, but additional skills and knowledge are needed to achieve this and how to develop its in-house live KPIs.

Finally, there is hope for the business to become a vegan company, but this requires additional funding which it doesn’t have at present.

Solution and Impact

Dr James heard about free business support via the Accelerator project through a networking event held in Beeston, Nottingham at the Yellow Wood Café.

The Accelerator project is delivered by East Midlands Chamber and funded by Broxtowe Borough Council’s share of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

He recently attended a two-day New Product Development session organised by Accelerator project partner, the Food & Drink Forum. From this course, he has developed two new products – artisan pasta from waste bread and foraged herbs (i.e. spaghetti, tagliatelle and ravioli) and clear fruit honey.

Although it's early days with his new products, Dr James believes his idea of diverting waste bread from landfills into pasta, will help companies save money in disposing of bread and reduce CO2 impacts. (Research shows that around 32% of all bread is wasted which is around 680,000 tonnes each year costing £1.1bn. Source: BBC News)

His long-term aim would be to teach people how to make pasta from waste and enable food banks to generate extra income from selling the pasta or providing the pasta as food for those in need. In turn, this would provide environmental benefits both in Nottingham and nationally.

Dr James has also attended training workshops on shelf life and preservation and turning food waste into products with the Food & Drink Forum, helping him towards his carbon neutral goals.

In addition, business surgeries at the Beeston library held with Alison North of Nottinghamshire County Council have been very helpful to Dr James in guiding potential funding routes for his sustainable eco-business.

“The support and advice has been excellent. It has given me a confidence boost to take my business to the next level as we seek to inspire others to reduce food waste and eat better using what we have in our environment and what we can grow in our gardens.

It has helped me move RSF to another level.”

- Dr James Marsh, Co-Founder & Company Owner

Read the full Case Study

This initiative is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and delivered by East Midlands Chamber on behalf of Broxtowe Borough Council.

Sector: Pre-loved clothing retail

Location: Mansfield

Harry Squires set up his pre-loved clothing business after being furloughed from his job as a tradesman during the pandemic. At this time, he began selling some of his clothes to make a bit of extra money.

He also sourced retro and reworked designer clothing from charity shops and car boot sales. This side hustle went so well that in October 2020 Harry left his full-time job to work on his business, Credible Clothing.

Initially selling online and through car boot sales a year later he opened his first vintage clothing store on Leeming Street in Mansfield, just as Covid restrictions were finally lifted. This store and another in Nottingham have now been re-let with both stocking Harry’s products. He has recently moved into a spacious warehouse where he can start implementing modern marketing and sales processes. This includes developing health and safety policies and barcoding to track products. He has four staff members.

Challenges faced

As a start-up business, some of the biggest barriers to growth have been capital and a lack of in-house business skills. Credible Clothing is currently using social media to promote its products, but Harry comments they are in the process of tapping into modern social media techniques to boost traffic towards its online platforms. The business is also in the process of building a new website to boost sales: www.credibleclothing.co.uk

With additional capital, Harry would like to source stock overseas which he believes would reduce costs.

Solution and Impact

As a relatively new business, Harry is being supported by NBV Enterprise Solutions, a partner in the Accelerator project. Accelerator is delivered by East Midlands Chamber and funded by Mansfield District Council’s share of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

Harry has had several one-to-one meetings online and over the telephone with Business Adviser, Raj Raithatha who he says has been extremely patient and ‘super helpful’. This includes advice on cash flow forecasting and putting together a comprehensive business plan for Credible Clothing.

Raj commented: “Harry is an extremely inspirational young person. Though he’s faced some of his own personal challenges, he is determined, hardworking and passionate. I believe he has what it takes to succeed. It’s been a pleasure helping him on his enterprise journey.”

Harry’s business takes discarded clothing and converts them into retro items, which are high in demand today. His processes leave no waste as all materials are used in recycling locally.

Harry believes the business has the potential to employ many young students to work in Mansfield. He feels there’s a lack of opportunity for the younger generation and if he can grow the way he believes he can, he wants to create jobs across different creative industries including photography, textiles and fashion design, to name a few. To this end, he is investing in equipment and has set aside space to establish video and photographic studios at the warehouse. Here, he hopes to train and employ people to develop their textile skills.

“I feel happy to have received the support and I hope it can continue in the future. I have much to learn and am eager to do so within business.”

- Harry Squires, Owner

Read the full Case Study

This initiative is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and delivered by East Midlands Chamber on behalf of Mansfield District Council.

Sector: Defibrillator Distribution

Location: Derbyshire Dales

Defib4Life is based in Two Dales near Matlock. It supplies life-saving defibrillators, accessories and consumables to businesses, charities, and community groups across the UK. 

The business, which has just celebrated its fifth anniversary, has three employees and is led by Director, Michelle Waters.

Challenges faced

One of its biggest challenges has been increased competitor activity particularly where larger businesses have bought out the company’s competition. This has meant they’ve had the investment to grow and offer cheaper pricing undercutting the Defib4Life offer.

Michelle also wanted to free up time from day-to-day marketing to work on the business and create more sales opportunities.

Solution and Impact

Michelle has been supported through the D2N2 Growth Hub and Accelerator project. Accelerator is delivered by East Midlands Chamber, in partnership with Derbyshire Dales District Council and funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

She has had one-to-one meetings with Business Adviser, Andy Bunn who initially carried out a diagnostic of the business, going through where the business is now and where it wants to be. Some work has been done on the company structure and team. It was also identified that digital marketing and the company’s website were potential areas of focus to check the effectiveness of their current activity and find any opportunities for sales growth.

Defib4Life successfully applied for a Growth Voucher which provided funding to bring in specialist marketing support from two consultants. The first specialised in marketing and looked to streamline their current marketing processes as well as create guidance and templates they could follow moving forward. The idea was that marketing tasks could be split amongst the team releasing some of the time and pressure off Michelle, who was doing it all previously.

The second consultant looked at website content and SEO to ensure the site was performing at maximum capacity before the business moved into another phase of digital advertising to drive people to the site.

The work has meant a streamlining of processes freeing up Michelle’s time to look at running and growing the business. She also hopes growth will mean they can create another job in the future.

Michelle and her team have taken advantage of several D2N2 Growth Hub and Accelerator workshops over the years. Topics covered include The One Hour Google Ads Course, Using Video in Content Marketing, Blogging with Authority and Trust, Understanding your Ideal Customers and Getting Started with Paid Search Advertising.

Andy is currently supporting Michelle with an application for an adaptation grant from Derbyshire Dales District Council.

“The support has been a lifesaver for the business. We’ve grown so quickly, so I have definitely needed the support and advice I’ve had.

Every time I have a meeting with Andy, I can re-set the business and implement what I need to enable further growth.”

- Michelle Waters, Director

Read the full Case Study

This initiative is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and delivered by East Midlands Chamber on behalf of Derbyshire Dales District Council.

Sector: Education & Activity Centre

Location: Derbyshire Dales

Mount Cook Adventure Centre is based near Wirksworth on the south edge of the Peak District National Park.

The not-for-profit organisation began in the summer of 2016, it now employs 18 full-time staff growing to 47 through seasonal workers in peak season.

Its role is to facilitate outdoor experiences, especially for young people and those who might not normally have the opportunity. The business engages with a variety of clients from junior and secondary schools, families, adults, universities and youth groups to corporate organisations.

The variety and breadth of reach is important to Mount Cook’s team as they want to promote the benefits of the outdoors to as wide an audience as possible. This is achieved through a range of experiential activities that are both adventurous and educational.

Challenges faced

As a new business, it has grown steadily year-on-year (apart from the Covid disruption). As it begins to plateau in natural growth its challenge is to overcome the seasonality of the business and diversify the offer to appeal to different audiences, alongside reducing the length of its low season.

Solution and Impact

Last year Chief Executive Officer, Steve Turner and some of his team attended several Accelerator workshops including Negotiating with your Customers: Hints, Tips and Tools, Getting Started with HR Essentials and Elevating your Team’s Performance through Effective Leadership Communication.

Steve also attended the Derbyshire Dales Accelerator Information Session and after completing an Expression of Interest form was put in touch with Business Adviser, Andy Bunn. Accelerator is delivered by East Midlands Chamber, in partnership with Derbyshire Dales District Council and funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

Steve comments: “Andy was a great help. Initially, he made me aware of the Help to Grow: Management programme which I did but funded directly by us. We also received specialist consultancy support from Qinesis via the Growth Voucher.

The consultancy was a useful, external view of our operation and it challenged us to look at our business differently. We identified the need to invest further in staffing to help us target and capture new client groups. We also identified the need to invest in further capital development to expand our physical resources.”

Andy has also provided advice to the business on other potential grant funding available which Steve has followed up on.

“We were delighted to receive support via the Growth Voucher. It is a simple but meaningful way for us to access specialist consultancy support to help us maximise our business potential.”

- Steve Turner, Chief Executive Officer

Read the full Case Study

This initiative is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and delivered by East Midlands Chamber on behalf of Derbyshire Dales District Council.

Sector: Health and Wellness

Location: Derby

Moko Physiotherapy is a state-of-the-art, award-winning health and wellness facility in Mickleover, Derby.

Katie and Martin Ogley formed the company in 2021. The aim was to create something different by offering multiple health professional services under one roof. This includes physiotherapy, massage therapy, yoga, Pilates, exercise classes, nutrition, counselling, coaching and educational workshops.

Moko is a rapidly growing, friendly team of 16 experts who love to help improve pain and guide individuals back to what matters to them. This could be sports, work or playing with the grandchildren. Its physiotherapists specialise in bespoke rehabilitation tailored to the client's needs and it offers a range of classes to improve strength, flexibility and reduce stress. The Moko team are interested in making lifestyle changes, not just quick fixes, so their workshops aim to empower clients to make long-term healthy choices.

Challenges faced

Katie said: “Recruiting exceptional team members that align with our company values has been the greatest challenge. We have created an excellent team culture that makes us stand out from our competitors.

“Since growing the team, the challenge has been to find more individuals that will continue to grow the culture positively, keeping consistent quality across multiple individuals from different backgrounds. With a thorough four-stage interview process, we have been able to achieve this.”

Katie wanted to grow the business, extend the premises and ensure the business remained competitive.

Solution and Impact

Katie was already connected to the D2N2 Growth Hub and had attended various webinars over the last few years including HR Essentials and How to Develop a Killer Marketing Plan.

She heard about the support and grant funding for Derby City business through the Growth Hub and was put in touch with Accelerator Business Adviser Aruna Bhagwan. Accelerator is a project delivered by East Midlands Chamber in partnership with Derby City Council and funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

The business applied and was successfully awarded a Business Growth & Innovation Grant for £12,472.

Katie continued: “The grant allowed us to build an additional consultation room within our clinic to create a new service which offers women’s health, specialist physiotherapy. 

This has created an additional job for a Senior Physiotherapist in Women’s Health, which we appointed at the end of May 2024. Our new staff member is the only registered Mummy MOT practitioner in Derby, giving us a huge competitive advantage!”

It’s too early to say the difference the new service has made specifically, but Katie reports clinic revenue has grown in the last five months by around £6,500.

Katie added: “Aruna has been very supportive throughout the grant application process. She came to see the clinic to gain an understanding of our business needs. She was very positive about our clinic and keen to help us be successful in gaining the grant.  She also highlighted any potential issues with our application promptly. We are very grateful for her support.”

“The grant has allowed us to continue our rapid growth and help a new client population which we were previously unable to help. 

We, and our new clients, are incredibly grateful for this support.”

- Katie Ogley, Owner

Read the full Case Study

This initiative is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and delivered by East Midlands Chamber on behalf of Derby City Council.