Case Studies from 2022

Based in Nottingham, Flame UK are one of the UK’s leading independent waste management service providers.

Providing sustainable waste and recycling collections to a range of businesses across the UK. Their customers are environmentally focused, with most having Net Zero targets which Flame UK are pivotal in attaining.

With help from the East Midlands Combined County Authority Growth Hub, they’ve been able to install video conferencing and webinar facilities directly into their office. With UK wide customers, they meet with them monthly to help drive improvements to their business. Previously, this involved a great deal of travelling which didn’t fit with their plan to become more sustainable. The new conferencing facilities that have been installed means that they can connect with clients virtually, more regularly and cut down travel by around 70%. This has helped them reduce their carbon footprint and move towards a more sustainable future for Flame UK.

"We’ve been able to make some brilliant changes to Flame UK that have helped us work towards our business goals. None of this would have been possible with-out the help of Sonny or the Growth Hub. They’ve given us all the tools we could possibly need to get things moving at the pace we need. Thanks to the support received from the Growth Hub, we’re now able to connect with our customers in a more sustainable and personal way.”

- Daniel Pegram, Director Flame UK

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Victory Design Ltd began trading in 1987 and specialise in bringing the very best sign making, garment personalisation, digital printing and vehicle safety marking products to clients throughout the UK.

Victory Design were looking to continue their success in producing vehicle wraps, large format banners, digital prints and signage for their trade clients, however, in order to achieve their growth targets, they needed to invest in the latest in print technology. With support from Cheryl Staples, a East Midlands Combined County Authority Growth Hub Business Adviser, they were able to obtain a grant towards the costs involved. Allowing them to implement their plans quickly. 50% more jobs were also created, they reduced their waste material and also managed to greatly benefit from the extensive webinar programme by attending sessions on marketing and social media.

"Over the last 2-3 years, Cheryl Staples and the East Midlands Combined County Authority Growth Hub have supported us in our expansion plans, including support throughout the pandemic, improving efficiencies with investment in better machinery and helping us to reduce waste as well as reducing our carbon footprint.

We would not hesitate in recommending local businesses reach out to The Growth Hub – the variety of support on offer means there’s something for all local businesses."

- Justin Hines, Sales Director

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Positive ID Labels is a label printing company based in Melbourne, South Derbyshire. Employing 26 staff, the company has grown to a £2.2m turnover since starting label production 16 years ago.

Having invested £235k buying a Xeikon 3030 digital print engine and finishing unit in 2019, the company approached the Growth Hub to help finance an upgrade to the machine, increasing overall efficiency. The cost of the work was just under £25k of which East Midlands Combined County Authority contributed 30%.

"Working with the East Midlands Combined County Authority team was made easy by regular and effective communication and ownership by the facilitating staff at East Midlands Combined County Authority. This encouraged the company to work closely with East Midlands Combined County Authority on other projects to help support the business and in turn create jobs in the local area."

- Pete Howells, Technical Director

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O’Connor & Co is a multi-award winning removals and storage company operating in Mansfield, Chesterfield and Sheffield.

The East Midlands Combined County Authority Growth Hub in conjunction with North East Derbyshire District Council, has been able to support the business through a whole range of dedicated adviser support. Our Adviser Manager was able to carry out an information, diagnostic and brokerage (IDB) service with Sean which allowed for analysis of several aspects of the business including culture, marketing, finances, KPIs and more. The adviser was then able to work closely with Sean to help improve these areas to enable business growth. O’Connor’s has also benefited from in depth support on business strategy and signposting to funding options.

"We’ve worked hard looking at our vision, looking at our culture, our retention, our marketing, finances, KPI’s, kaizens, I could go on, we’ve done everything-setting goals and hitting them. We’ve started fighting back after the deficit of Covid had on our company. I certainly cannot thank the East Midlands Combined County Authority adviser team enough (even on the guidance on books). Truly helped us through the hardest of times. A personal message to you all: thank you."

- Sean O’Connor, Director

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Zaremba Marsden is a serene retreat set in Matlock, on the edge of the beautiful Peak District National Park. Offering luxurious bed and breakfast accommodation set in a peaceful and calm environment, guests can relax away from the fast pace and distractions of everyday life. 

Stuart and Marta have been on the entire East Midlands Combined County Authority support journey. Initially supported by the D2 Business Starter Programme, serving as a springboard for the launch of this business. The East Midlands Combined County Authority Growth Hub were able to provide a business adviser who enrolled them on to the new programme and tailored their support needs to match their business outcomes.

"We've been blown away by the expertise, structure, content and overall delivery of the East Midlands Combined County Authority offering. They have provided us with a solid foundation for establishing and securing a successful and profitable business."

- Marta Zaremba-Marsden, Co-Owner

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Crystal Clear Consultancy Ltd is a recruitment agency based in Nottingham City, specialising in the Care, Education and Construction sectors with over 25 years experience.

Clear Crystal Director Linda Redmond, worked closely with a number of Business Advisers at the East Midlands Combined County Authority Growth Hub in order to apply for funding to help develop and grow the business further. After winning a national contract delivering B2B services, the business has now been able to establish the systems needed to meet the demands of the contract. The adviser team also worked hard to enable Clear Crystal to achieve a successful grant application for a Business Consultant to help them put new systems in place.

"Richard and the rest of the East Midlands Combined County Authority Growth Hub team worked quickly to enable us to have a successful grant application for a Business Consultant to help us put new systems in place and a new member of staff. East Midlands Combined County Authority worked effectively and quickly to ensure we received a positive outcome for the grant which we received."

- Linda Redmond, Director

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The Compatriot is an authentic Nigerian restaurant based in Nottingham. Priding themselves on serving freshly made, traditional dishes based on family recipes, passed down between generations.

The East Midlands Combined County Authority Growth Hub were able to offer a diagnostic business review, strategic planning and one on one mentoring and support. The Compatriot were also able to access key funding from their local authority during the Coronavirus pandemic, allowing them to keep on trading.

"The tailored and personal support that we received from our East Midlands Combined County Authority Growth Hub adviser has been invaluable during what has been a challenging time for most businesses."

- Isaac Oyeyiola, Co-Owner

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Grass-Fields create and sells a range of high-quality, contemporary African clothing for women, men and children. Founded by Christelle and Michelle Nganhou, twin sisters from Cameroon, who originally started selling their garments via Etsy.

Grass-Fields received access to the Goldman Sachs 10KSB programme for start-up and high growth potential businesses.

"The support the East Midlands Combined County Authority Growth Hub has given us has been invaluable. The 10KSB course on its own has been worth its weight in gold in terms of how we've been able to apply what we have learned, and help grow our business.

Our future is in our own hands. We'd recommend the Growth Hub service to any business that's looking to scale-up."

- John Tchoudi, Director

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Orka Outdoors is a Derbyshire based manufacturer of premium active dog equipment. Its Arctic Wolf brand was established in 2010 and makes specialist collars, leashes, harnasses, shock-absorbing lines and accessories for both owners and their dogs, who want to get outdoors and be active.

One of our East Midlands Combined County Authority Growth Hub business advisers worked with Stuart to focus on the longterm goals for the business and helped him to develop a strategy to achieve them. After receiving funding from the Capital Growth Fund, Stuart was able to purchase new sewing machines to increase capacity and output.

"My passions have always been dogs and British manufacturing, so being able to create a business which involves both is a dream come true.

The advice and support given to me by the East Midlands Combined County Authority Growth Hub has been tremendous, I would recommend any business looking to grow to get in touch with them."

- Stuart Malcolmson, Founder and CEO

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Live With Wood designs and manufactures bespoke, high-quality handmade wooden furniture and joinery products to customers across the UK. Combining traditional woodworking machinery and techniques to achieve an authentic, timeless finish on every piece of furniture created.

The Growth Hub supported Live With Wood by supplying a business adviser to help with consultancy, providing Mick with an in-depth and objective view of his business to enable him to develop a longterm strategy.

"Running a business can be bewildering at times, especially when you are trying to do everything by yourself. The support that we received from the East Midlands Combined County Authority Growth Hub has been great, it's really helped me take a step back and be more objective with where the business is heading."

- Mick Pursglove, Director

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Edsons is a fifth-generation family business that has grown to become one of the UK's leading bespoke joinery specialists. Founded in 1885, it has worked on some of the UK's most prestigious and exclusive private residences.

The Growth Hub were able to support Edsons with an application for a £15k Business Investment Fund grant towards purchasing new machinery.

"The East Midlands Combined County Authority Growth Hub has definitely been a massive help to us. When you're thrown into a grant scheme, going through the process on your own can be quite overwhelming.

Having someone to walk us through it, support our application and ensure we got the message right, was key to our success."

- Philip Edson (MRICS), Managing Director

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Impression is a multi-award winning digital marketing agency with offices in Nottingham and London. Offering a wide range of services, including content marketing, SEO, paid advertising and digital PR, plus consultancy and training to clients across the UK and beyond.

The Growth Hub were able to support Impression by delivering strategic consultancy on a regular basis, helping them to develop and realise their plans for sustainable growth. Their members attended Growth Hub-led workshops and webinars, boosting their knowledge and skills. The East Midlands Combined County Authority Growht Hub were also able to provide access to the Business Investment Fund, allowing them to invest in their staff systems, services and being able to work with bigger clients in the UK and internationally.

"The support we've received from the East Midlands Combined County Authority Growth Hub over the years has been invaluable and has enabled us to reach our goals much quicker than if we'd done it on our own."

- Tom Craig, Director

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