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Case Studies from April 2022

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Zaremba Marsden

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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Clear Crystal Consultancy Ltd

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

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

Grassfields LtdGrass-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

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

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

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

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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i-vengers

i-vengers is an e-safety training provider of virtual and school-based online safety training for pupils, education professionals, carers, parents and other adults who work with children. Specialising in delivering specialised safeguarding training programmes in schools, along with classroom-based activities to help children stay safe online and make positive life choices.

The East Midlands Combined County Authority Growth Hub were able to support Traci with a diagnostic business review and strategic planning to help develop a three-year growth plan for the business. She was also enrolled in the East Midlands Combined County Authority UpScaler project and attended several Growth Hub workshops.

 

"I'm really good at delivering online safety training, but I'm not so good at running a business, so the support I've received from the Growth Hub has really given me the confidence to just go for it and create a business out of my main passion in life."

- Traci Good, Director

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