Case Studies from 2024

Sector: Electrical and Renewables Supplier

Location: South Derbyshire

Swadlincote Electrical Supplies is an independent electrical and renewables supplier located in Swadlincote, South Derbyshire.

Founded in 2004 by Directors Steve Morley and Andrew Jones, they provide electrical products, installation, and renewable energy systems for a range of customers from trade, commercial, industrial, on-line and retail. With 7 staff members, it has been operating for 20 years.

Challenges faced

The business has faced significant challenges, over the years but more recently with the current economic climate, costs have been increasing making it more difficult for the business to compete in the market.

Over the past four years, electricity costs have nearly tripled, presenting a serious barrier to the business's profitability and operational efficiency.

The rise of large, well-known online outlets with substantial buying power has made it difficult to compete in price, especially as these competitors often offer cheaper alternatives.

These challenges have intensified as the industry increasingly focuses on price competition, leaving smaller, independent businesses struggling to maintain market share.

Solution and Impact

As a member of East Midlands Chamber, Steve was made aware of the support available through his local Business Adviser, Sonny Lakhani. Sonny conducted a 1-to-1 business review, addressing the challenges Steve was facing, and provided tailored guidance on the support available through the South Derbyshire Accelerator project.

The Accelerator Project is funded by South Derbyshire District Council’s share of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and delivered by East Midlands Chamber.

Steve received a Diagnostic Action Plan for business growth, with a focus on placing "renewables at the heart" of the proposed expansion. This personalised support and advice has proven to be incredibly valuable for the business. They have benefited from a variety of services to improve energy efficiency, reduce operational costs, and drive growth.

Steve accessed the Energy Grant Readiness Workshop, which helped the business establish its carbon baseline and identify areas of improvement. A decarbonisation plan was developed to support implementation of these improvements. The business was also successful in applying for a Decarbonation Grant, with £7,474 awarded to support installation of solar panels and an electric vehicle charging station at their premises. Additionally, Steve had regular meetings with Sonny, receiving essential ongoing guidance.

The impact on the business has been remarkable. It has become significantly more efficient, and with the upcoming installation of solar panels, its carbon footprint will be greatly reduced. The business has also calculated annual electricity savings of £2,973, representing a 61% reduction.

The decarbonisation support has enabled the business to adopt new techniques and processes and they are displaying real time data of energy usage across the business, as well as an interactive monitor showing production and export information. The business has also recruited an additional staff member to promote its new renewable stock lines, which have already seen positive results. The adviser support has played a crucial role in generating ideas for additional revenue streams and development of a new business model.

By embracing these changes, the business has not only improved its financial outlook but also ensured its long-term sustainability in an increasingly competitive market.

“From start to finish the level of support and nurturing has been fantastic. A special mention for Sonny Lakhani who has gone above and beyond for my business and made time to visit my premises on a few occasions. The face-to-face meetings have been very helpful, overall I am very pleased with the complete package of support and advice I have received and very grateful for the experience.”

- Steve Morley, 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 South Derbyshire District Council.

Sector: Window and Doors

Location: Mansfield

Michael Irwin started Integra Window Systems in February 2016 following a ten-year career in the window and uPVC industry.

Michael initially took up managed office space at Mansfield Innovation Centre to grow the business which supplies high-quality uPVC windows and aluminium bi-folding and sliding doors, primarily to trade customers. To help develop the showroom space and allow better demonstration of its products, in 2023 Integra made a move to the i2 building next door. They have three employees.

Challenges faced

The last few years have been challenging and unsettling for the construction sector; Brexit has caused many issues, particularly around supply. The cost-of-living crisis has led to a reduction in demand in the domestic market and general turmoil in the world has affected the stability of the sector. However, through this time Integra has shown impressive growth culminating in the move to its own showroom.

Their primary route to market has been by developing relationships with fitters and building companies. Initially working on his own, Michael has grown the team to three employees and the team are tasked with raising the profile of the business with key customers – and inviting them to see their impressive range of products in their new showroom.

Solution and Impact

Integra has been supported by the Accelerator Project to help deal with some of the challenges and boost growth. The business was previously helped through the UK Community Renewal Fund to develop a targeted marketing campaign.

Accelerator is funded by Mansfield District Council’s share of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and is delivered by East Midlands Chamber. Business Adviser, David Smith has provided one-to-one, personalised advice to Michael over the last few years, including a review of the business to see where they are now and where they want to be. Integra wanted to increase the number of contacts it had with local tradespeople and small construction companies. This has predominantly been won through telesales in the past.

Accelerator offers Growth Vouchers up to £2,500 to use for specialist consultancy or training for businesses in Mansfield. David helped Michael apply for a Growth Voucher which has enabled them to secure training from business development consultant, Charles Barnascone specifically around improving telesales skills and techniques. The outcome of this support has meant that the business is maintaining order levels and has aspirations to grow over the next 12 months.

Michael commented: “Continued growth has enabled us to move to dedicated premises to showcase the products available and in turn increase sales. The current jobs have been safeguarded and we expect by mid-2025 we will be recruiting at least one new member to our team.”

“The support we have received from East Midlands Chamber since 2021 has been invaluable. The Accelerator funding was a huge help but the continued support from David Smith was equally as important to the development of the business.”

- Michael Irwin, 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 Mansfield District Council.

Sector: Consultancy

Location: High Peak

Skillslocal, located in Furness Vale in the High Peak, will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2025. It helps ambitious leaders and organisations thrive through various frameworks, coaching, mentoring, and training.

Its signature framework, flourish, supports organisations, leaders, and teams in growing and leading with compassion and purpose. Currently, Skillslocal employs three people and is looking to expand next year.

Challenges faced

For small businesses a big difficulty is keeping up with technology and finding staff with the right skills to support the future of the business. One of the key challenges as a small business owner is that there are only so many hours in the day, explained founder and owner, Tracy Duggan. And while it’s easy to find people with basic admin skills, it's harder to find someone with good digital marketing skills. It’s also expensive to outsource this.

Solution and Impact

Tracy has taken advantage of a diagnostic meeting with a business adviser and several training events from the Accelerator Project. This includes Forecasts: Cashflow and Sales, A Start-ups Guide to Paid Digital Advertising and How to Safely Update your WordPress Website.

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

Tracy also benefitted from a Growth Grant from the Council. This £6,500 grant allowed her to introduce a new CRM, Learner Management System and marketing database which were essential in launching her new flourish framework for forward-thinking, people and purpose-led organisations, and the step up and standout leadership programme for individuals and teams. This funding has been transformative for the business enabling them to build the tools and infrastructure necessary to scale and innovate.

Tracy explained:

“With this support, we’ve introduced a CRM and marketing database revolutionising how we engage with clients and manage our programmes. This transformation means we can now deliver a more streamlined, personalised experience to our clients while ensuring our operations run more efficiently. The funding has also created one new role and safeguarded two roles.

We’re excited to launch our new leadership programme Step Up and Standout, in the new year. This cohort is targeted to empower purpose-led female leaders with the skills, confidence and tools to drive meaningful change in their organisations. The UKSPF funding has been instrumental in bringing this vision to life, allowing us to not only develop the programme but also build the infrastructure to market and manage it effectively and efficiently.

Additionally, the investment has enabled us to expand our offering of short courses. These are compliance-led, allowing us to support even more businesses by providing short bite-sized accredited and accessible, focused training on key topics like leadership skills, health and safety, and health and wellbeing. This means we can reach a wider audience, delivering value to organisations of all sizes, supporting growth and development at every level."
 

“The support from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund has been truly transformative for our business. It’s enabled us to take bold steps forward, invest in the tools we need, and bring our vision to life.

I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity, as it’s not only helped us prepare for the launch of our new leadership programme but also expand our reach to support even more businesses through our short courses.

This funding has been a game-changer, and I’m excited to see the impact it will have on the businesses and leaders we support."

- Tracy Duggan, Owner and 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 High Peak Borough Council.

Sector: Industrial Construction

Location: South Derbyshire

Alpha Construction, located in Hilton, South Derbyshire, is a civil engineering and building contractor, specialising in the High Voltage Electricity Industry, Renewable Energy and Industrial projects.

Established in 1982, the company operates nationwide delivering safe, sustainable, and cost-effective tailored solutions to client needs.

The team includes 60 employees, supported by a network of over 90 subcontractors working across office locations and construction sites. Alpha Construction serves a variety of sectors, including Retail & Commercial, Energy, Industrial, Flood Defence and Water, and Material Handling and Waste Management.

Challenges faced

Managing Director Tony Bamford highlighted several challenges impacting the company’s growth. Firstly, like many businesses, Alpha Construction has been significantly affected by the current economic climate, particularly rising costs and inflation. Skills shortages have also been identified, especially within their in-house marketing team, and their ability to effectively promote the business and maintain a competitive edge. Additionally, increased competition from less experienced companies offering unsustainably low prices has made it difficult to secure contracts.

Solution and Impact

Tony discovered the Accelerator Project through the Chamber’s Business Adviser, Sonny Lakhani. Sonny conducted a 1-to-1 business review, discussing the challenges Tony and the business were facing. Sonny was able to provide tailored advice and guidance on support available.

Tony accessed several valuable services including the South Derbyshire Accelerator. The Accelerator Project is funded by South Derbyshire District Council’s share of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and delivered by East Midlands Chamber.

Key support services included:

Training Workshops and Webinars

Team members participated in workshops on topics such as Email Marketing, Website Development, AI and ChatGPT, Sales, Sustainability, and Leadership. This training enhanced skills allowing the team to introduce new ways of working and improve efficiencies, saving time and money.

Energy Audit and Decarbonisation Plan

Tony accessed the Energy Grant Readiness Workshop. Part of this support included a comprehensive Energy Audit and development of a Decarbonisation Plan. The business has applied for an Energy Grant to further support sustainability goals. With the planned changes it is projected to save the business up to £6,000 annually in energy costs and reduce carbon emissions by over five tonnes.

Help to Grow: Management Programme

Tony completed the 12-week Help to Grow: Management Programme, a subsided leadership and development course valued at £7,500 which was fully funded through the UK Government and the Chamber. This executive management programme equipped Tony with strategies for steering the business toward sustainable growth.

Digital Skills Coach

Through a partnership with Nottingham Trent University and the Chamber, the business gained access to a fully funded Digital Skills Coach. This support focused on enhancing digital skills within the team enabling them to implement a Social Media Strategy. They are now able to create their own content which has improved engagement with existing clients, potential customers, their valued supply chain and employees. This has positioned the business to thrive in an increasingly digital marketplace.

In conclusion, Tony praised the Chamber and the invaluable support through the Accelerator Project. He emphasised the tailored business advice from Sonny Lakhani has been instrumental in addressing the challenges and opening up new opportunities. The combination of upskilling, sustainability initiatives, and digital coaching has strengthened the business for future growth.
 

“The support from East Midlands Chamber, and in particular Sonny Lakhani, has been instrumental for us to identify our needs and strengthen the foundations of our business in order to produce a sustainable and manageable strategic Business Development plan for resilience and growth.”

- Tony Bamford, 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 South Derbyshire District Council.

Sector: Marketing Consultancy

Location: Mansfield

Touchpoints Marketing became a limited company in August 2021. Previously, Managing Director, Vic Taylor ran the business as a sole trader for seven years.

Touchpoints Marketing creates education for entrepreneurs. It supports start-up and scale-up business owners to develop clear marketing strategies to grow and build successfully.

Challenges faced

The business faced grave challenges during COVID-19. At the time, the business was run as a marketing agency and in just one week it lost 98% of its clients! With a change in thinking and a pivot for the business, Touchpoints Marketing decided to create supportive marketing content and give it away. This enabled Vic and her team to see that this was something they enjoyed doing. They also received a great response to the educational content being created for entrepreneurs. This allowed them to build this side of the business and scale down the agency work.

Solution and Impact

The business has taken advantage of one-to-one advice from the Accelerator project’s Peter Lawrence. Accelerator is funded by Mansfield District Council’s share of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and delivered by East Midlands Chamber.

Peter conducted a diagnostic with Vic to find out where the business was and where it wanted to go, also outlining grants and funding that might be available.

Focussed time with Peter has helped the business apply for a Growth Voucher to the value of £2,000. This has given Touchpoints Marketing 20 hours of specialist support with consultant Martin Broadhurst who was instrumental in helping set up and create its new Six Figure Niche website: www.sixfigureniche.com, which uses new technology and has a lot of automations. It also allowed them to supercharge the launch of this programme, which is one of four they currently run.

The impact of this support has been the creation of jobs. The business has gone from one full-time and three part-time staff members to three full-time and one part-time now.

“Being able to access someone with digital marketing knowledge has enabled our business to supercharge the launch of Six Figure Niche and enabled us to get that to market quicker. It has ensured the growth of the business by helping us take on two full-time members of staff as a result.”

- Vic Taylor, 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 Mansfield District Council.

Sector: Manufacturing/ Retail

Location: Bassetlaw

Mud Mate is based in West Stockwith, Bassetlaw and was established in 2018. Owners, Nolan and Louise Freebury began their entrepreneurial journey by providing contract laser engraving and sandblasting services, as well as their own range of engraved giftware.

Over time the business has evolved following the in-house creation, design and development of Mud Mate, an innovative range of portable cleaning kits, and the Kitsack range of sports bags. There are three employees in the business.

Challenges faced

The main challenge for the husband-and-wife team was the lack of in-house marketing skills and being able to attract the customers they wanted. They were unable to compete with the vast advertising reach of their competitors. There was also a desire to improve sales from their website as costs were escalating through third-party sites.

Solution and Impact

Nolan and Louise attended the launch event for the Accelerator project last year. Accelerator is funded by Bassetlaw District Council’s share of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and delivered by East Midlands Chamber.

The project offers 1-to-1 business advice and they have been working with the Chamber’s Business Adviser, Steve Phillips over the last year. Steve has supported them in creating a new marketing strategy to attract more customers online, from trade shows and markets. Together they identified organisations and groups that could help promote the business by highlighting the benefits of their products.

This, with their product Bio Mate, has led to a collaboration with Paddle UK to help educate paddle sports users about cross-contamination and to help prevent the spread of invasive non-native species (INNS) within the UK’s waterways. In fact, with Bio Mate they recently won the ‘Excellence in Innovation Award’ at the 2024 Nottinghamshire Business Awards organised by the Chamber.

Steve also provided guidance with their application for a £4,000 Growth Grant through Bassetlaw District Council. The grant has enabled the business to purchase a branded mobile display unit that will help promote the brand at the various outdoor trade shows that the company will attend.

Finally, the team has taken advantage of the fully funded workshops from Accelerator including Marketing and Brand Development, How to Master Digital Display & Video Advertising, Getting the most out of Google Analytics and others.

Nolan said: “As a result of the support we will be more competitive and can safeguard our current tally of three full-time employees.”

“The support given has been invaluable and I would recommend any SME in the region to take part in the Accelerator programme.”

- Nolan & Louise Freebury, Directors

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: Manufacturing

Location: Gedling

Natalee Onyeche set up her plant-based, natural skincare and wellness business in 2020 and today employs four people.

She has premises in Arnold as well as a website where she sells her skin and body products. Skin Solace also offers candle and soap-making workshops which are bookable online. Her business has evolved to also include management of a local market, by her premises, which has gone from zero to 25 new traders in recent months.

Challenges faced

It's been a challenge for Natalee to keep the retail arm of the business going. Skin Solace products are considered a luxury item, so the cost-of-living crisis has had a major impact on sales. Low income and sales made it difficult for her to employ people, leaving her to manage the shop and restricting her ability to utilise other income streams.

Thinking outside the box, Natalee applied for a market tender to help increase footfall for all the shops in the area. This has been successful in generating income, enabling her to keep the shop open and employ casual support.

Solution and Impact

Natalee has been supported by the Accelerator Project. This is delivered by East Midlands Chamber and funded by Gedling Borough Council’s share of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

After getting in touch with Council, Natalee heard about the 1-2-1 business support that was available from Accelerator. She has been helped by the Chamber’s Head of Business Support Services, Paul Stuart who conducted a business diagnostic. 

Natalee comments: “Paul supported me to have clarity about what I was doing and why. This brought me back to my original ideas for Skin Solace which were not about retail but more focussed on wholesale. Today I have two new retailers stocking my products and I also create white label bespoke products for other businesses.”

The support has enabled Natale to find the right people to support her business activities and to work in a more streamlined way. It’s given her the focus to go for her goals with confidence and clarity. Natalee has also attended the Gedling Business Support Network to hear about funding and other support available to her business and to network with other local business owners. In addition, the Council has also funded support for Retail Business Advisers which Natalee has taken advantage of through provider, Ovy Design.

Collaborations and new routes to market with Ovy Design

Wendy and Marcus Walker from Ovy Design played a crucial role in supporting Skin Solace by helping Natalee explore new routes to market. Through collaborations with other makers and trade customers, her business was able to access fresh opportunities to complement her high-street shop sales. Natalee remarked: “Thank you for making the time to visit me at my shop yesterday, it was much appreciated and felt motivating”. 

Ovy introduced Natalee to Full Square, a print and promotional gift company, and they are now collaborating to create a bespoke candle range for the client, helping Natalee reach a wider audience through corporate gifts. “This is amazing Claire, thank you. The mock up is so good! I am ready to go!”

She is also speaking with a local Pilates studio and a beauty salon to offer white-label bespoke skincare products. Ovy initiated a collaboration with the Rosie May Foundation to discuss producing a bespoke scented candle for the charity sector, providing new fundraising opportunities. This collaboration also presents an incredible marketing and PR opportunity for Skin Solace, as the Rosie May Foundation is supported by many large corporate businesses in the finance and wealth management sectors, and it attracts a great deal of media coverage.

Additionally, Ovy Design recommended other local retailers to have a market pitch at Natalee's AMP market, encouraging further collaboration and retail support within the high street community. This initiative not only strengthens the relationships among local businesses but also provides another income stream for Natalee, helping to boost footfall and revenue.

These collaborations and strategic partnerships have opened new income streams for Skin Solace, helping Natalee offset the challenges faced by retailers. The introduction to corporate clients and the exploration of white-label opportunities has set Skin Solace on a path to long-term growth and sustainability.

“I feel that everyone should get support. Working for yourself is no mean feat and induces anxiety when there is no guidance or someone to provide a listening ear which helps give a voice to your ideas. I’m very grateful for the support provided so far.”

- Natalee Onyeche, 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 Gedling Borough Council.

Sector: Online Retail

Location: Chesterfield

Founded in January 2021 by Annie Johnson, Ellenvale Interiors stands as a beacon of style and sophistication in the realm of soft furnishings.

The inception of this online store was not just a business venture for Annie; it was a passion project driven by a desire to blend the timeless charm of English country designs with the modern aesthetics of today.

The business is already expanding and has recently moved to larger premises based in Bridge Way, Chesterfield. It has three employees.

Challenges faced

Ellenvale Interiors faced a few challenges. The business was using a manual process in the warehouse for labelling, stock control, order processing, fulfilment and despatch. This was quite labour-intensive and left them open to errors. It also restricted their capacity to grow and meet their aspirations to sell their product range into large high-street retailers.

Supply chain problems were also hindering growth; reliability and turnaround time for cushion pads to meet its current customer demand were falling short.

Solution and Impact

Annie has been supported by Business Adviser, Peter Lawrence and the Accelerator Project. Accelerator is funded by Chesterfield Borough Council’s share of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and delivered by East Midlands Chamber.

Through one-to-one adviser support, they have not only identified the current challenges faced by Ellenvale Interiors but also sourced a number of solutions. This includes grant funding, digital processes and international trade support.

The business was successfully awarded a Growth Voucher which enabled them to enlist the support of Rob Gregory from Magnifica. Rob carried out technology and software research and produced recommendations on how to implement these. This included new warehouse hardware and systems to improve productivity.

Peter is also working with Ellenvale to scope and navigate potential Made Smarter and Innovate UK help for specialist manufacturing support and funding to bring cushion-making in-house.

Annie commented: “We have recently introduced new software that will help us streamline our processes and we expect to see more efficient order and despatch turnaround times.

Having the system in place has also led to a new role and is supporting our growth step change to work with well-known high street retailers and wholesalers.”

Annie and some of the team have also taken advantage of the fully funded Accelerator workshops and webinars including Advanced Guide to SEO, Introduction to Marketing AI and ChatGPT, The one-hour Google Ads Course, Champagne Marketing on a Lemonade Budget and more.

“The support from Peter at the Chamber has been invaluable.

It has led us down the right path in terms of finding the correct systems moving forward and it has also helped the whole team in terms of training.

- Annie Johnson, 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 Chesterfield Borough Council.

Sector: Food and Drink

Location: Rushcliffe

Plantlicious Ltd was formed in 2019 and is based in West Bridgford, Nottingham.

When Simon Wills, founder, was faced with his son’s IBS diagnosis, he was inspired to seek natural solutions to improve gut health. His research quickly led him to the power of fibre, a key component for digestion and overall wellness. From this personal journey, Good-Fibes, a fortified prebiotic daily shot, was born; designed to bridge the fibre gap many people unknowingly face.

Challenges faced

Recognising that most adults and children consume just 15-20g of the recommended 30g of fibre daily, Simon envisioned a simple, convenient way to meet this shortfall. Each 60ml shot of Good-Fibes packs over 10g of prebiotic plant-based fibre, along with natural fruit purées, to nourish the gut and promote overall health. However, bringing this innovative product to market required expertise far beyond his knowledge.

Solution and Impact

Enter the Food and Drink Forum*, an Accelerator Project Partner. Simon first connected with the Forum after seeing a post on social media and immediately recognised their value in supporting his new venture.

Accelerator is funded through Rushcliffe Borough Council’s share of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and delivered by East Midlands Chamber.

Simon’s journey began at the University of Nottingham’s Food Innovation Hub through the Forum’s Innovation Voucher Scheme, where Simon worked closely with experts to develop and perfect the Good-Fibes formulation.

Once the recipe was locked in, the real work began, with the Forum offering critical support in food safety, hygiene, and the intricacies of labelling. Navigating what could and couldn’t be included on the Good-Fibes label was essential to ensuring the product met industry standards, while courses on pricing and production costs allowed Simon to determine ingredient and manufacturing costs, waste management, and market pricing - without sacrificing profitability.

The Food and Drink Forum’s assistance didn’t stop at theoretical learning. Simon was able to develop new flavour combinations and experiment with pasteurisation techniques during two valuable days in the development kitchen at the South West Food Hub in Weston-Super-Mare. This hands-on experience helped fine-tune the product’s shelf life through good pasteurisation processes, ensuring the pH was optimised for stability.

The continued collaboration has been invaluable as Simon investigates sustainable packaging solutions, such as moving from glass bottles to recyclable RPET bottles. This will allow Plantlicious Ltd. to reduce costs and meet consumer and retailer preferences for eco-friendly options.

Simon also credits the Food and Drink Forum for introducing him to marketing strategies through seminars led by Tessa Stuart, author of Flying Off the Shelves and Packed, who offered invaluable insights into positioning Good-Fibes for success in a competitive market.

Though Good-Fibes has yet to officially launch, the support Simon has received through the Accelerator Growth Voucher has been transformative. From development, courses and kitchen trials to ongoing innovation and market preparation, the guidance and resources provided by the Food and Drink Forum have empowered Simon and Plantlicious Ltd. to move confidently toward bringing Good-Fibes to market.

Without the support of the Food and Drink Forum and the Accelerator Voucher scheme Simon says he’s in no doubt that the business would not be at the stage it is due to the amount of funding that would have been required to take it to this stage.

*The Food and Drink Forum has closed but support is still available from East Midlands Chamber and Rushcliffe Borough Council.
 

“The Food and Drink Forum has been incredible. Without their knowledge, support, and the extensive network they’ve connected me with, I would have been at a loss for where to start. Good-Fibes is set for success thanks to their expertise.”

- Simon Wills, 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 Rushcliffe Borough Council.

Sector: Tourism

Location: Derbyshire Dales

Hoe Grange Holidays was set up in 2005 by David and Felicity Brown as a diversification development to provide additional income to support their dairy farm.

Situated on the edge of the Derbyshire Peak District, near Brassington and offers sustainable tourism accommodation with four lodges, two glamping pods and a traditional Gypsy caravan.

Hoe Grange Holidays also specialise in accessible holidays with four accessible lodges - three of which have full wet-rooms - hoists and a range of equipment to help those less mobile enjoy their holidays.

Sustainability is hugely important to both David and Felicity. The site uses renewable energy fed back through ground and air source heating systems to maximise the benefit. Rather wonderfully, Hoe Grange Holidays also offer the opportunity to ‘bring your horse on holiday’ hosting over 80 horses per year! The business has three full-time employees and takes on three to five part-time seasonal staff.

Challenges faced

A key challenge the business has faced, particularly since the pandemic, is increased competition from new, part-time holiday let owners. This has seen the number of cottages or glamping units, and similar, dramatically increase so essentially you have more properties fighting for the same business.

For Hoe Grange Holidays it’s imperative to be a little different in what they do and make the enterprise as efficient as possible. The rise in energy costs, higher wages and difficulty in recruiting suitable staff, in such a rural area, has also made the last few years even more challenging.

Solution and Impact

Their key objective is to reduce the business’s carbon footprint as far as possible and with that reduce energy bills. Existing efforts have them well on the way to meeting their target of a negative carbon footprint (not just net-zero!)

To support this further, they have taken advantage of business support from the Accelerator Project. Accelerator is funded through Derbyshire Dales District Council’s share of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and delivered by East Midlands Chamber.

They have received one-to-one support from Business Adviser Andy Bunn who provided access to a full premises energy audit. This was needed as Hoe Grange Holidays operates on the same site and energy supply as the farm. So, they needed to fully understand where and when the energy was being used and how best to reduce reliance on the National Grid supply.

Andy also supported them in preparing their application for a decarbonisation grant from the Council, which was approved in the summer, and has led to the installation of extra solar panels and a battery storage system.

The new installations have had a huge impact on the business. The business has already managed to reduce reliance on imported electricity by around 60%, and of that around 80% tends to be a cheap rate, night-time tariff. This is leading to savings of £800-£1000 per month!

The savings have allowed them to start thinking about succession planning, consolidating the position of general manager, which their daughter, Caroline started last year. This in turn has brought new marketing skills into the business and a newer, efficient way of working in the office using her industry skills gained over 15 years.

Caroline, David and Felicity have also taken advantage of some of the workshops and webinars including What’s New in Email Marketing, How to do your own PR: Putting your Tourism Business on the Map, Practical Guide to Paid Digital Advertising and Making the Most of Google Analytics.

David comments: “Although we had been planning this project for a few years, it had always been just out of reach financially. The expected results were just an estimate too, based on experience and market research.”
 

“The energy audit helped confirm our expectations and the advice from Andy ensured the process of applying was made as simple as possible.

Without the aid of grant funding, we would have been unlikely to have proceeded with this project for some considerable time, if at all."

- David Brown, 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: Arts

Location: High Peak

Artist Rob Wilson began his business, Rob Wilson Art, in 2013.

He had just moved to stylish new premises in Whaley Bridge, High Peak previously working from a studio in Glossop.

The business sells original art, including Rob’s own paintings and drawings, limited edition prints and greeting cards. They also feature the work of visiting artists. With two employees now in the business, Rob has started running art workshops from his new gallery.

Challenges faced

The main challenges being faced by the business were rising costs of materials to produce artwork, as well as increasing packaging and postage costs.

Business growth was also being hindered by outdated technology which was incompatible with the current software needed when preparing artwork files and marketing.

Solution and Impact

Rob Wilson Art has been supported by the Accelerator Project. Accelerator is funded by High Peak Borough Council’s share of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and delivered by East Midlands Chamber.

Adviser Manager, Abigail Phillips has been working with Rob to understand his business through a diagnostic and one-to-one support. Rob has been supported in applying for High Peak Borough Council’s SME Growth and Innovation Grant. This will help the business update its computer and purchase a new range of art greeting cards as well as art pencils for the workshops. The business will also be able to purchase a printer enabling it to produce fine art prints in-house.

Rob believes the reduced cost of producing art prints in-house will mean a 20% cost saving for the business. The new greeting card range provides a new revenue channel which also helps to promote the business to a new and wider audience. Rob estimates a 10% increase in revenue and new customers.

“The face-to-face meetings with Abigail were highly beneficial. They helped me make more educated business decisions.

She is highly experienced in business, and her advice was invaluable. Abigail advised me on the available grants that could help with my business needs, and how to go about applying for them.”

- Rob Wilson, 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 High Peak Borough Council.

Sector: Arts and Recreation

Location: Bassetlaw

Corinna Reeves set up Laneham Conservation in September 2020 after lockdown and when she had completed a master’s degree in Object Conservation at the University of Lincoln.

Her business, based in Laneham near Retford, involves restoring and conserving objects of either historical, antique, vintage or some other significant value to the owner. She is also looking to raise awareness of preventative conservation whereby you are preventing or reducing the deterioration of items.

Challenges faced

While competition from other providers nearby may pose some challenges, the biggest obstacle has been around getting in front of the right audience to sell her services. She has identified that older, established people with higher disposable incomes are the target customers, but getting her business and services on offer in front of them has been quite challenging.

Moreover, the challenges of lockdown, the aftermath of Covid-19, the rising cost of living, and political uncertainty have all added pressure on this micro business, two of which are still in play.

Solution and Impact

Corinna has taken advantage of support from the Accelerator Project to help her grow her business. This is delivered by East Midlands Chamber and funded by Bassetlaw District Council’s share of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

The project includes a variety of fully funded digital and growth workshops and webinars. Corinna has attended a number of these to build her knowledge including Sales Business Planning, Paid Search Advertising and Marketing and Brand Development.

However, although they have helped provide some answers, Corinna comments: “The most beneficial thing so far has been the support from Business Adviser, Steve Phillips. He is giving me one-to-one support which is helping me see how different actions on my plan will work and how it all hangs together.

I feel much more positive about achieving my goals. I see that it can be done and I’m much clearer on how and what the steps are to get there.”

The business is also looking to apply for Bassetlaw District Council’s Enterprise Grant to realise some of the actions that have been planned. This may include print media, YouTube talks, live talks and strategically placed banners to reach the target audience.

So far Corinna has seen an increase in website traffic due to her blog updates and consistently posting on social media. She hopes this will lead to a significant increase in social media engagement, brand awareness and ultimately bring in new work to build her business.

“I have struggled to see the woods for the trees when it comes to promotion and advertising. There’s a need for the services, and there is an audience and sector out there that will benefit, but it needs more than Google ads, a business card and fliers!

I am certain that the expertise and support that I am receiving from Steve will be the thing that brings it all together."

- Corinna Reeves, 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 Bassetlaw District Council.