Case Studies from February 2024

Sector: Visitor attraction and educational charity

Location: Derbyshire Dales

Cromford Mills is a water-powered cotton mill that acts as the Northern Gateway to the Derwent Valley Mills UNESCO World Heritage Site. The building, seen as the birthplace of the modern factory system, was set up by industrialist Richard Arkwright in the 1770s.

The site was rescued from demolition in the 1970s by the Arkwright Society. Since then, an army of volunteers and supporters have worked tirelessly to re-invent the Mills as a centre for heritage, education and business support.

Challenges faced

As the charity receives no core funding from Government or elsewhere, its greatest challenge has been, and remains, maintaining its very existence. Rising energy costs have had a massive impact and electricity bills have increased four-fold. The site has a proud heritage as one of the world’s great enablers of water energy. It stands to reason, therefore, that renewable energy should once again sit at the heart of Cromford Mills’s ambition to become a net zero site.

Solution and Impact

The charity has secured Accelerator support in three key areas: one-to-one sessions with a business adviser, specialised energy consultancy, and training.

Dedicated time spent with the Chamber’s Head of Business Support Services Paul Stuart, has enabled the charity to consider what priority actions it needs to take to fulfil its long-term strategic ambitions. Bringing in a fresh pair of eyes to the charity’s operations is enabling Chief Executive Éilis Scott to identify best practice. One particularly relevant area of Paul’s operational expertise is his management of the Chamber’s Friars Mill premises in Leicester. As a site that combines industrial heritage, iconic architecture and a waterside setting, there are many similarities between it and the managed workspaces offered at Cromford. The charity has been given support too in developing opportunities around hosting larger-scale events.

Fully-funded specialist consultancy has also been provided in the form of an energy audit. Environmental experts Loreus have undertaken a detailed analysis of the charity’s energy usage, identifying where it might reduce its energy costs and carbon footprint, and presenting its findings as a decarbonisation plan.

There has been benefit too from training, with the charity’s marketing officer attending an Accelerator one-day workshop on Blogging with Authority.

"We greatly appreciate the invaluable support given through the Accelerator project. Specialist advice is helping us address our financial hurdles and review our energy management.

Paul’s support has also been fantastic, focusing on finding solutions and making informed decisions.”

- Éilis Scott, Chief Executive

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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:  Catering and Hospitality

Location: Broxtowe

Established in 2011 by parents of young people with learning difficulties, Rumbletums Café is a registered charity that provides excellent homemade food, training facilities and is also a community hub for all.

The vision for Rumbletums is that it enables young people to access work related training and to be a part of their local community. Rumbletums is now a well-established business with capacity for up to 30 trainees, 10 members of staff and nearly 50 volunteers.

Challenges faced

Rumbletums proactively identifies areas of improvement and potential threats to the business. Higher energy costs became a huge concern as they are a small business with relatively high energy use. In 2022 they received a grant to help with immediate energy costs, but knew that they needed to make changes to energy usage to be more sustainable in future.

Solution and Impact

The Accelerator program is supporting the business in improving energy efficiencies and reducing energy costs, which will translate into a more sustainable business. Rumbletums attended an Energy Audit workshop which gave them the tools needed to measure their energy usage. This identified areas in which they could improve, specifically in regards to refrigeration and insulation. They were able to calculate the potential energy savings and even measure how much carbon would be reduced as a result.

Having completed the energy audit, they had the evidence needed to apply for Council funding which was awarded via the Kimberley Levelling Up Grant fund. As a result of this, they were able to purchase energy efficient equipment and complete loft insulation which meant that they could achieve their goals of reducing energy use. This has helped them to address energy costs in a sustainable way and ensures that they are doing what they can to improve environmental impact.

" The Accelerator program has allowed us to look at our business in more detail and put real changes into place.

For Rumbletums Café that means reducing our carbon footprint and improving energy efficiency. Lower heating and electricity bills will reduce day to day costs. We have already completed attic insulation, a major improvement in the fabric of the building, which will provide lasting benefits to our business.”

- Sarah Rauch, Trustee

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Sector: Sustainability Consulting

Location: Broxtowe

Aria Sustainability, founded in 2020 and based in Beeston Nottingham, is a specialised sustainability firm.

With a team comprising of one director and one employee, they focus on life cycle assessment (LCA) and carbon accounting for both products and organisations. Their core expertise lies in decarbonisation strategies, where they guide companies through the development and implementation of effective plans. They offer support for companies aiming to join initiatives like the Science Based Targets and to enhance their CDP ratings.

Challenges faced

Scaling a startup solely with technical expertise proved to be challenging due to a lack of marketing acumen, business development and having strategic focus making it arduous to plan, communicate and deliver. Due to a scarcity of experts in this niche field, hiring experienced individuals is costly which has been a challenge for the business.

In addition to this, training from scratch is a time-consuming necessity which diverts resources away from running the business and delivery is complex.

Solution and Impact

Aria Sustainability were awarded a small business grant from the Accelerator project which has really helped to propel the business forward. They have used the grant to partner with a local creative agency, to build a website and craft a solid marketing strategy. The website, along with expertly created content, is their online hub, attracting potential customers and boosting sales. This strategic move sets the stage for growth, as increased revenue allows the business to bring in experienced professionals, fuelling further expansion. In addition to funding, the one-to-one support received from a business adviser has also helped to play a significant role in the growth of the business. The business also utilised free webinars provided by the East Midlands Combined County Authority Growth Hub on marketing, social media and sales. These not only helped to conserve funds but also offered valuable insights, guiding the business on how to optimally allocate the grant for the most effective marketing impact.

The impact of this support includes an increase in sales, recruiting additional talent to streamline processes, trimming internal costs, and introducing new capabilities. These will span satellite-based analyses, feasibility studies for solar plants (both heat and electricity aspects), pioneering the development and industrialization of novel packaging materials, optimization projects, and fostering collaborations with universities.

"Our East Midlands Combined County Authority business advisor, Sonny has been a real help in guiding us through the complexities of what is required; diagnosing, action planning to secure important financial support and, starting off strategising. For a micro-business, an infusion of expertise and funds can make a notable impact.”

- Matteo Cossutta, Director

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