Case Studies from May 2024

Sector: Gift shop, tea rooms, retail experiences

Location: Rushcliffe

Debbie Bryan is an award-winning gallery, tearoom, and creative space. The business began in 2007 and has two venues; Nottingham Lace Market and Ruddington Village.

Its galleries curate fashion, lighting, art, glass, ceramics, and jewellery designed and made by nationwide and international designers. It also specialises in handcrafted textiles, jewellery and original prints made in its design studio. It also sells selected Nottingham Lace gifts; historic papers, framed fabrics and haberdashery trims.

The team of 7 also has a passion for sharing ideas and knowledge via tutored sessions, which they call Crafternoons, and managing an e-commerce website selling their products and gift experiences.

Challenges faced

At present, the business website, booking system, supplier portal all standalone and cannot be integrated. This means manually entering sales, products, and bookings across the systems, which costs the business time and money. So, the challenge has been to move to a solution that integrates the website, booking and supplier portal across the business, including full connectivity of stock and sales data in-store and online.

Solution and Impact

In the past, the business had been supported through the Rushcliffe Digital High Street project and East Midlands Combined County Authority Growth Hub. This focused on improving web analytics, particularly GA4 and setting up product feeds to send ecommerce data to Pinterest and Google Merchant Centre.

More recently Debbie has received 1-2-1 advice from Accelerator Business Adviser, Insan Farooqi, funded by Nottinghamshire County Council’s Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF). They’ve been looking at ideas to elevate the way the business sells online and from its retail shops. The business applied for a Growth Voucher which enabled them to access specialist consultancy support around moving to the Shopify platform to help expand online bookings. They’ve been helped to optimise the Faire Market booking system and implement application integration to streamline operations. This will practically eliminate manual content and data entry of the same information into multiple applications.

This work will help them create and safeguard jobs, reduce costs, increase sales and brand awareness.

The business has also taken advantage of the funded Accelerator workshops on SEO and Developing a Profitable eCommerce Website.

“The support has been exceptional. Insan has helped me develop the project based on our expansion plans for 2024.

We are now implementing the project with the technical expertise of Ian Lockwood and feel very optimistic about the outcome and the benefits it will bring to the business and the team."

- Debbie Bryan, 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 Rushcliffe Borough Council.

Sector: Manufacture of recycled plastic garden furniture

Location: Wirksworth, Derbyshire Dales

Award-winning furniture company TDP sets sights on 10,000 Tonnes of plastic waste being recycled into Furniture.

TDP is a family-run business that won the King’s Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development in 2023. The company designs and manufactures sustainable, environmentally friendly furniture from recycled plastic. TDP’s customers include schools and care homes seeking to provide attractive and easy-clean, easy maintenance outdoor seating areas and homeowners.

Support Received:

• 1-2-1 Adviser support
• Digital Upscaler
• Derbyshire Dales District Council Business Growth Grant, Oct 2023 of £20,750
• Innovate UK Business Growth
• Innovate UK Business Connect
• Made Smarter
• Accelerator

“The insight we received from Growth Hub advisers and input from Innovate UK Business Growth was invaluable. It really helped make our production more energy efficient and sustainable, while our office processes are streamlined. We have exciting times ahead and the support has given us new ways of working that we’re sure will help get us to our goals.”

- Kym Barlow, Commercial Director

Read the full Case Study

Sector: Dance Wear Manufacturing

Location: Chesterfield

Images Costumes is a Chesterfield-based business, designing and manufacturing bespoke dancewear and logo uniforms.

They are also a Lycra fabric specialist retailer. The company began in 2005 and today with 10 employees, they can make any of their costume designs in any fabric combination, to suit the customer's requirements. Costumes are supplied throughout the UK and overseas.

Challenges faced

Like most businesses, Images Costume has faced rising costs in recent years. The company is still dealing with the fallout of Brexit and Covid-19. On top of that, the cost-of-living crisis has brought further price increases which have negatively impacted the business, particularly around reinvesting in staff and updating technology.

Solution and Impact

Managing Director Michelle Webb is working with Peter Lawrence, Business Adviser on the Accelerator project to support business growth and the future sustainability of the business.

Some of the company’s systems needed updating and they identified that a new CAD system and software would improve pattern efficiency and development. Michelle was referred to the Made Smarter East Midlands digital adaption programme, and with guidance from Peter and Made Smarter Digital Transformation Specialist, Prashant Gandabhai on the application process, the business was successfully awarded an £8,300 grant to purchase the CAD new system.

Image Costume’s website and eCommerce platforms also needed a revamp enabling them to make content changes themselves, save on costs and enhance global sales. They are working with Chesterfield Borough Council towards funding for this.

In addition, the business also hopes to reduce its energy consumption, reduce costs and improve efficiency through a funded energy audit.

The new CAD design system means a streamlining of the business’s processes. It will allow Images Costumes to be more competitive offering a larger range of designs and sizes that are relevant and up to date. With this advantage, it will safeguard and create new jobs.

They are also investing in staff training for the new system and their improved eCommerce platform will enable them to expand into new markets.

“The support we received from the advisers on the grant project was key to the success of the funding application.

Small businesses like ours don’t have dedicated procurement departments so their expert knowledge and experience was invaluable. In addition, they were able to bring additional areas of support to our attention, such as the energy audit, which we might otherwise have missed. It was exactly what was needed!”

- Michelle Webb, 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: Food and Drink Retail

Location: Ashfield

Ashfield Accelerator is a brand-new business support project designed to help established businesses based in the District of Ashfield find practical solutions to improve commercial operations leading to sustainable growth. This is being funded by Ashfield District Council’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and delivered by East Midlands Chamber.

Located in the heart of nature within the Mill Waters Park surrounding the reservoir, the award-winning Mill Waters Café has built a strong reputation for its homemade food and welcoming atmosphere.

Patricia Ironside and her team have built the business up over the last 17 years, including increasing turnover each year for the previous three years by over 20%. The team includes five trainees with Special Educational Needs, an important part of the business philosophy.

Challenges faced

Patricia has always looked for ways to improve what the café provides and offer something different and new. Although the café benefits from many returning customers, with competition growing constantly, it was essential to her that the business remained competitive and kept innovating. There was a need to build on previous trials with manufacturing jam and ice cream on-site, which had proved popular and profitable, increasing overall spend per visit.

Solution and Impact

Patricia focused on chocolate as the next extension to the offer at the café, particularly as no other businesses in the local Ashfield area offered handmade chocolates and bars.

The Food and Drink Forum, an Accelerator project partner, has helped Patricia with marketing support. They also helped her apply for a Growth Voucher, which enabled her to take advantage of training from Ellie Wharrad of Studio Chocolate in Nottingham.

Over two days Ellie went through every aspect of handmade chocolate production, from roasting beans to creating fillings, moulding, decorating and painting, and forming bars that had stand-out appeal. Ellie also created “Tricia’s Chocolate Bible” with everything Patricia would need (which was over and above the deliverables of the training).

Patricia completed the training in February 2024, with sampling starting at the café in March. She said that 80% of people who tried them placed an order, particularly for the hand-painted filled chocolates. The bars make a good impulse purchase and are particularly popular with younger visitors.

Patricia plans to train one member of staff to support production, increasing that as sales increase. She will also offer classes and workshops for hen parties or corporate teambuilding days. By manufacturing products in-house that are aligned with the business ethos of “homemade” while offering something not available locally, the support has given the business an additional competitive advantage.

“I’m already seeing additional business as a direct result of the training this grant allowed me to invest in. I would encourage any local business to make time to go through the grant process.”

- Patricia Ironside, 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 Ashfield District Council.

Sector: Manufacturing

Location: Newark & Sherwood

Frances Alexandra Jewellery is a small bespoke, handmade jewellery business run and owned by Alex Parkinson.

Based in Thorseby Hall Park, just outside Worksop and situated within the grade 2 listed building, previously the stable block. Alex started the business in August 2017 and runs jewellery-making workshops.

Challenges faced

Over the years, Alex has actively sought opportunities for personal and professional development. Not having a business background, she has attended several workshops run by East Midlands Chamber and East Midlands Combined County Authority Growth Hub, focused on social media and accountancy. These workshops have equipped her with valuable skills and knowledge, particularly helping in organising her accounts.

Solution and Impact

Alex credits much of her recent success to advice from her business adviser, Alex Gardner from the Accelerator project.

The guidance provided not only boosted her confidence but also reignited her passion for her business. With newfound clarity and support, Alex embraced opportunities she previously hesitated to pursue. This included taking part in craft fairs and making presentations to guests at a local stately house, as well as collaborating with other social media influencers in the craft industry.

The support and guidance from her business adviser and the tools provided by the Accelerator Project have had a profound impact on Alex and her business. She has become more efficient in time management, leading to reduced stress and increased satisfaction in the process of running her business. By re-evaluating her business strategy, she gained confidence in the value of her services, reflected in adjusted pricing.

With ideas and tips for how to increase her engagement via her social media platforms, Alex has increased enquiries. She enjoys creating content for social media and is happy to bring to life her day-to-day operation online for people to engage with.

Through an upturn in her cash flow, Alex has negotiated affordable solutions for essential upgrades to her business, particularly with her website development. Eventually, this will help streamline processes and take away some of the weight of all the admin that she is currently carrying out.

Alex was able to take a holiday recently which she hasn’t been able to do for quite a while. She feels she has more of a handle on her work-life balance now.

Her adviser Alex Gardner commented: “Alex needed fresh eyes on her business when we met. She has a super business and provides a wonderful bespoke handmade jewellery service for the locality and beyond. It is always a privilege when business owners share their experiences of running their own business. Due to Alex’s openness, we got into the details of her operation quite quickly and make adjustments that had an immediate impact.”

“I strongly encourage fellow business owners to seek support through the Accelerator Project. The tangible results I’ve experienced, including increased bookings and positive feedback, attest to the effectiveness of personalised business advisory services.”

- Alex Parkinson, 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 Newark and Sherwood District Council.