Case Studies from December 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.