Case Studies from 2024

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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Sector: Counselling Services

Location: Derbyshire Dales

As a qualified and accredited counsellor, Billie offers private counselling to adults, children and couples both in person and online. Offering a compassionate and confidential space to work through personal issues and mental illness.

In addition, she has a bank of online self-help courses aimed at supporting people through a specific difficulty using video content and resources to provide the information anytime, anywhere.

Challenges faced

Being a sole trader Billie has faced the challenge of trying to split her time across all areas of the business, especially areas in which her knowledge is quite minimal such as marketing. In additional to this, Billie would like to utilise the accessibility of social media to spread the word. However, this can be difficult due to the stigma and a lack of understanding around mental health that comes with working in this area.

Solution and Impact

Billie received support from the Accelerator project firstly through a dedicated business adviser. The adviser was able to help Billie to understand all areas of her business better, identify pain points and consider the future direction of the business plan. This resulted in an application for a Growth Voucher which Billie was able to use towards support from marketing consultant Lindsey Newman Wood. Working closely with Billie, Lindsey took the time to understand the business goals and aspirations. She provided insight and inspiration into the different ways in which social media can be used to raise awareness of the business and its offering. She also emphasized the importance of personal branding as a marketing strategy and ensuring the business has a face so people can see who they would be receiving support from.

The impact for the business has been increased competitive advantage as similar marketing activity within the sector locally is low. Billie now has a varied social media marketing plan which has helped her to keep on top of the content needed to create and schedule which has helped make this side of the business more manageable given the time pressures she has faced.

"I am really grateful for the support I have received from the chamber and Lindsey, it has given my business a new lease of life and given me encouragement to consider more ways I can expand the services I provide.”

- Billie Pursglove, Owner

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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.