Case Studies from September 2025

Sector: Manufacturing

Location: Erewash

MW Polymer Products Ltd (MW Polymers) was established 48 years ago by current chairman, Mike Wild.

Based in Little Eaton, Derby the business took its current form and name in December 1992 and is a leading manufacturer of adhesives, sealants and industrial coatings for the utility sector. It provides innovative pipeline remediation technology especially to the gas sector (including all gas distribution networks). There are 15 employees who work from its 13,000 sq. ft facility, where all products are made.

Challenges faced

The fluctuating economy and inflation have been the primary challenges for MW Polymers. These factors have driven up production costs and the price of essential services required to operate. In addition, the year-on-year increase in wages, rising energy costs and war in the Ukraine have upped the cost of oil or oil-based products, which have also contributed to the cost of production.

Solution – Support Given

MW Polymers is being supported by the Derbyshire Accelerator project, funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and delivered by East Midlands Chamber.

It has taken advantage of several support areas:

• Last year the business secured funding from Made Smarter East Midlands which provided expert advice to support its digital transformation through road mapping and automation to improved operational efficiency and boost productivity.
• More recently MW Polymers has been working with Chamber Business Adviser, Richard Smallwood. Richard has introduced the business to the Export Accelerator project which supports businesses to enter and explore new international markets. They are looking for funding to upskill staff and give them an advanced understanding of international trade and custom procedures to facilitate operations.
  The MW Polymers team are also talking to the Chamber’s International team to explore potential funding to engage in new markets and increase international reach through attendance at overseas events through the Export Accelerator project.
• The business is a member of the Chamber’s East Midlands Manufacturing Network (EMMN).  The Network has opened doors through information and advice from fellow manufacturers in the area and network partners to support operations and discuss similar difficulties.
• In addition, through Richard’s 1-to-1 adviser support and mentoring MW Polymers has applied for and been successfully awarded Erewash Borough Council’s Grant for Research and Development this year for the design of a new water repair clamp.

Impact – The Difference it’s Made

It’s early days but the business anticipates the benefit of improved understanding and capacity around international trade procedures, new market entry and presence from the Export Accelerator support.

The Council grant will push its core project into development, reducing costs significantly and ensuring the product to market timeline is undisturbed by external factors.

“M.W. Polymers is enormously proud to be a recipient of the Erewash Borough Council Research & Development Grant.

We appreciate the support provided by the government to support SMEs in the region. We also applaud the dissemination efforts of the Chamber to its members and the entire region and encourage them to continue championing efforts to boost industry growth.

We thank all external stakeholders both private and public for their continuous support and contributions.”

- Mike Wild, CEO

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.

Sector: Retail

Location: High Peak

New Mills Market Hall (which expects to employ 10-20 people once it is up and running) is the brainchild of four lifelong friends who have come together to restore the iconic but vacant Market Hall building into a unique, welcoming food and drink space that celebrates the spirit, culture and history of the town.

The ownership of the building, management of the property and the trading business are all tied together but will operate under different roles and responsibilities. The team therefore needed professional guidance to ensure everything is structured properly from the start.

Challenges faced

The team pooled their savings and got huge support from family members and the like-minded seller of the building. The greatest barrier to making their dream a reality is, however, funding. An ambitious crowdfunding campaign has been set up to raise £25,000 to complete key works and support the opening of a space that will fuse the best of High Peak and the urban flavour of city street food under the same roof.

Solution – Support Given

Support from East Midlands Chamber together with a start-up grant from Derbyshire County Council has given the fundraising campaign the boost it needs.

One-to-one business advice from Chamber Business Adviser Steve Phillips has supported the business in applying for a Growth Voucher for expert financial advice. The chosen accountant had previous experience of advising on similar property-backed ventures, was familiar with the legal, tax, and operational considerations of setting up layered ownership structures and had practical experience of VAT planning in complex property and hospitality settings. Their understanding of how to implement integrated accounting and EPOS systems using Xero and the Access Group suite – both of which will be relied upon to run the food hall efficiently – also proved valuable.

Impact – The Difference it’s Made

As a result of the financial advice received, the business has a much better understanding of tax implications, how best to separate risk between the trading business and the building itself, and putting in place agreements to protect the four owners. Most importantly, it means the business is set up to run smoothly and sustainably from day one, without needing to restructure later at much greater cost and disruption.

“This space is important; not just for us, but for generations of New Mills locals. It’s hard to measure precisely, as we implemented the consultancy at such an early stage, but in theory, accessing this support could have saved us many thousands in future fees and taxes.

Our Chamber Business Adviser Steve Phillips was incredibly helpful in ensuring we accessed the right financial consultancy at the right time and has given us confidence we are more streamlined, financially resilient, and better prepared for growth.”

- Beth Eadie, Co-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.

Sector: Manufacturing

Location: High Peak

A4 Laser Labels is a self-adhesive labels manufacturer and printer located at Whaley Bridge, in the High Peak District.

It began in June 2017 and has 23 employees. Earlier this year the business moved to larger premises, located at Bingswood Industrial Estate, which has more than 3,700sqm of space.

Challenges faced

In recent years, A4 Laser Labels has seen increased competitor activity, in particular cheaper alternatives coming from overseas which has affected sales. Rising energy costs as well as recent hikes in NI and National Minimum Wage have also taken a toll.

Solution – Support Given

A4 Laser Labels is being supported by the Derbyshire Accelerator project, funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and delivered by East Midlands Chamber.

Working with Chamber Business Adviser, Richard Crowden, the company successfully applied for a Growth Voucher.

Businesses in Derbyshire (excluding Bolsover and South Derbyshire) can apply for a Growth Voucher up to the value of £2,000 to fund specialist training or consultancy which has been identified in an action plan.

The business was keen to recycle its waste more efficiently and reduce costs. The Growth Voucher enables A4 Laser Labels to fund an external consultant to evaluate its current processes of waste removal and design an extraction system to separate the recyclable and non-recyclable waste.

A4 Laser Labels has also just been awarded an Export Accelerator grant. Export Accelerator supports new and established exporters to navigate the complexities of international trade whether that’s to undertake initial research or launch a new product or service overseas through grants, events and specialist advisers.

Research has indicated that the Netherlands is potentially an excellent market for the business with turnover, production, staffing numbers and profitability all likely to increase. The grant will be used to help the business translate its current site into Dutch enabling expansion into this market, something which would have been greatly delayed without the grant.

Richard has also introduced A4 Laser Labels to the East Midlands Manufacturing Network, a Chamber initiative which provides peer support, insights and updates for manufacturers in the region through a manufacturing network adviser and regular forums.

Impact – The Difference it’s Made

It’s early days, but it’s hoped the new systems will enable the business to recycle more efficiently, with a lot less material going to waste (estimated 90%) and also create jobs.

“The assistance afforded by the Growth Voucher will enable us to use our consultant to investigate systems to make us more energy efficient and recycle more of our waste.”

- Laurence Bloom, Chairman & 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.

Sector: Travel

Location: Gedling

Blue Stamp Travel specialises in tailor-made cultural tours, language courses and work experience abroad.

Since its inception in 2018, it has grown to employ ten staff which has led to a recent move to new premises in Daybrook, Nottingham.

Challenges faced

Working in international markets means this Chamber member business is highly exposed to the volatility of the exchange rate. A single political event or decision on the other side of the world can have an impact on its transactions and requires the business to be continually fleet footed in how it manages its operations. At the same time, it seeks to achieve its ambition to become a more sustainable business and to develop a growing portfolio of destinations and organising more trips that inevitably require an increase in staffing capacity. Choosing when to scale up and managing staff and workload through this change takes some consideration, not least against a backdrop of global uncertainty.

Solution – Support Given

Under the first round of the Accelerator project, the business took advantage of a premises energy audit which supported its successful application for a £10,000 decarbonisation grant from Gedling Borough Council, contributing to the purchase and installation of a solar battery and two replacement energy efficient external doors.  Staff knowledge was boosted by attending the Accelerator workshops on HR Essentials and Marketing Made Easy for Tourism Businesses, and its Managing Director Steve Manderson boosted his personal network by regularly attending the Gedling Business Support Network meetings.

Most recently, the business has benefitted from an £8,000 High Growth Accelerator grant to develop a trip planning portal to efficiently manage enquiries, quotes, bookings and trip delivery.  Since first implementing this platform with the support of a £2,500 Business Growth Grant from Gedling Borough Council, the business has increased capacity for delivering more packages.  The High Growth Accelerator grant will develop the platform further to support work with the increased number of students and schools.

Impact – The Difference it’s Made

As a result of enhancing its Group Trip web pages and refining the way it quotes, as well as the presentation of its quotes, the business expects Accelerator support to increase the number of enquiries for group travel. The business’s success rate of converting enquiries to sales is already very good so it anticipates this will directly lead to increased sales. In anticipation of this, it has appointed a new member of staff. 

“Maintaining and developing the bespoke technology that sits behind so many of the company systems and operations is an ongoing labour of love.

The support we have received with this through the Accelerator programme has allowed us to grow and enhance our offer at a much faster rate than would otherwise be possible.”

- Steve Manderson, 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.