Case Studies from 2026

Sector: Medical Devices

Location: Bassetlaw

(Please note: the content below contains references to miscarriage.)

Dignity Care was launched on 30 May 2025 and is based in Retford, Bassetlaw. The business design and supply medical devices to manage miscarriages both at home and in hospitals.

The team of three is led by Managing Director, Laura Corcoran who started Dignity Care following her own tragic miscarriage and the care or lack of, at this time.

Laura covers her personal story on the business’ website. She says: “No one should have to go through what I went through. Miscarriage care should be compassionate, dignified and supportive, no matter where or when it happens.

This experience showed me just how broken the system is, and I am determined to make sure other women are treated with the respect they deserve during such a painful time.”

The business has grown quickly since inception, and its products are already used in 30 NHS hospitals and across Europe, including Ireland and Germany.

Challenges faced

Like other healthcare systems across the world, Dignity Care has found that the NHS has been extremely slow moving and each hospital has its own systems and funding, which has hindered growth.

Though there is a desire to expand, the investment required in staff to scale is substantial, so growth has been approached cautiously and sustainably.

Solution – Support Given

Dignity Care has been working with Innovation and Growth Specialist, Paul Bennett who has provided 1-to-1 advice on strategy and growth. He also connected the business with a Research Technology Organisation (RTO) collaboration to build data and demonstrate the impact of the product to the NHS. This work was funded through a £15,000 Innovate UK RTO grant.

Paul also supported product development, creation of a road map for the future around understanding the value proposition, engagement with the NHS and international growth.

Dignity Care has also been helped by East Midlands Chamber’s Head of Business Support Services, Paul Stuart. Paul supported the business with a business diagnostic and guidance on the EMCCA Export Accelerator grant application.

Dignity Care was successfully awarded £8,000 towards the cost of attending two midwifery conferences in Canada and the USA to help them launch their products abroad.

Laura commented: “What we do is deeply personal – we supply medical devices for miscarriage. Having the in-person conversations help develop relationships that materialise into sales.”

Impact - The Difference it’s Made

The support has had a major impact on the business. As a result of attending the conferences, Dignity Care has connected with new clients and secured sales in the USA. There's also research areas materialising in partnership with US hospitals to evaluate the quality of genetic samples to identify causes of miscarriage.

Support has helped productivity by fast-tracking the business’ entry into new international markets and facilitated engagement with key stakeholders in a short space of time.
It has also helped the business create a new part-time role and safeguard current roles.

Laura continued: “More sales, continued revenue and expansion into new markets, strengthens the business and allows us to take research and development into other areas of expansion. The benefits of the support have been felt and is very encouraging.”

“Exceptional, the support and investment from the Chamber have been fantastic. They really seek to understand the problem and help in any way they can.”

- Laura Corcoran, Managing Director

Read the full Case Study

Sector: Consultancy

Location: Derby

Unheard Voice, based in Derby, was established in February 2018 by Marsha Ramroop. It is a specialist organisational inclusion strategist and culture change consultancy.

Marsha explains on the website: “I help organisations understand how their everyday behaviours shape who’s allowed in, who progresses, and ultimately, what gets built.”

This is done by using: 'Cultural Intelligence (CQ)' as a practical framework to help individuals and organisations recognise bias, slow down decision-making, and act inclusively in real situations like recruitment, leadership, design, procurement and collaboration.

Challenges faced

As the business has grown, one of the biggest challenges has been creating a more consistent pipeline of consultancy work while protecting Marsha’s time and balancing client delivery with business development. Building confidence around pricing, strengthening cash flow forecasting and establishing the right legal foundations for the business have also been key priorities.

Plans to expand into Australia, where the built environment is further ahead in its cultural shift, were significantly impacted by rising international travel costs, making this important market inaccessible.

In addition, the political narrative surrounding workplace culture can make it difficult to communicate the value of the work, while investment in this area is often one of the first budgets to be reduced. Despite these challenges, Marsha has remained committed to implementing new ideas and taking positive action to strengthen and grow the business.

Solution – Support Given

Unheard Voice® has been supported by East Midlands Chamber Business Adviser, Lisa Baggott. Marsha has been working with Lisa through monthly meetings, on a 1-to-1 basis, for the past nine months.

Marsha comments: “What sets Lisa apart is how practical and specific her advice is. She doesn’t deal in generalities. Every session leaves me with clear priorities and pertinent next steps, and when I action them, they consistently lead to tangible opportunities. Her coaching has also grown my confidence as a business owner in a way that's hard to overstate.”

With guidance on the grant application from Lisa, the business successfully secured funding from the EMCCA Export Accelerator project which enabled Marsha to attend the WSBE26 (World Sustainable Built Environment) Conference in Melbourne, Australia, where she was able to make meaningful connections with those working on these areas. She also presented a talk on CQ-Cultural Intelligence, and the opportunity to bring meaningful behaviour and culture change to the Built Environment, to industry professionals at a global architecture firm, thanks to local contacts, where she sold out of her book: Building Inclusion

Impact - The Difference it’s Made

The impact of support on the business has been ‘transformative’.

Marsha says: "The Export Grant allowed me to push at an open door, where the construction sector in Australia is already pursuing an approach to culture change, and this directly aligns with my work. Being able to meet directly with people and discuss these matters has meant I have been more able to make an impression for business growth purposes, and follow ups are already happening.”

Though it’s difficult to put a monetary value to support Marsha reports that her turnover this financial year has been 50% higher than the same period last year. She also expects to be actively working in Australia this time next year.

“Lisa helped me access an Export Grant that enabled me to travel to Melbourne to explore growth opportunities in Australia. It proved a genuinely fruitful trip that simply wouldn't have happened without her guidance.

If you have the opportunity to work with Lisa, take it. She is an exceptional business adviser, and I recommend her without reservation.”

- Marsha Ramroop, Founder

Read the full Case Study

Sector: Creative/Digital

Location: Derby

Bloc Digital is a Derby based business employing around 70 people in the UK. The business supports the aerospace, space and defence sectors with custom solutions for marketing & events, training & support together with digital transformation.

Bloc Digital helps clients to work smarter, be more connected and have a greater impact on them with digital twins, immersive training, data visualisation and Industrial IoT (Internet of Things) to name a few.

The business is proud to call multinational and blue-chip organisations like Airbus, Eurofighter Typhoon, Leonardo, Rolls-Royce, BAE, Boeing and Textron as its clients.

Challenges faced

Bloc Digital face a few barriers to growth (or learning curves):
Historically the business has grown organically by word of mouth and client recommendation. This has seen growth year-on-year for the past 26 years (excluding Covid). Recently Bloc Digital has started more outbound business development for the first time, reaching out to new companies. This is a new function for them and the team are learning how best – and how not to – do this.

• Bloc Digital has been investing in creating three SaaS (software as a service) products to complement its existing service offerings. These products are about to be launched, however the business has no experience of product selling, so again this will be a steep learning curve, and possibly a barrier to growth if they don’t get it right.
• Innovate UK internationalisation support enabled the business to visit the US market, gain knowledge, market information and business leads. This activity led to the opening of two US offices in Ohio and Kansas. Following further international support from Innovate UK the business also has plans to open an office in Singapore in 2027. A huge opportunity for business growth in the Asian Market.

Solution – Support Given

Prior to East Midlands Chamber’s support, the business was working for several years with Innovate UK Business Growth and received innovation funding and internationalisation support to help the growth strategy from Paul Humphreys and Neil McCluskey.

Bloc Digital has also been supported by Chamber Business Adviser, Lisa Baggott and the EMCCA Export Accelerator project. Lisa conducted a business diagnostic, which highlighted its growth ambitions. This included the desire to explore the US space technology sector and the California/West Coast space and aerospace ecosystems, which are new markets for the business.

With guidance from Lisa on the grant application, Bloc Digital successfully secured funding to attend the Space Tech Expo USA 2026 in Anaheim, California. This enabled the business to meet potential customers, partners, supplies and sector contacts. It also allowed the business to test and refine its proposition directly with relevant US organisations.

As a Chamber member and neighbour to East Midlands Chamber, located in the Enterprise Centre in Derby, Bloc Digital have independently supported East Midlands Manufacturing Network (EMMN) members. In January 2026, at the request of Derby members, the business shared an inspiring peer presentation on their growth journey and gave EMMN members the opportunity to go behind the scenes and see how they are helping manufacturers and inspiring the industry with digitalisation.

The business has also won a number of awards in recent years including the Commitment to People Development at the Derbyshire Business Awards 2026.

Impact - The Difference it’s Made

Accelerator support has enabled Bloc Digital to research demand and understand customer requirements and assess routes to a new market in the US.

Director and founder Keith Cox commented: “As a result of the support we expect to be able to grow our client base, both here in the UK and internationally. This will enable us to grow the business and achieve the next round of investment into Bloc which will see us have accelerated growth and employ new staff.”

The event was only a few weeks ago, so the business is busy working on leads to move across to meetings. However, they’ve already had four new requests, two of which are for its new marketing product, even though it’s at the pre-launch stage.

Keith adds: “Already we are seeing a great ROI for this trip, just a week after going, which is very encouraging.”

“This has been an amazing opportunity for Bloc Digital. We are already seeing benefits from this support.”

- Keith Cox, Director & Founder

Read the full Case Study

Sector: Beauty, Education & Training

Location: Derby

Perfect Technique Aesthetics and Training is based in Derby city centre and was set up in 2020 by Lauren Pedley.

It provides accredited aesthetics training for both medical and non-medical professionals, alongside advanced aesthetic treatments.

Perfect Technique Aesthetics became a limited company in 2022 and has a growing team of three who provide support across sales, administration and business operations. The business offers a comprehensive learning experience that combines theory, practical training, ongoing mentoring and business support. This helps students gain the confidence, skills and support they need to build a successful career in aesthetics.

Challenges faced

As the business began to grow one of the biggest challenges was managing every aspect of it while continuing to deliver high quality training. Like many business owners, Lauren was responsible for everything from teaching and marketing to administration, sales and day to day operations. As demand increased it became clear that Lauren had to build the right team, improve business systems and develop a clear strategy for growth – without compromising the personalised training and support the academy was known for.

Solution – Support Given

Perfect Technique Aesthetics has been supported by East Midlands Chamber Business Adviser, Sonny Lakhani and the EMCCA High Growth Accelerator. Sonny has provided 1-to-1 business advice and helped Lauren take a more strategic approach to growing the business. It was over the course of a number of these diagnostic meetings and intensive support that action plans were put into place for short, medium and long-term growth.

They also identified that specialist consultants in branding, marketing and finance were needed which gave the business access to expertise it wouldn’t otherwise have had. Lauren has also had meetings focused on improving her financial systems and processes helping her build stronger foundations to support the continued growth of the academy.

Impact - The Difference it’s Made

Lauren commented: “The support has given me greater confidence to make strategic decisions that will support the long-term growth of my business. It reinforced the importance of implementing strong financial systems, improving processes and building the right team to support future expansion.

“As a result, I’m creating a more structured and scalable business, which will allow us to continue growing while maintaining the high standards of training and support we are known for.”

The support has reinforced the importance of investing in the right systems and team to build growth. As a result, the business has expanded by recruiting two new team members and is implementing new financial systems and processes to improve efficiency, support future growth and create a stronger foundation for long-term success.

“Having access to experienced advisers has been invaluable and has helped me build a stronger, more sustainable business.”

- Lauren Pedley, Director

Read the full Case Study

Sector: Retail

Location: High Peak

High Peak Tech & Hobbies is a tech repair and sales business based in Chapel-en-le-Frith.

Since 2020 Oliver George and his wife Jade have owned this small independent business which serves customers in the town and surrounding communities. It provides device repairs, advice and technology products including phones, tablets and laptops.

What makes this business somewhat different is that alongside the tech support, it also serves the hobby and miniature gaming community, with a particular focus on Warhammer and tabletop modelling.

Oliver and Jade are very much hands-on in the business and are proud to be part of the high street, offering a friendly, approachable service. Their vision is to create a place people can come for practical help with technology, and also browse hobby products, talk about gaming and connect with others who have the same interests.

Challenges faced

One of the key challenges has been around rising energy costs and general overheads which has created additional pressure. For a small retail business with premises, even relatively small increases can have a high impact on margins. At the same time, inflation has affected the cost of products, materials and day-to-day business expenses, as well as the reduced disposable income of customers.

Being a two-person business, capacity is also a challenge. Oliver and Jade have plenty of great ideas to boost business growth – especially around marketing – but finding the time and skills to do things consistently can be difficult alongside dealing with repairs, customers, stock, sales and other business demands.

Despite knowing that business visibility is very important, marketing is often pushed back when more pressing day-to-day demands take over. However, there was also a need to bring more people through the door to help the business grow.

Solution – Support Given

High Peak Tech & Hobbies has been supported by East Midlands Chamber Business Adviser, Steve Phillips and the Accelerator project. Steve has provided advice, guidance and encouragement enabling Oliver and Jade to look at the business more clearly, talk through challenges and identify practical ways to move forward.

Support has given the couple a chance to step back from the business and look at it from a different perspective. Oliver said:

“When you’re running a small business every day, it can be difficult to find the time to properly review what is working, what could be improved and where support could have the biggest impact.”

Accelerator support has been particularly useful around marketing and visibility. Jade added:

“We talked about how the business presents itself, how we can make better use of social media and how we can show the shop’s personality more. That’s important as its not just tech repairs and sales, we’ve got this whole Warhammer and hobby side, which makes us more distinctive.”

The business successfully applied for a Growth Voucher which provided £1,520 funding towards a social media manager session and video team. This consultancy support helped to create new content which better explained what High Peak Tech & Hobbies do, showcase its range of services and products, and bring the business to life online.

Jade and Oliver also attended the funded Accelerator workshop ‘Practical Guide to Marketing’ to help enhance business skills.

Impact - The Difference it’s Made

Oliver and Jade report they have already seen more footfall into the business, which has been very encouraging. This allows them to have more conversations, more enquiries and more opportunities to build relationships with customers. Importantly it also gives them a chance to help people understand their unique set up of tech repair, hobby products and tabletop gaming.

Steve has also helped them set up a new podcast which has had a good response and brought in new customers already.

Accelerator support has given the team access to expertise and experience which they may not have been able to bring into the business themselves, and move ideas into practical actions, particularly around marketing and raising the visibility of the business.Oliver said:

“The support has also helped us feel more confident about how we promote the business. We now have a clearer understanding of the importance of showing what we do rather than assuming people already know. The content support should help us communicate the full range of the business more effectively, including repairs, sales and the Warhammer side.

It’s also helped us feel less isolated as business owners. Having someone to speak to, ask questions and talk through ideas has been valuable. It’s helped us focus on realistic actions that fit the size and capacity of our business.”

It’s early days to measure the full impact but the increase in footfall indicates that better visibility and more focused marketing can bring in new and existing customers to the shop. For High Peak Tech & Hobbies this helps safeguard the business by strengthening its local presence and reminding people that there’s an independent business they can visit locally.

“I would like to say a huge thank you to Steve and the Derbyshire Accelerator project for the support.

Steve has supported us every step of the way, answered our questions and helped us understand the support available. It has been reassuring to have someone who takes the time to listen, understand the business and suggest practical steps that feel achievable for a small independent business like ours.

Overall, it has made a positive difference and helped us think more clearly about how we continue to grow the business."

- Oliver & Jade George, Directors

Read the full Case Study

Sector: Retail

Location: Broxtowe

Fitzmark Promotions Ltd is a specialist retailer and supplier of workwear, uniforms, PPE and branded promotional merchandise.

The business, based in Eastwood, also offers in-house printing and embroidery services. It was established in 2004 by Directors, Shane Fitzgerald and Mark Skull and has two full time employees.

Challenges faced

The business has faced several barriers to growth including a lack of marketing capability and the absence of an eCommerce website. There was also a need to expand production capacity through the introduction of modern printing technology.

Competition from low-cost overseas alternatives was also proving to be a challenge together with the unstable economic climate in the UK.

Solution – Support Given

Fitzmark Promotions has been supported by East Midlands Chamber Business Adviser, Insan Farooqi and the EMCCA Growth Hub High Street project. Insan conducted a business diagnostic analysis, providing strategic advice and support with growth planning. This included signposting and providing guidance on an application for Broxtowe Borough Council’s Business Growth Grant. The business was also helped to develop a marketing strategy and given planning support for the introduction of DTF (Direct-to-Film) printing services. Further guidance was given to explore local networking opportunities to raise awareness of its services.

Impact - The Difference it’s Made

The expected impact includes improved competitiveness through modernised printing capabilities, a more efficient production workflow and the introduction of new services that will attract both existing and new customers.

The creation of an eCommerce website will help expand reach beyond the physical retail store. The investment in new technology is expected to safeguard existing jobs and support long-term business sustainability.

“The support has given us clarity on our growth direction and the confidence to invest in new printing technology. It’s been invaluable for helping us modernise our offer and plan our next steps.”

- Shane Fitzgerald, Director

Read the full Case Study

Sector: Manufacturing

Location: Derbyshire Dales

CODEL was established in 1982 and is a leading designer and manufacturer of emission monitoring instrumentation. Based in Bakewell, Derbyshire, its advanced systems monitor emissions to the atmosphere, ensuring air quality in road and rail tunnels, supporting plant and rail safety worldwide.

It has 44 employees and since 2016 has been part of the Forbes Marshall Group, a global engineering business specialising in energy efficiency and process automation.

Challenges faced

Like many small businesses, CODEL continues to face increasing operational pressures, including rising energy costs, higher staffing expenses and wider UK economic uncertainty. While these factors can limit the pace of domestic expansion, CODEL operates within the global emissions monitoring sector, a market driven by tightening environmental regulations and increasing sustainability commitments worldwide. Recognising that emissions compliance is a global priority, the company made a strategic decision to prioritise export growth as a route to resilience and long-term expansion.

Solution – Support Given

Through Managing Director, Richard Hallam’s involvement in the East Midlands Manufacturing Network (EMMN), CODEL accessed financial and advisory support through the Export Accelerator project, delivered by East Midlands Chamber. This support enabled the company to focus on developing a new market in Southern Africa, specifically South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana and Zambia. This region has significant concentrations of power generation, cement production and mining facilities aligned to CODEL’s core expertise.

With an Export Accelerator grant, CODEL commissioned Newreach Insights, an external company, to undertake a comprehensive market viability study. This included identifying key industry stakeholders, mapping market potential and initiating contact with prospective distribution partners and end users. Over 300 industry contacts were identified, significantly increasing CODEL’s brand visibility in the region. From this structured outreach, three strategically positioned South African partners were selected to provide coverage across the wider Southern African territory.

Crucially, Export Accelerator also part-funded an in-market visit, allowing Richard to meet potential partners and end users face-to-face. This accelerated trust-building, strengthened technical discussions and significantly reduced the typical timeline associated with entering a new international market.

Impact - The Difference it’s Made

The impact of the project has been substantial. Within weeks of engagement, the initiative generated over £500,000 in quotations, with a number already converting into confirmed purchase orders. The Southern African market now represents a projected opportunity in excess of £3m over the next five years.

While the financial support was instrumental, the advisory guidance provided through the project, particularly from Chamber Business Adviser, Andy Bunn, was equally valuable. His input helped refine the market-entry strategy, challenge assumptions and maintain momentum throughout the process. For a small business entering a new global territory, having access to experienced, independent support provided both accountability and confidence at critical decision points.

Without the combined financial and strategic support of the Export Accelerator project, this level of progress would not have been achievable within such a compressed timeframe. The project reduced the commercial risk associated with overseas expansion and enabled CODEL to adopt a structured, outcome-focused approach. Importantly, it has provided a proven, repeatable model for entering additional global markets in the future.

As a result, CODEL is now positioned for sustained export growth, increased turnover and, in time, further team expansion, demonstrating the tangible and lasting impact of the Export Accelerator project.

“The Export Accelerator project gave us the confidence and backing to move decisively into a new international market. The support from Andy Bunn and the East Midlands Manufacturing Network was invaluable in accelerating our progress and reducing the risk of overseas expansion. The results in Southern Africa have exceeded expectations and created a clear pathway for further global growth.”

- Richard Hallam, Managing Director

Read the full Case Study

Sector: Manufacturing

Location: Rushcliffe

Far UK Ltd was set up in July 2012 and is based in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire.

It specialises in the design, development and manufacture of lightweight composite parts and assemblies, using advanced materials such as carbon and glass fibre. Its work spans concept design, engineering analysis, tooling, prototyping and low volume manufacturing with strong capability in sustainable transport applications.

Challenges faced

The greatest barriers to growth for Far UK have been internal capacity constraints, particularly within sales and marketing, which have limited the business’ ability to proactively target new customers and international markets. Its export activity has declined due to these limited resources and reduced travel post-COVID.

As a technically strong but lean SME, Far UK has also faced challenges associated with scaling, managing international compliance and competing with larger global suppliers.

Solution – Support Given

Far UK has taken advantage of tailored one-to-one support from the Accelerator project and East Midlands Chamber Business Adviser, Isan Farooqi. Initially this was through a full business diagnostic and review of the business’ strategy, financial position and internal capacity.

The business secured funding from the Export Accelerator project, with guidance from Insan which has helped Far UK re-establish international activity, including routes to enter European and Chinese markets. It has also had recommendations on export finance, support available from Innovate UK, trade missions and cluster membership (composites/ automotive).

Far UK have also been involved in the Chamber-led East Midlands Manufacturing Network which holds regular forum meetings enabling manufacturers to learn about the latest support available as well as network and collaborate with other makers in the region. As Far UK have grown and entered new sectors, the network has provided the connections required for the business to benefit from mutually beneficial cross-collaboration projects between other members of EMMN, helping the company compete in the global market.

Impact - The Difference it’s Made

The support has given Far UK a clearer strategic focus and renewed confidence in growing its export activity.

The business is now better positioned to engage with new international customers, supported by a more structured plan for trade shows and overseas market re‑entry. This is expected to enhance competitiveness, strengthen the manufacturing order book and safeguard jobs within the business.

Improved clarity around funding routes and export support has also helped Far UK plan investment more effectively, reducing internal constraints on growth.

The company anticipates increased revenue opportunities from Europe and China as a direct result of the engagement.

“The support from the Chamber has been invaluable. Having a clear, structured plan for export activity and an external perspective on our challenges has helped us refocus our efforts and move forward with confidence.

The adviser understood our business, our technical strengths and the constraints we face, and provided practical support that will make a real difference to our growth plans.” 

- Lyndon Sanders, Director

Read the full Case Study

Sector: Manufacturing

Location: North East Derbyshire

Renewable Innovations & Solutions, trading as GreenChill Systems was established in 2020 by husband and wife team, Paul and Fiona Cropper.

The business is based in Clay Cross, NE Derbyshire and provides renewable energy systems for refrigerated transport.

It specialises in bolt-on renewable systems specially designed for refrigerated trailers. GreenChill Systems deliver zero-emission cooling powered by solar energy and on-board batteries, while retaining the existing diesel engine as a backup. Its systems are retrofit ready which means they can be installed on new and existing trailers. With its real-time monitoring and control, fleet operators can optimise energy use and reduce fuel costs. The team has recently grown to four employees.

Challenges faced

One of the key barriers to growth was the limitation that only one person could work on a vehicle roof at a time. This constraint negatively impacted turnaround times and overall production efficiency. Enabling multiple people to work on a single vehicle simultaneously would not only improve turnaround times but also create opportunities for training during this stage of the installation process.

Another challenge was that GreenChill customers were asking for service and maintenance plans as part of their overall package. This was a complex area that needed specialist support and careful wording to protect the business and minimise the risk of financial exposure.

Solution – Support Given

GreenChill Systems has been supported by East Midlands Chamber Business Adviser, David Smith and Manufacturing Network Manager, Debbie Rogers.

Paul and Fiona have been involved with the East Midlands Manufacturing Network (EMMN) for the past few years regularly attending Derbyshire meetings. The Network has proved a valuable source of information for business support and an opportunity to connect with and learn from other manufacturers.

Debbie introduced the team to Accelerator and David, who provided a thorough diagnostic of the business to determine priorities and create an action plan. He also supported them with the grant application for the High Growth Accelerator which provided £2,000 funding towards the cost of two genie lifts. This will enable access to vehicle roofs by multiple people and means GreenChill Systems can implement in-house training.

The business also successfully applied for a £450 Growth Voucher which provided specialist legal guidance on the contractual wording required for its new service plans.

Fiona said: “The challenge in creating service plans for our customers was knowing who to ask. David helped me recognise that legal guidance was appropriate and funding from the Growth Voucher for specialist advice provided security for the business. It enabled us to create a product that was good for our customers and our business.”

The team have also taken advantage of funded Accelerator training events to develop their business knowledge.  This includes Creating a Healthy & Sustainable Working Environment, Getting Started with HR Essentials, Practical Guide to Leadership and Management, Harnessing AI for Business and the Finance Peer Network.

Impact - The Difference it’s Made

The High Growth Accelerator grant has helped improve customer turnaround time which will enable GreenChill Systems to become more productive.

Fiona commented: “As we scale up to meet increasing customer demand it is essential that we can up-skill our installation staff. This new equipment purchased via the grant will enable existing and new staff to be trained on the more demanding aspects of our installations leading to smoother, quicker and more stream-lined production. This in turn means we can increase our customer capacity, fulfil orders on time and achieve customer success.”

The legal guidance provided has supported the introduction of service/maintenance plans which its customers were seeking. This adds value to the GreenChill System’s offer and could potentially help the business secure new commercial contracts.

Fiona continued: “We now have a professional Aftercare Pack which gives our customers confidence and comfort in knowing they have choices to ensure their assets will be well looked after but also ensures that the company is protected.”

As a result of the support, installation times will be reduced by 50% going from two days to one, and there is potential for further reductions with an increase in the number of skilled employees.

“As someone new to the business world, it’s encouraging to know that I can call with any question or just to run a scenario by someone who will provide a genuine and friendly response when I’m looking for answers or reassurance.

It has meant so much to our company that East Midlands Chamber offers such invaluable support in many and varied ways and particularly David and Debbie who have been our key points of contact.”

- Fiona Cropper, Director

Read the full Case Study

Sector: Floristry

Location: High Peak

Norris Master Florists is a design-led floral studio and retail space based in Glossop, Derbyshire.

Founded in 2020 by Master Florist Anja Norris, the business has grown into a multi-award-winning studio, including recognition at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, and works across retail, weddings, corporate installations and brand collaborations.

There’s one full-time and two part-time employees plus freelance support during key trading periods, including apprentices, with a strong focus on training and developing future florists.

Norris specialises in natural, expressive floral design, creating everything from everyday bouquets to large-scale installations for events, exhibitions and commercial clients. The studio is known for its distinctive style, combining seasonal materials with a sculptural, story-led approach to floral design.

Challenges faced

As the business has grown, one of the key barriers has been a lack of dedicated in-house marketing expertise, especially in relations to strategic content planning and the use of social channels such as LinkedIn for business development.

While Norris has built a strong visual identity and presence on Instagram, there was an opportunity to communicate the breadth, value and commercial relevance of the business more clearly - particularly its corporate installation and high value project work - to a more targeted, decision-making audience.

The business is now at a critical growth stage, where time and resources needed to be allocated with greater precision. This includes actively shifting operational and day to day responsibilities away from Anja to allow a stronger focus on business development, strategic partnerships and long-term growth.

Without a more structured approach to content and messaging, there was a bottleneck, limiting visibility in key markets and reducing the effectiveness of business development activity.

Solution – Support Given

Norris Master Florists has been supported by East Midlands Chamber Business Adviser, Steve Phillips and the Accelerator project. With guidance from Steve on the application, the business successfully received £2,400 in funding towards specialist social media consultancy and support.

Social media business SMMS supported the business in developing a clear, commercially aligned content strategy which included: a content calendar to improve consistency; two LinkedIn content creation days and corporate facing content; a suite of photography and videos, and guidance on positioning for a B2B audience.

Anja commented: “Jo Booth and the team at SMMS gave us clear, practical guidance on how to shift our positioning - and how to move beyond what we’re known for to find and communicate the next layer of the business. Working with them gave us both the structure and the assets to do that. It’s helped us translate what we do visually into something much more commercially clear and relevant, particularly for a corporate audience.”

The content creation days captured the studio, process and founder voice in a way that can now be used consistently across platforms.

Impact - The Difference it’s Made

Support provided has enabled Norris to take a more structured, commercial focused approach to marketing, strengthening its positioning within corporate, events and installation-led sectors. Key impacts include:

• Clearer and more confident positioning when communicating with commercial and corporate clients
• Improved ability to articulate the value and pricing integrity of higher-end, design-led work
• Increased visibility with a more targeted, decision-making audience via LinkedIn
• A strong bank of professional visual and video content to support ongoing marketing and brand storytelling
• Greater consistency in messaging across platforms

The creation of a defined content strategy has improved efficiency saving an estimated 8 to 12 hours a month. The support has also contributed to a shift in how time and resources are allocated within the business. With a clear marketing framework and reusable content, the business is less reliant on reactive founder led content, allowing greater focus on business development, partnerships and higher-value opportunities.

Overall, the support has strengthened the business’s commercial positioning, provided increased visibility, more effective audience targeting and improved potential for lead generation with key growth markets.
 

“The support came at exactly the right point for us as a business. We’re at a stage where growth isn’t just about doing more - it’s about being more focused in how we position ourselves and where we direct our time.

The support has also allowed a shift internally - creating space for me to focus more on business development and the next stage of growth, rather than being pulled into day-to-day content creation. It feels like a much more intentional way of moving the business forward.”

- Anja Norris, Founder

Read the full Case Study

Sector: Engineering & Manufacturing

Location: Derby

Derby based Aerodyn is an international, highly specialised engineering business that provides instrumentation services and products for turbomachinery applications and slip rings* for aerospace and defence applications.

The company was established in 2007 as a subsidiary of Aerodyn Engineering LLC, which was founded in 2002 and located in Indianapolis, USA. Since 2018, the business is independently owned but still works closely with its sister company in the USA.

With an established customer base, including major firms such as Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, Siemans Energy and international markets the business is in an exciting phase of growth with ambitions around export, investment, operational expansion and future certification.

(*Slip rings are electromechanical devices that are used to transmit power and data between a stationary structure and a rotating component. They are commonly used in systems where continuous rotation is required while maintaining the transfer of electrical signals or power.)

Challenges faced

Some of the barriers to growth related to understanding what local support was available and identifying suitable export opportunities. At the same time, the business was managing increased demand following the closure of another UK business, whose US parent company decided to consolidate its slip ring capabilities in the US, with new contracts ready to be negotiated. However, they did not yet have the capacity to deliver this level of work without expanding their production capability in Derby, investing in machinery and employing more staff. This presented a challenge, as these costs would need to be committed to before any contract income was received.

The business was also dealing with fluctuating revenue linked to delays in defence contracts, which added further uncertainty when planning for growth. Alongside this, they were keen to grow their export market, and an opportunity to attend a trade show in Seoul had also presented itself.

Solution – Support Given

Aerodyn has been working with East Midlands Chamber Business Adviser, Lisa Baggott, and the Accelerator project since summer 2025.

During the initial meeting, Lisa took time to understand the business, its ambitions and the challenges it faced in scaling up. From there, she helped identify relevant support and funding opportunities that could move the business forward. This included guidance with Aerodyn’s successful Export Accelerator grant application, which secured £8,000 towards attending an international aerospace and defence trade show in South Korea to explore export opportunities, as well as supporting updates to the company’s website for its defence-related products.

Recognising the wider scale of the opportunity, Lisa also connected the business to a broader package of support. This included signposting international trade support through East Midlands Chamber, introducing Aerodyn to the East Midlands Manufacturing Network, and making connections to the British Business Bank and Midlands Engine Investment Fund II via Maven. She also supported the business with guidance on its £250,000 Invest to Grow expression of interest to help unlock investment for expansion. Through this process, the business was also given the opportunity to apply for an additional £25,000 University of Derby capital grant towards equipment.

To strengthen support even further, Lisa referred Aerodyn to the Innovate UK High Growth programme, helping the business access additional specialist expertise to support its next stage of growth.

Impact - The Difference it’s Made

The support has led to the creation of two new jobs, taking the team to 27 at the Derby base. Another significant impact has been the realisation, through working with East Midlands Chamber, that there is an excellent local network of experienced advisers and support for SMEs to help realise growth and export ambitions.

“Overall, I find Lisa to be extremely helpful and knowledgeable. She has provided myself and the business valuable information and insights at a critical stage in the next phase of our business growth and export plan.”

- Chris Claypole, Managing Director

Read the full Case Study

Sector: Creative

Location: Derbyshire Dales

Ian Daisley Photography was established in 2008. The business is based in Via Gellia Mill, Bonsall where it has been based since 2009.

Ian’s services have included weddings, family portraits (studio and on location) holiday property, company events, landscapes, product photography and more. Ian also tutors photography and is a lecturer for photography clubs.

In 2024 Ian moved the business to a smaller unit to concentrate more on commercial work, small product photography, printing and design.

Challenges faced

The business has been successful in securing work through word of mouth and repeat business, whether that’s photographing products, property interiors/exteriors, people, art collections, food & drink, or the delivery of art lectures and tuition.

However, with a desire to concentrate more on commercial photography instead of weddings and portraits – the main source of income initially – the business needed to take a more strategic approach to marketing activity for these commercial markets.

As well as developing this market, Ian also needed to promote the new services of graphic design, layout and printing for items such as books, leaflets, posters and brochures.

Solution – Support Given

Ian Daisley Photography has been supported by East Midlands Chamber’s Head of Business Support Services, Paul Stuart and the Accelerator project. As well as receiving one-to-one business advice on future growth, the business successfully applied for a Growth Voucher which funded specialist marketing consultancy support from Rebecca Erskine of Yellow Bird Marketing and Communications.

Ian comments: “Rebecca supported me in building a marketing plan. This will provide focus and direction for my future marketing activities. I’ve also received recommendations on the activities I needed to prioritise, to build a credible and professional brand.”

To build his website skills Ian also attended an Accelerator WordPress Masterclass last year.

In addition, a Small Business Adaptation Grant from Derbyshire Dales District Council has enabled the business to invest in a new printer to expand its printing to A1 size (previously up to A2) which means Ian Daisley Photography can now print larger posters, technical drawings and shop window displays.

Impact - The Difference it’s Made

The support has helped Ian take a step back from his business and see where to focus his efforts.

Ian added: “I now have a clear marketing plan and know which priority actions to implement. We’ve nailed my values – offering quality and being professional, friendly and knowledgeable – and how I can communicate that through case studies, social posts and web copy.”

A stakeholder map has been built which will help Ian see how and where he can develop his network including the East Midlands Manufacturing Network, Business Peak District and Visit Peak District & Derbyshire. Finally, a rolling plan on how to reach out to his ideal clients has been created.

Ian is aware that it will take time and effort to implement the marketing plan so is planning to set aside a certain number of hours each month. He added: “By building proof that I’m a trusted partner, connecting with the right people, engaging in networks where my target customers are and sharing useful information on social media, I’m confident that my ideal commercial projects and partners will start to emerge organically.”

“Having a fully rounded plan has been really useful for me. Rebecca has taken time to understand what I do and the areas that the business needs to develop.

Actions such as engaging with clients, creating content, networking and membership of business organisations in my sector will be of great help going forward. As a sole trader I am often focused only on delivering the work in hand, but this plan will help me to develop those other areas which are just as important.”

- Ian Daisley, Owner

Read the full Case Study