Case Studies from February 2026

Sector: Courier Logistics

Location: Derby

Fresh Logistics Group is a logistics provider specialising in temperature-controlled (cold chain) courier services.

Located in Derby, the company operates across the UK and Europe, delivering time-critical and compliance-led transport solutions. Established in 2008, Fresh Logistics Group has grown steadily and currently employs approximately 50 full-time staff.

The company operates on a 24/7 basis supporting sectors such as pharmaceuticals, food distribution, experiential marketing, festivals and events. Reflecting the time-sensitive nature of cold chain logistics and the critical industries it serves, the company focuses on  innovation, sustainability, inclusivity and compliant refrigerated transport solutions to ensure integrity throughout the supply chain.

Challenges faced

The main challenge to Fresh Logistics Group’s growth is rising operating and labour costs, particularly increased energy prices and higher National Insurance and minimum wage requirements, which significantly impact temperature-controlled fleet operations.

Another barrier to growth is increased competition from lower-cost and less regulated providers, placing additional pressure on pricing while maintaining high service standards. Broader economic instability and inflation have further affected demand across key sectors, including events, festivals and food distribution.

Solution – Support Given

Fresh Logistics Group received targeted business support designed to strengthen growth planning, improve digital capability and support long-term sustainability within the logistics sector. This included:

One-to-one Business Adviser Support
The business benefited from dedicated one-to-one support from East Midlands Chamber Business Adviser, Lisa Baggott. This support focused on practical growth planning, improving operational efficiency, and strengthening market positioning within the competitive temperature-controlled logistics sector.

Lisa worked closely with the business to identify key challenges, prioritise actions, and support informed decision-making. Support also included guidance and hands-on assistance with the Growth Voucher application process, ensuring the proposed activity aligned with business objectives and delivered tangible value.

Workshops attended
Fresh Logistics Group participated in a series of business workshops delivered through the Accelerator programme. These sessions focused on developing digital capability, improving marketing effectiveness, strengthening data-led decision-making and supporting more sustainable and efficient business operations.

The workshops provided practical tools, up-to-date insights, and opportunities for peer learning, helping the business build internal skills and apply learning directly to day-to-day operations and planning.

Growth Voucher – In-depth SEO audit of online presence
Through the Growth Voucher, Fresh Logistics Group commissioned an in-depth SEO audit of its online presence. This included a comprehensive review of website performance, search engine visibility, keyword usage, content effectiveness, technical performance and competitor positioning.

The audit identified gaps and opportunities to improve online visibility and better communicate the company’s specialist cold-chain logistics services across the UK and Europe. Clear, actionable recommendations were provided to enhance digital reach, attract higher-quality enquiries and support longer-term marketing effectiveness.

Overall, the combined adviser support, workshops, and Growth Voucher activity have helped Fresh Logistics Group strengthen its foundations for growth, improve digital performance and build confidence in its strategic direction during a challenging economic environment.

Impact - The Difference it’s Made

The support received has had, and is expected to continue to have, a strong positive impact on both Fresh Logistics Group’s business performance and its workforce. The business now has a clearer strategic direction and stronger positioning within the temperature-controlled logistics market. Improved digital understanding and visibility have increased confidence when bidding for new contracts and exploring opportunities across the UK and Europe.

Improvements identified through adviser support, workshops, and Growth Voucher activity have resulted in more streamlined processes, better use of technology, and clearer operational planning. These efficiencies are particularly valuable in managing rising energy, fuel and labour costs.

Investment in staff training and development has delivered clear benefits. Employees now have improved skills, greater clarity around processes, and stronger management support, contributing to higher engagement, improved performance, and better staff retention.  A more skilled workforce also supports compliance and service quality in a 24/7 cold-chain operation. The strengthened business model and clearer growth planning support the creation of new jobs as demand increases, while improved resilience and cost control help safeguard existing roles during periods of economic uncertainty.

Overall, the impact has been a stronger, more efficient, and people-focused business, better equipped for sustainable growth while continuing to deliver reliable, high-quality logistics services. In total, the combined support is estimated to deliver £20,000 – £35,000 in annual cost efficiencies, alongside significant time savings, improved staff capability, and a stronger platform for sustainable growth. These improvements position Fresh Logistics Group for continued expansion while maintaining service quality, compliance and employment stability.

“The support we’ve received has been invaluable in helping Fresh Logistics Group grow and operate more efficiently. The one-to-one adviser guidance, workshops and Growth Voucher activity have given us greater clarity, improved our digital presence, and supported investment in our team. We feel better equipped to compete in the market, deliver high-quality services, and continue growing while safeguarding and creating jobs.”

- Alan White, Managing Director

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Sector: Environmental Services

Location: Derbyshire Dales

Soil Acoustics was set up in 2024 by the directors of Baker Consultants, an established ecology consultancy, to bring to market a new agritech product, the Soil Acoustic Meter (SAM).

This innovative device records the sounds of invertebrates moving and making noise within the topsoil. By measuring the amount and diversity of the sound made by worms, beetles, ants and other organisms, the biological health of the soil can be assessed.

The product has wide potential including use by arable or pastural farmers, agronomists, wine growers, food producers, land or estate managers and more, both in the UK and internationally. At its launch last year each SAM came with 12 months of data upload and analysis. After the first 12 months, customers move to a subscription model signing up to one of three levels of analysis provision. This subscription model provides another revenue stream for the business.

Soil Acoustics is based in Cromford, Derbyshire and is hoping to raise investment to expand its team and sales effort internationally.

Challenges faced

One of the founder directors, Saffron Johnston is responsible for business development at the new business. The website is up and running, and there has been healthy demand for the new product so far with over 60 orders and many more in the pipeline. However, though there has been some success at raising the profile through speaker engagements, and digital marketing, limited resources, mainly time constraints with also running another business, are proving a challenge for the fledgling operation.

On top of this, access to investment for hardware development has been a barrier to further and faster growth.

Solution – Support Given

Soil Acoustics has been working with the Accelerator project and East Midlands Chamber Business Adviser, Andrew Bunn to support its growth journey. The diagnostic highlighted current challenges around onboarding new customers and renewal subscriptions.

With guidance on the application from Andrew, Soil Acoustics successfully applied for a £2,000 Accelerator Growth Voucher which enabled it to fund specialist consultancy advice from Destination Digital. This fellow Derbyshire business was already familiar with Soil Acoustics and its market, having been involved in its launch phase.

Funding has meant the business has been able to automate its sales channel - Shopify - integrating it with the customer database and therefore cutting down the resource needed to process international orders and manage customer subscription renewals.

Impact - The Difference it’s Made

The project has streamlined the sales and customer data process allowing the business to focus on market expansion. It can also launch the ongoing subscription service before the end of the financial year, allowing income streams to be automated.

“This growth voucher enabled us to use another small Derbyshire business to provide a service that we were unable to do ourselves and speed up our route to market for this emerging technology. This will give us a competitive advantage over other potential competitors.”

- Saffron Johnston, Director

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Sector: Consultancy

Location: Nottingham

Find me the Leads was established in May 2018 by Leisa Pickles. The Nottingham-based business supports food and drink founders who want to launch and grow in speciality retail.

This includes lead generation, new business development and support at trade shows. The team consists of one full time employee, one part time employee and three people on freelance contracts.

Challenges faced

The biggest barrier to growth has been capacity, driven by a highly 1-to-1 service delivery model. Find me the Leads has been built on providing direct, hands-on support to individual food and drink producers, which has delivered strong results, but limited scalability. Each new client requires a significant time commitment, creating a ceiling on how many businesses can be supported at any one time.

This model makes it difficult to grow revenue without proportionally increasing workload and restricts the ability to make support accessible to a wider group of early-stage producers who need more flexible, lower-cost options.

Solution – Support Given

The business has been supported by the Nottingham Accelerator project and East Midlands Chamber Business Adviser, Richard Crowden. Find me the Leads successfully applied for an Accelerator Growth Voucher which provided funding to access specialist digital consultancy.

The project focused on building the knowledge and systems needed to introduce secure e-commerce functionality to the existing WordPress website. The consultancy support included: hands-on guidance and training to implement WooCommerce; setting up secure payment gateways and configuring the sale and automated delivery of digital products.

The support also covered integration with the existing email marketing platform to capture customer data compliantly, the creation of legally compliant website policies for digital sales and training to manage transactional emails and automated customer communications.

Leisa said: “The consultancy support also provided practical skills development in monitoring sales performance, managing customer data and maintaining our website security/updates independently. This support forms part of a wider digital transformation moving our business from a manual, service-led sales process to a more automated and scalable online model.”

Leisa has also taken advantage of the Accelerator workshop Using AI to Supercharge your Website.

Impact - The Difference it’s Made

Support through Accelerator has enabled the business to adopt new digital technology and move from a manual, 1-to-1 sales process to an automated e-commerce model. This has resulted in streamlined operations, reduced administrative time, and created more efficient, scalable processes, allowing Find me the Leads to support more customers without increasing overheads.

Automated payments, digital product delivery and customer tracking have improved consistency and responsiveness, strengthening the business’s competitiveness. Training provided has also built in-house capability giving staff the skills and confidence to manage the system independently and reducing reliance on external support.

The business is now better positioned for sustainable growth and has created a new part-time sales and administration role.

Reduction of time spent on unproductive enquiries:
Clear pricing, product details and service information on the website now allow potential clients to self-qualify before making contact. This has reduced time spent on unproductive discovery calls, email exchanges and online messages with prospects who are not ready to invest.

Estimated time saving:
On average, this has saved approximately two hours per week that were previously spent responding to unsuitable enquiries and holding exploratory conversations that did not progress. This equates to around 100 hours per year of productive time that can now be redirected into revenue-generating activity such as working with paying clients, business development, and strategic growth.

Overall, the investment has enabled growth through improved systems and technology rather than increased workload.

“The support has made a significant difference to how the business operates. By introducing better systems and technology, we’ve been able to streamline our processes and save valuable time each week that was previously spent on manual tasks and unproductive enquiries.

This has freed up capacity to focus on higher-value work, helped us create additional income streams through digital products, and given us the confidence to plan for new roles to support our growth. The investment hasn’t just improved efficiency, it’s changed how we scale the business and made future growth feel much more achievable.”

- Leisa Pickles, Founder

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Sector: Engineering/Manufacturing

Location: Derby

Apexis Engineering is a mechanical engineering company based in Derby.

Established in 1999, the business has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality, bespoke machinery and custom-engineered equipment to manufacturers and OEMs across multiple sectors. The company is led by two directors, Craig Harbron and Seleena Creedon, who bring extensive technical expertise and hands-on industry experience to every project.

Challenges faced

A big challenge for the business was attracting the right kind of enquiries when they moved from a design office to an industrial unit and added on the manufacturing and assembly services to their existing service of mechanical design engineering. After the founder of the business retired the rebrand became a critical business action to take. The business, previously Bennett Engineering Design Solutions, was renamed to Apexis Engineering, to move away from just the design service line and to give the business a more corporate feel compared to the family name it was.

After a challenging revenue year in 2023/24, the company repositioned itself by adding new services and relocating to an industrial unit in Derby.

In 2025 the business name changed to Apexis Engineering to better reflect the services it provides, to reposition itself better to new and existing clients and to reflect the aspirations and plans under new ownership after the management buyout.

Solution – Support Given

To support future growth, it became clear that the business needed a full rebrand and a new website to clearly communicate its evolved offering and attract the right enquiries.

Seleena and Craig have been members of the Chamber’s East Midlands Manufacturing Network (EMMN) since 2024 and are regular attendees of the Derby Manufacturing Network meetings. Through this network, they gained valuable opportunities to learn about local business support, as well as to meet and collaborate with other manufacturers across the region.

By attending EMMN events, they became aware of support available through the Accelerator project and were introduced to Business Adviser Sonny Lakhani. Sonny provided one-to-one advice and outlined the most appropriate support options based on the business’s growth ambitions. The business was successful in securing a Growth Voucher, which enabled them to undertake a full rebrand and develop a new website.

Impact - The Difference it’s Made

The rebrand has had an immediate and significant impact, securing the largest order in the company’s history from a long-standing client. The project includes the design, manufacture, and installation of bespoke machinery for a major building products manufacturer in the East Midlands.

The new branding and website have re-engaged existing contacts through email marketing and LinkedIn activity, leading to new conversations and projects spanning its full range of services.

The rebrand has also strengthened business stability, safeguarding the roles of directors Seleena and Craig, building a strong pipeline, and giving confidence to plan the recruitment of a senior design engineer to support future growth in the coming year.

“The support we have received from Sonny has been totally transformative for us as an SME; that was something we weren’t expecting when we applied for the Growth Voucher. Sonny has taken the time to get to know us as business owners, understand our business issues, review our business plans and help our confidence in rebranding the business which always comes with risks. We’re grateful to have the Growth Voucher but we’re more grateful to have had such a sound business adviser spend time with us and support us.”

- Craig Harbron, Director

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Sector: Digital Marketing/ Advertising

Location: Derby

An idea that started on a backpacking trip around the world a few short years ago has now become a growing business.

Kyoto Digital, based in the historic Old Post Office building in Derby, was founded by Simy Choudhary in 2023. The agency specialises in paid media, with a core focus on pay per click (PPC) and social media advertising. From a standing start, the business today has three full time employees and one contractor.

It primarily works with healthcare businesses, particularly pharmacies and regulated health services, helping them reach more patients and drive sustainable revenue through effective paid advertising. Through its partners network, Kyoto Digital supports companies both nationally and internationally.

Challenges faced

The business has been built without any external investment and while this has allowed the company to maintain control, it has also meant growth has been slower and every decision has had to be financially disciplined.

Another key challenge has been the steep learning curve that comes with starting and running a business. From operations and hiring, finance and client delivery much of the journey has involved learning in real time and building processes as the business scales. This has required constant adaptation and resilience.

In addition, rising operating costs have added to the pressure. Increasing ad platform costs, software tools and general business expenses, have made profitability and efficient client acquisition even more critical.

Despite these barriers the business has continued to grow steadily, proving the strength of its offer and the team’s ability to stay lean, agile and performance focussed.

Solution – Support Given

Kyoto Digital has strengthened its foundations through one-to-one business adviser support and practical workshops, helping the team move from founder led momentum to a more structured approach to growth. Simy has been working closely with East Midlands Chamber Business Adviser, Lisa Baggott and the Accelerator project.

A key area has been financial planning. Simy comments: “Lisa has highlighted the importance of cash flow forecasting and budgeting, which was a new discipline for us in a real business setting. Implementing it properly gave us far more confidence in decision making, resourcing and planning.”

Beyond strategy and finance, Lisa has connected the business to like-minded individuals with similar challenges which has provided reassurance, perspective and a stronger peer network as it continues to grow.

Through sharing helpful HR guidance and practical documents, Lisa has helped Kyoto Digital with structure around managing people and building a team in the right way. Along with the workshops and digital/ AI conferences, it has reinforced key learning around planning and operational structure, supporting the business to build stronger systems for sustainable growth.

Impact - The Difference it’s Made

The impact of this support has been transformative for Kyoto Digital helping it to strengthen its position across both the UK and US markets. With clearer organisational objectives and improved structure, it has been able to operate with more focus and consistency, which has supported its growth through its partner network and increased its reach internationally.

Support has also helped strengthen its reputation within the pharmacy sector, helping Kyoto Digital attract more industry leading partners and clients than ever more. As a result, the business has evolved from a sole trader to a growing agency with staff, giving it more capacity and stability to support clients at a higher level.

Financially, the biggest difference has been gaining stronger control and visibility. With improved cash flow forecasting and budgeting, it is now managing finances more effectively than ever before, crucial in the current climate.

Simy adds: “Over the last two years we have been using this support, our revenue has grown by four times, and we have scaled from working with around 15 clients to supporting over 50 businesses now. That growth has also translated to job creation.

Overall, the foundations put in place have helped me as the founder build and guide the vision of the company with greater confidence and freed up more time and headspace to focus on scaling Kyoto Digital.”

“If you run a company or you are thinking about starting one, using Accelerator support is a no brainer. It gave us the tools, structure and confidence to scale Kyoto Digital properly, and I have no doubt it will do the same for you.”

- Simy Choudhary, Founder

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Sector: Information Technology

Location: Derbyshire Dales

Built for Good Ltd is based in Wirksworth, Derbyshire and was founded in 2020.

The company, which employs three people, uses technology to extend and deepen engagement in arts and entertainment. Its products – WatchWord and WatchWord Live – provide always-on closed captions on smart glasses in cinemas and theatres so deaf, deafened and hard of hearing audiences can attend any screening or performance they choose. View a short film about WatchWord Live

Challenges faced

In terms of exports, Built for Good’s primary target is the USA, so the changing tariff landscape is proving extremely challenging.

Its market - cinemas and theatres - is extremely price sensitive and its customers often need to seek external funding to invest in the product. This means certainty is required around pricing which has been incredibly difficult to provide over the last 12 months.

Internally, the biggest challenge for Built for Good has been that of capacity. The small team of three has to split itself into many pieces to meet demand but profits are not yet at a point where the business can invest in new personnel. It is hoped this will change during 2026.

Solution – Support Given

Built for Good’s Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, Tabitha Allum has been working with East Midlands Chamber Business Adviser, Andy Bunn and the Accelerator project. Through guidance from Andy, the business successfully applied for the Export Accelerator grant to support its theatre business in America.

This has enabled Built for Good to:

• Invest in external expertise to help them clarify the commodity codes and countries of origin for their product so that they could offer more certainty around the application of tariffs. This information has been used to shape its pricing strategy for the USA.
• Situate portable WatchWord Live equipment in the States so they can demonstrate the product without having to get on a plane. The business found the most compelling way to introduce its product is by enabling theatre personnel to put on a pair of glasses so they can see closed captions rolling in their own auditorium, but this is hard to do remotely and costly to do in person. By being able to ship a demo kit to prospective customers, Built for Good can couple an in-person experience with its remote sales presentation.
• Support has also enabled the business to roll out software improvements which are proving attractive to US customers, including the ability to run multilingual captions.

Impact - The Difference it’s Made

Tabitha comments: “We know that we have a really good product and that it’s a product the theatres in the United States are interested in buying, but we needed to improve our ability to make a compelling case to them, without (the cost) of getting on a plane to follow up leads.”

Through its more competitive pricing strategy, increased functionality and improved remote promotional pathway for its product, the business has boosted its ability to meet demand and will be delivering three new installations in America over the next 10 weeks. The profit generated from these new sales will be reinvested, primarily in increasing its capacity through additional personnel.

“We are so grateful for the support received from the Export Accelerator. It’s helped us to maximise our ability to sell our product in the US by clarifying the application of tariffs to our product so that our prospective customers can feel more confident about the overall cost of their purchase, improving the functionality of our software so that it better meets the needs of American theatres, and situating demonstration equipment in the States so that we can continue to deliver most of our sales remotely, reducing costs and improving efficiency.”

- Tabitha Allum, Co-Founder and COO

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Sector: Manufacturing

Location: Nottingham

The Print Tavern is a family business and was set up in 2020 by directors Michelle Chapman and Luke Plewinski.

It initially began as a side project providing high quality, yet affordable tabletop miniatures and hobby models, including items for model railway enthusiasts. The couple took time off in 2023/4 for the arrival of their son, but today Michelle works on the business full time from their purpose-built garden office, supported by Luke whose day job is working within the games industry.

Challenges faced

Overseas Competition
For the Print Tavern one of the greatest barriers to growth has been the sustained price pressures from overseas competitors, particularly low-cost market places (such as the likes of Temu). These platforms can offer significantly cheaper products, often at the expense of quality and compliance. The Print Tavern is a business that collaborates with licensed designers and adheres to regulatory requirements and are unable – and unwilling – to compete on price alone. This challenge has intensified as 3D printing technology has become more accessible, leading to an increase in new sellers entering the market without following the necessary legal or safety standards.

Rising Costs
Rising operational costs present an ongoing challenge for the Print Tavern. As a production-based business that relies heavily on electrical equipment, increases in energy prices and raw materials have had a direct impact on profitability. At the same time reduced disposable income and cost of living hikes for customers has limited its ability to pass these costs on, as their products are hobby items, and not essential purchases.

Leaving Europe and tariffs
Brexit has also had a significant impact on the Print Travern. The business was required to suspend sales to Europe and Northern Ireland (NI) - at a time when these markets were beginning to show potential – due to the difficulty of securing an affordable and reputable EU representative.  As the business has grown, this has become more manageable and it is currently in the process of re-establishing compliance, with the aim of resuming EU and NI sales this spring. However, ongoing fluctuations of US tariffs have similarly created uncertainty, making it challenging to plan long-term despite consistent demand through its Etsy store.

In-house skills
Finally, the rapid evolution of digital marketing has highlighted gaps in its own in-house skills, particularly in social media marketing and SEO. With these areas changing quickly – especially due to the rise of AI-driven tools and platforms – continuous learning and adaption are essential to remain competitive.

Solution – Support Given

Director Michelle comments: “We have received extensive and highly valuable support from the Accelerator project and East Midlands Chamber, which has played a key role in helping us develop the business in line with our long-term vision. Discovering the breadth of support available has been instrumental in enabling us to approach growth in a more structured and informed way.”

The Print Tavern successfully applied for an Accelerator Growth Voucher, with guidance from Chamber Business Adviser, Richard Crowden, which has provided access to specialist online consultancy focused on website development and SEO strategy. This support helped to establish clear SEO goals and significantly improve how Print Tavern’s website is structured and presented through Shopify.

As part of this process, Michelle and Luke have developed practical skills in using essential digital tools such as Google Analytics and Google Search Console, allowing them to better understand customer behaviour and optimise online presence.

Print Tavern have received one to one adviser support from Lucy Granger at the Chamber, who has provided guidance on international trade and helped navigate the steps required to reopen its European and international markets.

Michelle has also attended Accelerator workshops including Utilising ChatGPT for your Business and is scheduled to attend a further session on the Impact of AI on Search Engine Optimisation soon. These workshops have supported the business’s ongoing efforts to build in-house capability in fast-evolving digital and marketing areas.

Impact - The Difference it’s Made

Michelle adds: “The support received has had a clear and measurable impact on the business, contributing to increased sales, improved revenue and greater brand awareness.”

Increased Visibility
Improvements to its SEO have led to sustained growth in website traffic without the need for paid advertising, strengthening the long-term sustainability of its marketing approach. This increased visibility has also created new commercial opportunities, including collaboration with a television production company.

Improved Confidence and Processes
The support and guidance has enabled the directors to feel more confident in their products and market positioning. It has enabled them to streamline internal processes, particularly around the creation and uploading of new products, by establishing a clear and consistent workflow for product information and content.

New technology
Investment in training has also supported the adoption of new technology and ethical use of AI within the business. The workshop on utilising ChatGPT was especially impactful, helping Print Tavern understand how to configure AI tools to reflect the business context and reduce repetitive manual input. In addition, learning how to use advanced research techniques has supported more informed decision-making, allowing them to identify emerging trends and prioritise products with strong growth potential.

Overall, the support has strengthened competitiveness, improved efficiency, and laid the foundations for future growth, including job creation and further skills development as the business continues to scale.

In terms of efficiency gains, through an improved SEO strategy, clearer workflows and the effective use of AI tools, the business estimates a saving of approximately 8 to 12 hours per week, that would previously have been spent on product research, manual content creation and self-led training. This time has been reallocated to core growth activities such as manufacturing, product development and strategic planning.

Finally, as a result of recent growth, supported by guidance from the Chamber, the business reached a key milestone in January 2026 when Michelle had her first salaried month.

“The support we’ve received has been invaluable. Discovering what was available through East Midlands Chamber has genuinely transformed our business, helping us move from a side hustle to a profitable, sustainable operation. It has given us the confidence, structure and knowledge needed to make the business Michelle’s primary source of income.”

- Michelle Chapman & Luke Plewinski, Directors

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Sector: Holistic Movement & Therapy

Location: Amber Valley

Luná Movements CIC is a mobile holistic wellness community in and around Derby. Founded in January 2025 by Sinéad Robertson it provides tools and practices that empower people to make conscious choices, feel energised and grow along their life’s journey through yoga, pilates, dance classes and coaching workshops.

Luná Movements offers a supportive space to navigate the challenges that can arise when striving to become the best version of oneself. It works by collaborating with expert teachers in their field, who come together to support the community.

Challenges faced

One of the main challenges faced by the business has been establishing and communicating the value of an integrated relationship between arts and wellness. While there is strong interest in holistic wellbeing, Sinéad comments that it’s taken some time and consistent advocacy to demonstrate how creative movement, embodied practice and artistic expression meaningfully support physical, emotional and community health.

Access to support and funding has also been a key barrier. Securing funds to purchase a professional booking system has been essential but also challenging. A reliable system is critical to protecting customer data, ensuring safety and trust, and enabling participants to book with confidence. Without this infrastructure, it would be harder to systematically collect feedback, build testimonials, and develop a strong portfolio that reflects the impact and potential of what the Luná Movements community can deliver.

Solution – Support Given

The business has been supported by East Midlands Chamber Business Advisers, Cat Walls and David Smith, and the Accelerator project. This includes one-to-one adviser support which has been instrumental in the development and sustainability of Luná Movements.

Sinéad comments: “Through personalised guidance and being able to express the challenges I’ve faced, I’ve gained greater clarity around my business vision and options available to me, enabling me to make more confident and informed decisions.

This tailored support has helped me to identify practical next steps. Having dedicated time to reflect, plan and problem-solve with an experienced adviser has increased my confidence in navigating funding opportunities, partnerships and growth strategies.

Importantly, the one-to-one support has also provided reassurance during periods of uncertainty, helping me to recognise the value of my work and articulate its impact more clearly. As a result, I am better equipped to communicate my offering effectively and continue developing Lunà Movements in a way that aligns with both community needs and its business strategy.”

The business has also joined the Chamber under the new charity/CIC membership offer so will be able to take advantage of other Chamber services.

Impact - The Difference it’s Made

It’s early days but Sinéad hopes to build on an integrated relationship between arts and wellness, the need to foster a balanced approach to living life with more ease.

Taking on board the advice from Cat, Sinéad hopes a more strategic approach to digital marketing - and through building relations with Derby businesses and Culture Derby - will help build brand awareness and Luná Movements’ offer.

In the long-term Sinéad would like to build a team that develops the class timetable and outreach programme to communities, establishing a creative community within Derbyshire.

“David and Cat have been a great support through the connections they have made for me, creating space for my challenges to land, helping me see new perspectives, and building confidence in the offerings my organisation delivers.”

- Sinéad Robertson, Founder

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