Case Studies from 2026

Sector: Pet Cremation

Location: High Peak

Cherished Companion is based in Glossop, Derbyshire and supports families across the High Peak and surrounding areas.

The family-run business was established in 2024 and is run by directors, Ruth Bakerson Lowe and Paul Bakerson.

Cherished Companion provides compassionate end of life pet care, including individual pet cremation, support with arranging private home euthanasia, collection from veterinary practices, keep sakes, farewell room, ashes return as well as ongoing bereavement support for families.

Challenges faced

As a relatively new business, its greatest barrier to growth has been raising awareness in a market where many pet owners don’t realise they have a choice over who cares for their pet after euthanasia. Larger providers often already have established relationships with veterinary practices, so as an independent, family-run business, Cherished Companion must work harder to educate and inform families, build trust and market itself consistently.

Like many small businesses, Cherished Companion has also faced rising operating costs and has little in-house capacity to focus on marketing, while continuing to deliver a very personal, hands-on service.

Solution – Support Given

Cherished Companion has been supported by East Midlands Chamber Business Adviser, Dan Wilkinson and the Accelerator project. Dan has provided one-to-one advice, helping the business review its growth plans, marketing priorities and practical steps needed to raise awareness of the service.

Ruth comments: “This support has helped us think more strategically about how to communicate our unique offer, strengthen our business visibility and identify opportunities to grow through partnerships, marketing activity and service development.”

With Dan’s guidance the business successfully applied for a Growth Voucher which has helped fund external digital marketing support.

Through this specialist support the business is introducing a new digital marketing and e-commerce strategy that will transform how Cherished Companion promotes its services, engages customers and manages sales.

Previously a manual system, it means they can implement a comprehensive digital marketing framework which includes content management, digital templates and a new e-commerce platform for their urns, keepsakes and related products. The business will also be able to track and analyse performance and measure engagement through Google Analytics and Meta Insights, not done previously.

In addition, through training and workflow processes provided by the consultancy, the directors will manage systems in-house helping sustainability and scalability.

The business has also benefited from signposting to wider business support and networking opportunities, which has helped it reflect on the next stage of growth.

Impact - The Difference it’s Made

Ruth adds: “The support has helped us become clearer and more confident about the direction of the business. It has strengthened our approach to marketing and growth, helped us identify where to focus our time and investment, and supported us in building a more competitive and visible presence in the market.”

Cherished Companion expects the support received, and consequent activity, to lead to increased awareness, more enquiries, stronger referral relationships and a more streamlined approach to business development, while safeguarding and growing the family business.

Although some of the impact is longer term, Accelerator support has already saved time by helping the team prioritise the right actions and given them a clearer roadmap for sustainable growth. Therefore, at this stage the main measurable benefit has been the time saved in focusing their efforts more effectively and avoiding wasted activity.

"The support has given us valuable time to step back and work on the business rather than only in it. 
As a small family-run company, having tailored advice and encouragement has helped us feel more confident about our next stage of growth and how to communicate what makes our service different.”

- Ruth Bakerson Lowe, Director

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Sector: Fabric Manufacturing

Location: Erewash

Baltex, based in Ilkeston, Derbyshire designs, manufactures and supplies high performing technical textiles (advanced knitted fabrics) for high performance markets.

Business activities include developing and producing specialist textile materials and finishes for applications across sectors such as aerospace, military/defence, healthcare/medical, plus composites and automotive.

Established in 1831, Baltex also produces textile finishes and treatments – including hygiene/comfort focused options for the healthcare sector. It has 48 employees.

Challenges faced

One of the key barriers to growth has been an increase in cheaper alternatives from abroad. In addition, increased operating costs – energy bills, National Insurance, National Minimum Wage, Living Wage – have all added to the pressure on margins and investment. The business was also wanting to access new markets but had limited resources.

Solution – Support Given

Baltex had been supported by East Midlands Chamber Business Adviser, Richard Smallwood and the Accelerator project. Richard supported the business with a business diagnostic and guidance on the Export Accelerator grant application. Baltex was successfully awarded a grant of £5,242 which has helped fund attendance at the Enforce Tac exhibition in Nuremberg, Germany.

The trip has provided market insights to launch its products to new overseas markets and offered valuable opportunities to build new relationships with international buyers, distributer and industry experts. It has also helped the business to benchmark its products, streamline its current supply chain and accelerate product development.

Impact - The Difference it’s Made

Baltex has had new enquiries from 30 companies because of this overseas trip and is working hard to convert them. In terms of efficiency and streamlining of processes the business has saved approximately 20 hours thus far.

The overseas trip has enabled Baltex to gather market intelligence on regional demands, compliance requirements and customer expectations. This insight is helping the business tailor products for export, identify suitable entry points and build strategic relationships for a successful market launch.

Support will also help create one new machine operator position.

“We are delighted to have had support from the Accelerator programme, and this will help us to drive growth in export sales.”

- Charles Wood, Managing Director

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Sector: Manufacturing

Location: Derby

Pennine Healthcare specialises in the manufacture and distribution of a wide range of single-use sterile and non-sterile Ward & Theatre Consumables and Custom Procedure Packs, supplying essential products to hospitals and healthcare professionals.

From its purpose built 100,000 sq.ft. facility in Derby this employee-owned business has 180 staff and distributes to over 50 countries worldwide serving healthcare providers in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and beyond.

Over the years, Pennine Healthcare has also expanded to include commercial partnerships for Medical Device Packaging, Procedure Kit Packaging and UK Contract Manufacturing.

Challenges faced

Over recent years, Pennine Healthcare has had to navigate a series of unprecedented challenges. First came Brexit which disrupted established supply chains and created uncertainty around access to materials and trading relationships with European partners. Ensuring continuity of supply for customers, particularly within the healthcare sector, became a critical priority.

This was followed by Covid-19 and being a supplier to the NHS, it had to respond rapidly through scaling up production of essential items and adapting to new working conditions while keeping its staff safe.

In addition, Pennine Healthcare faced more rigorous compliance from the introduction of the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR), becoming one of the first companies in the UK to achieve accreditation.

On top of this was the unstable wider economic conditions in the UK with rising inflation, increasing energy cost and regulations, putting added pressure on its ability to remain competitive and efficient, here and overseas.

Solution – Support Given

For a number of years Pennine Healthcare has been an active member of the East Midlands Manufacturing Network (EMMN) managed by East Midlands Chamber. Head of Operations and External Partnerships, Richard Cohen and Strategy, Marketing & Communications Director, Dan Wilson joined the network in 2023 and have found real value in being part of a community of like-minded manufacturers. Read more.

Through regular attendance at EMMN meetings the business has been able to learn about and take advantage of the latest business support and funding opportunities available.

Chamber advisers have helped Pennine Healthcare successfully apply for a business grant from Derby City Council, benefit from a free energy audit and attend a variety of workshops and events. This includes the Toyota Energy Reduction Workshop which enabled Richard to observe Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK’s energy improvement solutions and tour its Burnaston plant.

More recently, Richard has been working with Chamber Business Adviser, Sonny Lakhani and the Accelerator project. With guidance on the application from Sonny, Pennine successfully secured an £8,000 Export Accelerator grant which has supported two initiatives to increase its international customer base for critical care and PVC alternatives.

This includes a visit to India to assess and engage with potential suppliers whose capabilities align with its critical care product range. Also, attendance at the Arab Health Conference in Dubai - one of the largest global healthcare exhibitions - to meet with a prospective distributor for the Saudi Arabian market. This engagement is part of its strategic plan to launch its critical care packs in the Gulf region, where demand for high-quality, UK-manufactured medical products is growing.

Other support includes a £2,000 training bursary towards the cost of two places on the Chamber’s Five-Day Director Development course for Richard and CEO Graham Cameron.  This will help them update skills and practical knowledge which can be immediately applied to streamline workflows, reduce inefficiencies and enhance operational performance.

Impact - The Difference it’s Made

In terms of the energy audit, this raised awareness of the potential areas Pennine Healthcare could improve on which resulted in two larger projects being undertaken. As the qualified black belt in continuous improvement, Richard facilitated the projects looking into AHU (air handling unit) efficiency which has seen an improvement of circa £60,000 to Pennine’s electricity bill per year. Richard also led the project that looked at compressed air efficiency which also saved circa £15,000.

“A big thank you to East Midlands Chamber for the continued support, and in particular the grant to attend WHX Dubai 2026. It was a fantastic show, where we had positive conversations with existing customers and explored new opportunities with potential partners and new markets.”

- Richard Cohen, Head of Operations and External Partnerships

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Sector: Health & Safety Consultancy

Location: Amber Valley

Belper-based Stirling James Risk Management Consultants was set up in 2023 by Nathan Davies.

The business works on public safety risks, together with landowners, government, NGOs, building companies, architects and designers. Their work involves redesigning public spaces, conducting risk assessments and creating management plans across the UK. The team also inspect places and audit management systems. There’s three people working locally and a team of technical specialists spread around the UK.

Stirling James has specialist public safety knowledge and particular expertise in water safety, and its work supports the National Drowning Prevention Strategy, which aims to cut deaths by 50%.

Challenges faced

One of the greatest barriers to growth has been its ability to share its expertise and knowledge. It is essential for the business to minimise the time, money and efficiency lost while travelling around the UK.

Another challenge for Stirling James has been delivering all the background tasks that are essential to run and grow the business. The marketing activities and software needed to grow and deliver the business requires specialist knowledge that it doesn’t have in-house. These activities and tools are incredibly time-consuming and resource-heavy to create and must deliver measurable value for the company.

Stirling James has grown quickly but is in danger of realising a self-limiting problem of becoming restricted by its ability to deploy expertise where customers need it, and at a speed and price point that supports customer projects.

Owner, Nathan commented: “A new method of sharing our expertise and support is needed for the business to continue to grow to a size where it can effectively support the entirety of the UK market and then grow internationally.”

Solution – Support Given

Stirling James has been supported by East Midlands Chamber Business Adviser, Cat Walls and the Accelerator programme. Cat provided guidance on the application for the Export Growth Accelerator grant and the business successfully received £8000. The funding has been fundamental in enabling Stirling James to take the minimum viable product they had developed as a proof of concept, into a market-ready and usable product.

With this grant the business has been able to develop a web-based app that will allow its customer base to self-assess and enable Stirling James to work more collaboratively.

This new system will help its customers conduct risk assessments and make decisions which they know will improve public safety. The new service will be significantly less expensive but will deliver a higher net profit margin. This specific piece of software will provide a service its customers need, want and will benefit from.

The Accelerator grant has enabled Stirling James to develop and ultimately launch this far faster than its initial organic plans. It makes them first to market with a higher value, faster and more accurate service than is currently available. Most importantly, the new service will help customers self-administer their risks, giving more accurate results, more quickly and with greater insight.

In addition to the high growth support, the business also successfully applied for an Accelerator Growth Voucher. This enabled it to conduct a review of the customer journey and customer needs, overcome technical issues and work within international data protection laws. This support through Greenhill Consulting has helped ensure that the finished product is genuinely scalable and capable of being used internationally, which is a real benefit for its long-term growth.

Nathan added: “In addition to the grant support, the business advice and steering from Cat Walls has been immensely beneficial at every stage of the development of this new service. Initially Cat’s help has been fundamental in providing reassurance that the overall business plan was solid and realistic.

Following these initial stages, the guidance and support she has provided regarding obtaining the expertise needed via the grant programme has been nothing short of amazing!”

Impact - The Difference it’s Made

The impact of the service is that Stirling James can move its offer from a service dependent on travel, into a faster, more flexible and convenient service for clients. The new service platform will allow clients to self-administer their issues and control risks. It will create a significantly greater amount of actionable data and insight, which will provide some real benefit to all users and the community at a local and national level, ultimately helping to save more lives.

The time taken to conduct an assessment and generate the results will reduce from one day to one hour. The results can be compared with others across the UK, including similar features, and are easy to understand.

Nathan commented that this was important for safety standards for all of us. It has a clear benefit for duty holders who will be able to demonstrate they are doing the right thing for the right reasons and not over protecting or stifling how we use our public space.

The new system will help customers conduct very high-quality risk assessments and help them make confident decisions to ensure public safety. It will cost the customer significantly less but will deliver a higher net profit margin to Stirling James.

Finally, the support means jobs are safeguarded within Striling James and there will be an increase in opportunities for its associates. This includes being able to reach more locations as well as tens of thousands of people per year.

The support means the business will save at least nine months of development time. In terms of its operations, each use of the new product could potentially save an average of 200 miles worth of travel, and many tonnes of carbon emissions every year.

In an update from Nathan, the new product is still being developed. It has already been tested by representatives from fire and rescue services, local councils, housing associations and numerous landowners.

“I can wholeheartedly recommend getting involved in the learning activities, networking and business support that East Midlands Chamber provides. The support from Cat and the team really has provided the lever which has the power to completely revolutionise our business.”

- Nathan Davies, Owner

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Sector: Wholesale & Retail

Location: Derby

Richard Lang & Son Ltd is a third-generation giftware import and wholesale business with its headquarters in Derby.

The business was founded in 1949 originally trading cuckoo clocks imported from Germany. Today Richard Lang & Son design, source, import and distribute decorative giftware, home décor, seasonal products and accessories to independent retailers, garden centres and national accounts across the UK and Europe.

There are approximately 30 employees at the head office who are supported by 11, UK and international sales agents.

Challenges faced

Richard Lang & Son has operated in a challenging economic climate while maintaining steady growth within the UK wholesale market.

Like many businesses in the sector, the company has faced rising operational costs, including sustained increases in energy prices, Employer National Insurance contributions and the National Minimum Wage. Inflationary pressures have also affected both suppliers and customers, creating a more complex trading environment and placing additional greater focus on financial resilience and planning.

Despite these headwinds, the business has continued to grow its UK customer base. However, expansion within a competitive and price-sensitive market has required careful strategic positioning. Increased competitor activity, particularly from suppliers offering low-cost, overseas alternatives, has intensified pricing pressure and reinforced the importance of differentiation through service levels, product development and long-term supplier relationships.

Internally, continued growth highlighted structural limitations, legacy systems and manual processes which reduced operational efficiency and limited scalability. As order volumes increased and product ranges expanded, the need for greater automation, data visibility and systems integration became more apparent.

In addition, the company identified the need to strengthen capabilities in data analysis, digital marketing and systems integration - key capabilities required to support sustained growth and planned expansion into new European markets.

The central challenge therefore became not survival, but transformation: modernising a long-established wholesale business to ensure it remains competitive, scalable and resilient in a rapidly evolving marketplace.

Solution – Support Given

Richard Lang & Son has received a combination of targeted strategic and innovation support through regional and national programmes to accelerate its transformation and expansion plans.

This includes:

• EMCCA Growth Hub & Accelerator Projects
  Through the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), the business has accessed structured growth support and advisory services aligned to its long-term strategy.
• One-to-One Strategic Advisory Support
  Ongoing guidance has been provided by East Midlands Chamber Business Adviser Sonny Lakani. This support has focused on operational efficiency, structured growth planning, digital transformation and productivity improvement, helping to formalise roadmap planning and prioritise scalable investments.
• High Growth Accelerator Project
  The business received support to develop and structure its medium-to-long-term growth strategy. This included formalising plans around leadership development, systems integration, export readiness and international expansion positioning. The programme strengthened governance, planning discipline and performance tracking.
• Export Accelerator Project
  Support was provided to strengthen the company’s post-Brexit European trading strategy. This included advice on EU trading structures, VAT considerations, and market-entry readiness. A £2,000 grant supported the company’s first entry into the German market, helping to fund market research, trade show participation and targeted marketing activity, laying the foundations for formal EU expansion.
• Innovate UK Business Connect Engagement
  Engagement with Innovate UK Business Connect supported the development of an innovation strategy, data-driven decision-making capability and collaboration with external partners.
• Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) – Award Secured
  The business successfully secured funding through Innovate UK’s Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) programme. This will see an academic Associate join the business in 2026 to design and implement, enhance data integration, improve forecasting capability and decision-making processes. The project will embed advanced forecasting, data integration and strategic decision intelligence into core operations, accelerating digital transformation and strengthening long-term competitiveness.
• Made Smarter East Midlands
  Through Made Smarter East Midlands, the company has adopted smarter warehousing and operational practices, modernised internal processes and increased digital adoption to improve productivity and efficiency.
• Growth Hub & Derby City Council Support
  Additional engagement provided access to funding guidance, peer networks and best-practice insight to support sustainable scaling.

Impact - The Difference it’s Made

Support provided has had a significant and measurable impact on the business. This includes:

• Improved competitiveness through improved use of data to support customer understanding and commercial decision-making
• Streamlined internal processes, reducing manual administration and duplication.
• Increased productivity in warehousing and order processing through digitalisation and automation.
• Greater resilience and confidence in planning for UK and EU growth.
• Upskilling of staff and improved engagement through training and involvement in change.
• Safeguarding existing roles and supporting sustainable job creation as the business grows.

The business reports the following quantifiable impacts:

• Significant reductions in administrative processing time (moving processes from days to minutes).
• Improved warehouse throughput, enabling increased operational capacity without proportional cost increases.
• Reduced paper usage (now approximately 98% paperless), supporting both cost savings and sustainability.

“The support we have received through the Accelerator projects has been invaluable. It has helped us step back, challenge long standing ways of working, and implement changes that genuinely improve efficiency and resilience. As a long-established family business, this support has played a key role in modernising our operations while protecting our culture and people.”

- Steve Parker, CEO & Joint Managing Director

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Sector: Manufacturing

Location: Amber Valley

Ariane Medical Systems is a manufacturer of medical equipment for treating cancers with radiation.

Used in the delivery of the Papillon CXB technique, which is primarily used for colorectal cancer and was developed to quickly deliver a prescribed dose directly onto the tumour improving organ preservation and quality of life.

The Alfreton-based business was created in 2005 by founder and Managing Director Keith Spanswick. It currently has 11 full-time employees and a number of consultants across the world.

Challenges faced

Like many businesses, Ariane Medical Systems, whose customers were primarily in Europe, has faced the challenges of Brexit and supply chain pressures in an unstable economic climate. There’s also been an increase in regulatory requirements the business has been dealing with (especially bad for an SME). On top of this, balancing cashflow - sales vs manufacturing - continues to prove challenging. Finally, there was a desire to develop new partnerships internationally and take on more regulatory work, but resources have been limited.

Solution – Support Given

The business has been supported through one-to-one advice from DBT, Medilink and more recently East Midlands Chamber Business Adviser, Cat Walls.

Following a successful application, an Export Accelerator grant has provided funding towards a trade mission to India to meet new customers and potential distribution partners. This has allowed the business to showcase its radiotherapy solution to the Tata Mumbai and other hospitals in the region.

In addition, an Accelerator Growth Voucher of £2,000 enabled the business to benefit from specialist marketing consultancy on social media, staff training and awareness. This support is helping to raise visibility online to potential customers, stakeholders and organisations regarding the benefits of its Papillon+ cancer treatment.

The business has also joined the Chamber’s East Midland Manufacturing Network to connect with other manufacturers in the region.

Impact - The Difference it’s Made

The support has enabled the business to carry out the market visit, meet potential customers face-to-face and gain market experience in India and Sri Lanka. This has led to new connections being established, with the hope of future orders.

The Growth Voucher has enabled Ariane Medical Systems to take advantage of marketing consultancy support and introduce social media as a new sales channel to reach a wider audience digitally and raise awareness of its products.

“The support allows a small business to think and dream big.

Cat gave us guidance throughout including helping us to complete the applications. It’s potentially helped us to open a brand-new market.” 

- Mark Davies-Cousins, VP International Sales

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Sector: Health & Beauty

Location: Amber Valley

Naturally Flawless Aesthetics is a medial aesthetics clinic based in Duffield, Amber Valley.

The clinic was established in December 2024 by Natalie Fletcher, a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) registered midwife and Independent Prescriber. Services include anti-wrinkle treatments, dermal fillers, skin boosters, microneedling and facials, skin tightening and pigmentation treatments along with medical grade skincare.

There are currently two employee team members including Natalie’s mum Marie, who is clinic manager.

Challenges faced

The largest challenge for Naturally Flawless Aesthetics has been the rising cost of running a business. In recent years, increasing overheads including energy costs, supplier price rises, National Insurance contributions and regulator costs, have all significantly impacted operating expenses.

As a medical-led clinic the business prioritises high quality products, advanced technology, ongoing clinical training and strict compliance standards. Whilst this ensures patient safety and premium outcomes, it also means costs are naturally higher compared to lower-cost non-medical competitors entering the market.

In addition, operating within an unstable economic climate and periods of high inflation has required careful financial planning to maintain both accessibility for patients and sustainable profit margins.

Solution – Support Given

Naturally Flawless Aesthetics has been supported by East Midlands Chamber’s Business Adviser, Cat Walls and the Accelerator project. This includes a business diagnostic to determine where the business is and where it wants to be. The business successfully applied for a £2,000 Growth Voucher which has provided funding for specialist consultancy support.

Natalie commented: “This support enabled us to access specialist business advice tailored to our stage of growth. Support focused on strengthening our business foundations, reviewing operational processes, improving financial planning and identifying sustainable growth opportunities within a competitive aesthetics market.”

The guidance has helped the business refine its strategy, build confidence in decision-making and ensure the clinic is positioned for structured, long-term growth rather than reactive expansion.

Impact - The Difference it’s Made

Natalie goes on to say that the support has given them greater clarity and confidence in making key decisions.

As a growing clinic, one of its main challenges was understanding how to sustainably grow a team while maintaining profitability. The consultancy support helped them to better understand cash flow forecasting, capacity planning and the right timing for recruitment to ensure that any new team member could be supported long term.

It also provided valuable guidance around capital investment – particularly in knowing when it is commercially viable to invest in new aesthetic devices.
Natalie continued: “Rather than making decisions reactively, we now have clearer financial benchmarks and growth indicators that help determine the right time to expand our treatment offering.”

As a result, the business is now operating with a more strategic approach to growth.

“We are now more financially informed, more confident in our investment decisions, and better positioned to scale sustainably without placing unnecessary pressure on the team or the business,” concludes Natalie.

In summary the support has enabled Naturally Flawless Aesthetics to:

• Make informed decisions around team growth and workforce sustainability.
• Improve financial forecasting and cash flow visibility.
• Create clearer benchmarks for when to invest in high value aesthetic devices.
• Reduce the risk of premature capital expenditure.
• Plan recruitment and expansion with greater confidence.

“The support has given us clarity and confidence at a crucial stage of growth. It’s helped us step back, look at the bigger picture, and make informed decisions about scaling the clinic sustainably.”

- Natalie Fletcher, Founder and Director

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Sector: Creative

Location: Derby

Branding Optimist is a specialist brand consultancy based in Derby. Established in 2006 and led by Andy Cogdon, the business helps organisations and individuals develop clear brand strategies and translate them into effective visual identity, messaging and digital presence.

Operating as a specialist-led consultancy supported by a trusted network of creative professionals, Branding Optimist delivers agile, highly personalised branding solutions built on strong strategic expertise.

Challenges faced

The primary challenge for Branding Optimist has been shifting market perception from being viewed solely as a creative services provider to being recognised as a strategic brand partner. While high quality creative output is visible and tangible, the deeper value lies in the strategic thinking behind it. Clearly communicating this strategic expertise and demonstrating the commercial impact of brand clarity has been the key barrier to growth.

Solution – Support Given

Andy initially engaged with the Accelerator programme, attending a series of in person workshops covering Paid Digital, SEO, Website and Video Marketing. These workshops provided practical insight into strengthening the business’s marketing capability and digital presence.

The business then progressed to one-to-one support from East Midlands Chamber’s Business Adviser, Sonny Lakhani and funding through an Accelerator Growth Voucher. This tailored advice and support was particularly valuable in challenging strategic direction, refining growth plans and strengthening overall commercial positioning. It allowed Branding Optimist to clarify its offer, sharpen messaging and identify practical, sustainable steps for scaling the business.

The £2,000 Growth Voucher helped the business access specialist digital consultancy in video marketing. This enabled Andy and the team to use video as a key part of their marketing for the first time. The new approach aims to show the brand - through the creation of five podcast-style videos - as a trusted voice, be noticed more online to attract customers and boost engagement across digital channels.

Andy highlighted the impact of this support: “Sonny’s commercial insight, sector knowledge and ability to challenge thinking constructively have played a significant role in shaping the company’s growth direction. He continues to be a trusted source of guidance as the business moves into its next phase of development.”

Impact - The Difference it’s Made

The support received has had a significant impact on the direction and confidence of Branding Optimist. It has not only enabled the business to connect with new clients, expand its network but grow its project portfolio with better-aligned opportunities.

The guidance from Sonny also helped review and refine the service offering, ensuring it is clearly structured and positioned to meet the needs of different business tiers, from ambitious SMEs to more established organisations. As a result, Branding Optimist is now more focused, commercially aware and better equipped to target the right opportunities. This has strengthened competitiveness, improved strategic clarity and created a solid foundation for sustainable growth.

“The Accelerator support has given us the space to step back, think strategically and make informed decisions about our growth. The guidance has been practical, insightful and genuinely valuable. It has helped us sharpen our offer and approach the future with greater confidence and direction.”

- Andy Cogdon, Founder and Creative Director

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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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