Staffordshire businesses ‘primed for growth’ following support from the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub
August 25, 2023
A number of local businesses across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire have been able to access specialist support through the LEP’s Growth Hub.
Among these, was Cannock-based Euro-matic, one of the world’s most versatile plastic ball manufacturers.
When sales enquiries started to escalate at Euro-matic following the COVID-19 pandemic, Directors Helena and Paul King turned to the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub for advice on managing the sudden growth of their business.
Helena, Director at Euro-matic said: “When you’re a small business, one of the challenges is that you’ve only got one or two people to bounce ideas off.
“When you work in a big organisation you can have meetings, speak to colleagues – we just didn’t have that.
“The Growth Hub gave us some expertise that we knew we could trust and have those confidential conversations with, whether that be about financial growth, or expanding our resource, or just about batting ideas around in terms of how we need to expand in marketing and other areas.”
Elsewhere, the recipient of a Queen’s Award, Clear Three, has also worked closely with the Hub. Starting out as a commercial laundry, the company now offers a consultancy service for businesses looking to reduce costs by driving down their water, chemical and energy usage.
“Our first impression of the Growth Hub was brilliant”
Graham Oakley, Managing Director at Clear Three said:
“The help from the Growth Hub has helped us finance jobs as well as funding research and development through various grants.
“The team at the Growth Hub have opened our eyes to what we can achieve and have given us the confidence to take on challenges and try new things.
“They encourage you to grow and put you in contact with local businesses that you can work with – and for me that is what Staffordshire is all about.”
1882 Ltd, a design-led ceramics brand, formed by fourth and fifth generations of the Johnson Brothers family and based in the Wedgwood factory at Barlaston, also approached the Hub when the company was seeking investment in equipment and training.
Speaking about working with the Hub, Emily Johnson, Director at 1882 Ltd said: “The Growth Hub has benefitted us in so many ways.
“We have been able to get grants that have given us the ability to buy new kilns, new equipment and train staff. For businesses in the county who would need further help and support, I would say the best thing to do is to ask for help. We asked for help and I’m so glad we did. The results have been fantastic.
“It’s ok not to have all the answers.”
Tamworth-based The Malted Waffle Company was another client who reached out to the Growth Hub. When the business needed to expand into a new warehouse, the team at Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Growth Hub were on hand to help.
Managing Director at The Malted Waffle Company, Laura Barrett said: “They allowed me to get new racking for the second warehouse, so we could work efficiently, safely and more productively – and I would never have been able to achieve it without their help.” She added:
“I would highly recommend getting in touch”
“Business can seem like a really scary, lonely place, but the Growth Hub are there for unbiased support and help, and they really want to see you, your team and your business succeed.
“Even if you don’t have a project or you’re not looking for funding, they can signpost you in the right direction and they might actually help you realise dreams that you never thought were possible.”
Working closely with local authorities and more than 120 referral partners from the public and private sector, we connects businesses to organisations, programmes and initiatives that can support you on your growth journey.
