Growth Support Programme - One Year On

5th February 2019

I have been working on the Growth Support Programme for a little over a year now and one of the best things about my role is the tremendous variety of businesses I meet on a day to day basis. 

On average I attend around four networking events a week in Devon and Somerset to inform business owners of the 12 hours of free business advice they can receive. I also get to check in with them after their support has ended and it never ceases to amaze me to see how their business has developed. 

Finding time to grow your business

One of the most successful businesses on the programme that I have come across is Morag Kitt from Tola health in Exeter. Morag started her business by working one day a week, then having a part time job across the other four days to sustain her income. After receiving support from Chris Langan from Business Information Point, Morag told me that she was able to work three days in her own business, and only two in her employed job.  Not only that, but Morag won her first business award!

I tell Morag’s story when I speak at networking events as most business owners start off by continuing to work part time until they are able to sustain a full time salary. It’s definitely a story business owners can relate to.

The other thing I mention when I have speaking engagements is that the digital marketing module is by far the most popular module on the programme. Whilst it’s not new that people are starting up businesses, digital marketing is causing somewhat of a desperate need for new skills in the sector. Across all of Business West’s support services, digital marketing workshops and support is by far the most popular, and this translates to businesses on the Growth Support Programme too.

Expert digital marketing advice

The digital marketing module is delivered by a fantastic social enterprise called Cosmic who are based in Honiton, East Devon. An excellent digital business adviser by the name of Matt Ballard visits clients in Somerset and Devon to help them with their social media marketing, website design and SEO (search engine optimisation ie getting your company high up on Google rankings).

Plymouth based business, Pixalytics told me that they had been on marketing courses before but found it hard to relate the generic advice to their own business.  However the support that they received from Cosmic was ‘outstanding’. 

Andrew, co-owner of Pixalytics said: 

“We had a website audit with Cosmic which was definitely the best session we have ever been on.  Instead of giving us generic advice about digital marketing, Matt sat down with us and told us the sections of the website that worked well, and which parts needed some work.  Following the audit, Matt then gave us some tangible tips and advice on how to make these changes so we were able to implement them straight away.  

“Most of the advice given was either free for us to implement because we could do it ourselves, or cost very little with our web developer, but it has made a huge difference to the increase of website visitors. 

“Matt also helped us with our social media strategy, again giving us pointers for the areas we weren’t so good on.  It was obvious that Matt was aware that we weren’t able to spend thousands with our web developer or a marketing agency, so he gave us some sound advice.”

I also meet a lot of business owners who have been working in non-business fields for their entire careers, then they want to branch out into their own sole trader business. Like Ben Leach, for example, who worked as a mental health nurse for the NHS for 20 years, and now has his own consultancy practice in Torquay. 

Ben told me 

“The most challenging aspect of my business is that I spent a number of years with a team of people so I could delegate work. I also had a direct line manager who would point out any issues or make sure everything I was doing was ok.  Being in business for yourself, you don’t have any of that, so you have to think and do everything on your own. 

“The Growth Support Programme was useful for me in two key areas. Firstly, it has provided me with the skills and knowledge that I lacked and I was able to create a useful business plan, which is a really important plan to have. Secondly, it gave me mentorship – my business adviser, Kim Thornton from TDA let me know that I wasn’t alone and that everyone needs support with their businesses.” 

Although most of the business owners I meet are the founders of quite young businesses, the Growth Support Programme can offer support to all ages of business. Which is why it was such a pleasure to meet Louise from Woodland Playcentres in West Somerset. Louise set up her business out of university 20 years ago and creates play and learning facilities for children. With the support of her business adviser, she is now diversifying and branching out into adult events too such as corporate days, team building and teacher training days. And she mentioned that she’s now turning over a profit since joining the programme. What a result!

If any of these stories resonate with you, why not contact me so that I can let you know more about the programme. Book a 10 min call with me here or email me on charlotte.garnham@businesswest.co.uk 

  • Take your business to the next level!

    If your business is based in Devon or Somerset (excluding BANES & North Somerset), register your interest for this FREE programme.

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  • Take your business to the next level!

    If your business is based in Devon or Somerset (excluding BANES & North Somerset), register your interest for this FREE programme.