JEZ Davison profiles some of the Teesside firms bidding for a slice of £15m of free advertising and business advice under the Gazette-backed Local Business Accelerators.
Smoothies Etc
Launched: 2010
Location: Stockton
Business type: Catering and accommodation
Business representative: Mark Turner
Business web address: www.smoothiesetc.com
Business e-mail address: Mark@smoothiesetc.com
Current turnover: £3,000
Has your business previously advertised in local press: No
Story so far:
The biggest indication that Mark Turner’s business was going well was when he sold out of his smoothies and juices at the Stockton triathlon - the first sporting event to which the business had supplied.
Now Mark is targeting the education market after being asked to send a daily supply of smoothies to a local school.
He says: “I need help in making the right business choices at the right times and getting to meet the right people.”
Restora Holistics and Wellbeing
Launched: 2009
Location: Middlesbrough
Business type: Alternative therapies
Business representative: Kathryn Swainson
Business web address: www.restoraholistics.co.uk
Business e-mail address: kathryn.restora@gmail.com
Current turnover: £10,000
Has your business previously advertised in local press: No
Story so far:
Kathryn Swainson launched the business after suffering a triple dose of bad luck in 2007. She was made redundant from chemicals firm Terra Nitrogen (now GrowHow UK), her father died and she suffered a debilitating spinal injury following a fall.
But the plucky entrepreneur bounced back by launching Restora in 2009 and now she is hoping her range of massages and relaxation therapies can help others avoid injury.
She says: “It’s a win-win situation.
“If you can nip things like back injuries in the bud before the problem gets acute it can reduce sickness absence.
“That can help companies maintain their productivity and staff maintain their well-being.
“I have faith in the products and services and see others benefit from using them.
“With the introduction of workshops and B2B trade I feel Restora can make a positive and healthy difference to people stressed by today’s lifestyle.”
The business provides a range of services that can help reduce stress levels, including luxury pedicures, manicures and massages.
CAT-UK (Carbon Abatement Technologies UK)
Launched: 2008
Location: Middlesbrough
Business type: Transport/ environmental
Business representative: Derek Foxcroft
Business web address: www.cat-uk.co.uk
Business e-mail address: derek@cat-uk.co.uk
Current turnover: £22,000
Has your business previously advertised in local press: No
Story so far:
Derek Foxcroft has spent the last four years developing a novel fuel-saving device, the Eco-CAT, designed to help firms cut costs and emissions.
From a base in Middlesbrough’s recently revamped Cargo Fleet Building, the Lancashire-born inventor has sold his first tranche of Eco-CATs worth more than £20,000.
The device, which can be bolted onto cars, boats and trains, can cut CO² emissions by an estimated 25% and slash fuel bills by around 20%.
Derek is hoping to make his product into a global success and is bidding for work from the Ministry of Defence and the US Department of Defense.
He says: “This venture definitely has legs.
“We’ve got a lot of interest from the US and we have competitors approaching us now wanting to integrate our product with their systems.”
Reverse Driving School
Launched: 2009
Location: Thornaby
Business type: Professional and business services (driving school)
Business representative: Andrew Mckenzie
Business web address: www.reversedrivingschool.co.uk
Business e-mail address: reversedrivingschool@googlemail.com
Current turnover: £10,000
Has your business previously advertised in local press: Yes
Story so far:
Andrew Mckenzie faced an uphill struggle immediately after launching his driving school business two years ago.
Initially he found it difficult to win new customers and raise awareness of a fledgling brand amid intense competition in the market.
But gradually business picked up and Andrew was able to take on a full-time driver to share the workload.
His customers have a very respectable first-time pass rate of more than 90% - an achievement which has helped to generate more business.
Now Andrew wants to employ at least 10 new workers in the next year to push the business to the next level.
He is a firm supporter of the Accelerator campaign and says it would give his company the profile to compete with larger, established national firms.
“It would also allow more deals to be offered, especially to the unemployed who would benefit in finding work if they were to obtain a driving licence,” he says.
“Having a mentor would also give me help in marketing the business to make it into a national franchise.”
Turbo Connect
Launched: 2009
Location: Stockton
Business type: Re-manufacturing
Business representative: Callum Miller
Business web address: www.turboconnect.co.uk (under development)
Business e-mail address: turbo-connect@ntlworld.com
Current turnover: £75,000
Has your business previously advertised in local press: No
Story so far:
Callum Miller was made redundant in 2008 and decided to start his own turbocharger remanufacturing business with £1,200.
“It was small scale to start with - very small scale,” says Colin.
“I did all my own research, bought units to strip and train myself, sourced consumables, tools and equipment, even started market research and projected cash flows.”
Now he is looking to expand the business with a £50,000 loan that will fund new machinery, expand the product range, drive the company into new markets and possibly create jobs locally.
Callum says the Accelerator campaign could not have come at a better time for his business.
“Advertising is on our expansion plans, both with our local papers and nationally,” he says.
“We are now for the first time placing adverts and looking into advertising campaigns.
“Having an expert mentor will point us in the right direction for where we need to be.
“We have won awards on our quality and it’s now time to let our customers know this.”
Much Ado About Muffins, Café Hardys
Launched: 2009
Location: Stockton
Business type: Cake designer, catering
Business representative: Kathryn Hardy
Business web address: www.muchadoaboutmuffins.co.uk
Business e-mail address: kathryn.hardy@ntlworld.com
Current turnover: £75,000
Has your business previously advertised in local press: Yes
Story so far:
Stockton entrepreneur Kathryn Hardy turned her hobby into a career by launching Much Ado About Muffins in the town.
She rented a unit at Stockton Business Centre and after finishing her day job would work at night making celebration cakes, breads and pastries.
She earned a five-star Food Hygiene Award and expanded her business into Stockton Business Centre with the launch of Café Hardys.
The business has gone from strength to strength, recently beating off competition from more than 400 entrants to win a national cupcake competition funded by supermarket giant Asda.
Kathryn says: “We have found that when we attract customers, they become regulars. We feel that mentoring and advertising would allow us to gain more customers, enabling our business to grow.”