24 business focus
Assisting and accelerating progress through the Berkshire Business Growth Hub
In 2009, research by NESTA made a powerful case that a vital 6% of UK businesses – the innovative high-growth ones – are responsible for the lion’s share of national job creation and prosperity. Today, the expert business coaching, consultancy and training of namesake VitalSix underpins that message locally with its supportive work in delivering the region’s Business Growth Hub for the Thames Valley Berkshire LEP, writes John Burbedge
The Thames Valley Berkshire Business Growth Hub is widely viewed as a centre of excellence for ambitious businesses seeking the relevant information, guidance and finance to boost performance, manage scale-up, or find new ways of working.
The Growth Hub's experienced team of business exponents helps those Thames Valley businesses make their plans a reality.
The Business Growth Hub, delivered by VitalSix, is also able to assist at all stages of ‘the business journey’ – from creation, to startup, development, growth and even exit, as these case study examples show:
City Farm Systems
‘A valued, informed and impartial pair of eyes’
Company: Slough-based, pre- revenue startup, literally aiming to grow closer to consumers. Has devised an automated intensive rooftop farming system that enables the most perishable and hardest to transport produce – such as salad items – to be grown at point of sale or consumption, above supermarkets or restaurants, for example. The concept removes ‘food miles’, reduces transport congestion, energy waste and people costs. CFS has already gained high-street name interest, is a RBS Innovation Gateway finalist and nominee for the 2degrees Champions Awards 2015.
Assistance: Growth Hub assessment of business potential, competitive landscaping, disruptive market positioning, and business planning to attract investment.
Reaction: The Growth Hub’s business coaching, professional contacts and networking links had
www.businessmag.co.uk
been very helpful said founder CEO, Jonathan Lodge, “When you are proposing something non- conventional you need to avoid peer group thinking, but gain impartial, informed, constructive questioning by people with a proven business track record of delivering progressive programmes. The Growth Hub has also helped create a robust, plausible business plan to make us investment ready.”
TrackerSense
‘Constructive business startup advice’
Company: Reading-based, developing low-cost single-use ‘track&trace’ GPS security for valued deliveries.
Assistance: A Growth Hub grant of £13,000 matched with £27,000 investment by TrackerSense has funded a prototype product. The Growth Hub ensured robust plans were in place before TrackerSense sought and gained additional £40,000 external private investment.
Reaction: “The Growth Hub team has been absolutely fantastic, particularly in helping me understand how best to put my last business forward for sale and today in positioning and presenting TrackerSense correctly to raise funding interest,” said founder MD Wayne Soutter.
“I’ve been running businesses for 20 years, but they have been very good at constructively challenging my way of thinking.”
“If you are a startup, you can feel very small and alone. You don’t have people around you to question your thinking or advise on management activities or strategic direction. The Growth Hub has provided that.”
Ancoris
‘Clearer focus in a new cloud-filled businessworld’
Company: Located in Bracknell, 11-year-old business, 28 employees. Forced by recession to change its traditional Microsoft infrastructure services business model, and enter new markets. Now, a Google for Work Premier Partner enjoying rapid year-on- year growth by providing cloud- based products, services and solutions.
Assistance: Networking opportunities. Senior managers also attended the three-day Berkshire Business Accelerator course, hosted at Henley Business School.
Reaction: “I have only got good things to say about our assistance,” said Ancoris marketing director Anne-Laure Mcleman. “When we started talking to the Growth Hub our business was going through a massive transition. There were loads of opportunities but the course was brilliant, and helped us focus and decide on the right things for our future and gave us tools to plan and manage the business better.”
Lein Applied Diagnostics ‘Funding has come at a crucial time’
Company: Reading-based, Lein has developed novel optical technology for low-cost, non-invasive measurement and diagnostics for healthcare and industrial applications. Lein has nine patents protecting its innovative products.
Assistance: Lein’s senior management team attended the Berkshire Business Accelerator course and now have a common framework for their strategy and goals. Grant support of £27,000 from Berkshire Growth Hub, and loan from LEP Funding Escalator.
Reaction: “This funding has come at a crucial time as we capitalise on many, varied commercial opportunities. We have found there is a growing demand for our products – both in terms of new customers and more advanced requirements from existing customers. The further development work made possible by this support will open up wider, international markets for us,” explained Dr Dan Daly, CEO, Lein Applied Diagnostics.
During 2014 the Thames Valley Berkshire Business Growth Hub:
• Supported over 100 ambitious companies with tailored business coaching
• In partnership with Henley Business School, trained 60 business leaders
• Invested over £470,000 in grants in 28 business growth projects.
Susan Elliott, director of the Growth Hub summed up: “With the right advice, guidance and, where necessary, funding, Thames Valley Berkshire’s SMEs will have a greater chance of success against their national and global competitors. We are delighted to work with the LEP in providing this valuable service for local businesses, many innovative and hungry for growth.”
Details:
www.berkshirebusinesshub.co.uk
www.city-farms-systems.com Trackersense: 07734-761305
www.ancoris.com www.lein-ad.com
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – MAY 2015
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