Growth support gives agency a boost to move forward

When colleagues Lucy Atkins and Martyn Bennett left their jobs to set up a company on their own, there were many unknowns - but following support from Boost, they’re now on the path to growth.

The duo launched Blackburn-based marketing agency Infused Media Ltd in April 2016 and while they had the knowledge and skills in the field, they found advice from Boost’s Growth Support Programme was just what they needed.

Infused Media specialises in professional services marketing and is focusing on growing its client base and eventually staff numbers too.

The business has recently started working with Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and is in the process of designing and developing its new website.

Lucy explained: “The Strategy for Growth Masterclass I attended provided me with useful advice about how to grow the business and allowed me to focus on the key elements of my business to develop and grow my client base.

“I also found it very useful to be able to talk to other small businesses like mine. When you start a new business there is a lot to think about and this gave me a lot of perspective.”

Boost, Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub, is led by the Lancashire LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership) and Lancashire County Council, supported by funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The fully-funded Growth Support Programme, delivered by Winning Pitch and Enterprise4all, provides help to develop a personal action plan, Lean Launchpad sessions outlining key principles for developing a new business and one-to-one coaching support for business owners.

Rona McFall, head of entrepreneurial solutions at Winning Pitch, said: “Lucy and Martyn’s story isn’t uncommon. We often come across people who have worked very hard to build up their skills and know they can deliver this as a service through their own business, rather than working for somebody else – but they don’t always have much knowledge of running a business or which direction to go in when there is so much to think about.

“The support and advice the pair has received is designed to help them grow the business and make it the successful enterprise they had in their sights when they set it up. We wish them well for the future.”

Boost Business Lancashire has received £3.8m of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Department for Communities and Local Government is the Managing Authority for ERDF. Established by the European Union ERDF funds help local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations.  For more information, visit www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding