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Beck View Road, Beverley, HU17 0JT
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Take a look at some of our recent Case Studies
A Bridlington-based farm has successfully diversified its business and increased its profitability after receiving a grant of £17,200 with the support of Invest East Yorkshire’s Business Support Services team.
Stonehills Farm Pantry is part of G.L. Riby & Son, a working arable and livestock farm located in Fraisthorpe, East Riding of Yorkshire. The farm spans 1,300 acres and is home to more than 100 rare breed Shorthorn cows and around 300 sheep. In addition to traditional farming, the business has been looking for ways to increase revenue and profitability in response to rising processing costs and price pressures from major supermarkets.
As part of its diversification strategy, Stonehills Farm Pantry launched an innovative, on-farm vending machine, allowing customers to purchase fresh farm produce directly. The vending machine offers the farm’s own grass-fed Shorthorn beef and Poll Dorset lamb, alongside locally sourced products such as milk, bacon, bread, and eggs. By eliminating the wholesale middleman, the farm is able to sell directly to consumers, providing a new revenue stream while reducing operational costs.
The owners of Stonehills Farm Pantry first approached Invest East Yorkshire in February 2024 after hearing about the support available from another farm that had successfully launched a similar project. They sought assistance with funding options, business planning, and marketing strategies to bring their vision to life.
Business Advisor Chris Page worked closely with Stonehills Farm Pantry to refine their business plan, assess financial viability, and develop a marketing strategy. As a result, the farm successfully secured a grant of £17,200, significantly reducing the upfront costs associated with purchasing the vending machines.
Chris explained: “After discussing their plans in detail, we worked together to structure a strong business case for grant funding. In addition to financial assistance, we also provided marketing workshops, which gave Anna Riby, the business owner, the confidence to promote the new venture effectively on social media.”
Following the successful grant application and installation of the vending machines, Stonehills Farm Pantry began trading in October 2024. Early results show promising profitability, with direct meat sales generating 35-40% more profit compared to traditional wholesale channels. The farm is attracting regular customers from local villages as well as passing traffic from the A165 Bridlington Road.
Looking ahead, Stonehills Farm Pantry is exploring further expansion, including an online ordering service for home deliveries. Invest East Yorkshire will continue to support the business with advice and resources to help make this next phase a success.
Anna Riby, Owner of Stonehills Farm Pantry, said: “The support from Invest East Yorkshire has been invaluable. The funding allowed us to fast-track our plans, and the business workshops have given me the skills to market our products effectively. We’re excited about the future and look forward to continuing our work with the team.”
Part of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Invest East Yorkshire’s Business Support team works closely with businesses on projects that will help them to grow and evolve, as well as identifying any sources of funding that may be available to help them. If you’re looking for support or to find out if you’re eligible for grant funding, go to www.investeastyorkshire.co.uk/business-support for more information.
Invest East Yorkshire’s Business Support Services team has supported Go Cruise & Travel to open its first high street branch. The specialist travel company moved into previously vacant premises on Boothferry Road in Goole in July 2024.
The franchise is operated by travel specialists Richard and Yvonne Sharp, who had previously operated from home. In addition to bringing an empty shop back into use and enhancing the appearance of the town centre, the opening of their Goole branch has also created a new job.
Richard and Yvonne received a Property Activation Fund grant of £6,224.64 from the Goole Town Deal regeneration programme towards the cost of refurbishing the building. The couple also invested a significant amount of their own money to bring their new business venture to Goole, with the total cost of the restoration project exceeding £15,000.
Richard said that he and Yvonne were keen to open a branch in Goole because the town has been without a high street travel agency for some time, adding: “It’s an up-and-coming place and, given the size of the town, we believe there’s an opportunity to provide this service to the local community. The Property Activation Fund helped us bring this to life and enabled us to produce a higher quality premises than we may have done.”
Richard explained: “Harry Booth has been our Business Adviser from Invest East Yorkshire since we first started the business. It was Harry who brought the Goole Town Deal’s Property Activation Fund to our attention and he’s been a big help with it all.”
Business Adviser Harry Booth explained: “I started working with Richard when he first launched his venture from home. He quickly realised he wanted to grow the business by opening a high street branch. Richard spotted a gap in the market in Goole town centre and began to explore this opportunity in more detail.
“It was at this point that I signposted him to his local Business and Intellectual Property Centre and made him aware of Goole Town Deal’s Property Activation Fund by sending him details about an open day that the Goole Town Deal team were hosting, which he attended. From this, Richard was able to gather key business intelligence and statistics that helped to inform his decision.”
Once Richard had decided to make the move to the high street, Harry helped him with the grant application process. He continues to support Richard and Yvonne with their marketing activities and to explore other grant funding opportunities for their new venture.
An artisan baker based in Brough has discovered the perfect recipe for success after receiving both financial and practical support from the Invest East Yorkshire team.
Luke Jenneson, who owns and runs Luke’s Bakery, is now able to bake twice as much bread after Invest East Yorkshire helped him to access grant funding to cover the cost of equipment he needed to be able to ramp up production. This, in turn, has enabled him to double his sales and take on additional employees.
Luke produces handcrafted sourdough bread and other baked goods for local retailers and food outlets, as well as selling direct to customers. Since launching his business in December 2022, it has continued to grow and evolve. Luke’s dedication to quality and craftsmanship has been recognised at this year’s Great Taste Awards by the Guild of Fine Food, where his white, white and rye and malted granary sourdough each received gold stars.
The talented baker first contacted Invest East Yorkshire in May last year to enquire about any grant funding streams that his business might be eligible for and find out what other types of support might be available to him.
Tracy Fairbank, a Business Adviser in the Invest East Yorkshire team, explained: “Luke’s business had grown quickly and was almost at capacity with the equipment he had. He needed to buy additional, larger equipment that would enable him to increase production and allow his business to continue growing.”
Tracy helped Luke to access a UK Shared Prosperity Fund grant that made it possible for him to bring his growth plans forward so he could keep up with soaring demand for his bread and other baked goods. As well as successfully guiding Luke through the grant application process, Tracy also put him in touch with the East Yorkshire Local Food Network, which provides useful opportunities for local food and drink businesses to share ideas, information and resources.
Luke used the grant funding to buy the new equipment that he so badly needed, doubling the production capacity of his business and, at the same time, his sales. Thanks to the support he received from Invest East Yorkshire, he has been able to realise the first phase of his business growth plan much sooner than he would have done otherwise.
He explained: “I’m extremely grateful for the support and guidance of the Invest East Yorkshire team. The grant has helped to grow my business by funding additional equipment, which has allowed me to scale-up the capacity of my bakery. I’m now moving into my second year of trading with a much more positive outlook.”
Meghan Rhodes transformed her herbalism business near Driffield from an apothecary into a thriving workshop hub, thanks to the expert guidance of Invest East Yorkshire’s Business Support Services.
Meghan first launched her herbalism business – Rhodes Roots & Remedies – back in December 2021. Although it started life as an apothecary offering consultations and herbal medicines, Meghan now focuses mainly on sharing her vast knowledge of herbalism by hosting workshops and teaching others about the many benefits of herbal medicine.
She first reached out to the Business Support Services team in April 2022, just a few months after launching her new venture, as she was looking for business development advice, including help with financial forecasting.
As the Business Adviser allocated to help her, Richard Wright helped Meghan to develop some financial forecasts for the second and third year of her business. However, he has continued to support her ever since, helping her to evaluate her various income streams to determine which is the most profitable and providing her with revised financial forecasts based on the findings of this analysis. This invaluable information helped Meghan to redefine her business model, convincing her to shift away from offering consultations and running an apothecary in favour of focusing her efforts on teaching herbal medicine to others.
Richard also helped Meghan to submit a successful application for a Business Support Services grant. This has enabled her to buy a yurt for her business, which she intends to use to host new and enhanced workshops, and other learning events.
Speaking about the support that she’s received and what it has meant for her business, Meghan said: “Richard has been an absolutely invaluable adviser, guide and resource since the early days of my business journey. He’s been there every step of the way, as a trustworthy, experienced and knowledgeable adviser, helping me ensure that all of my offerings have been sound, lending an impartial eye and ear, and uncovering and affirming the countless ‘aha moments’ I’ve had over the last few years. He’s run so many sets of numbers for me, giving me the solid business logic to back up my developing business skills, as well as the instinct to pivot the business and focus more on what’s now my core set of offerings.”
She added: “Were it not for Richard, I never would have known about the Business Support Services grant, which has brought the purchase of a yurt, so I can bring the majority of my offerings in-house, forward an entire year, opening up revenue growth and stability much faster than would otherwise have been achievable. Richard emanates nothing but support and knowledge, and genuinely has an interest in my business succeeding. I always look forward to our catch-ups and am beyond grateful for all his support; long may it continue. My experience with Richard and the Business Support Services team has been so brilliant. I wouldn’t be without it and make sure I tell every business-owning friend about the brilliant, free support available to them through Invest East Yorkshire.”
Shields (Driffield) Ltd. is a family-owned mechanical engineering and bulk processing company based on the Kelleythorpe Industrial Estate. Operating mainly in the engineering and manufacturing sectors, it was first established in 1984 and has grown significantly over the years. Forty years on from its launch, the company employs a team of more than 50 people and works with customers across the UK.
Shields first worked with Invest East Yorkshire’s Business Support Services Team more than ten years ago and, since then, has benefited from the advice, support and knowledge of its team of advisors on several occasions, helping to further fuel its growth and development.
Most recently, the company worked with Business Advisor Chris Moore to access a £20,000 grant from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. This enabled Shields to achieve its goal of drastically reducing its carbon footprint by investing in a large solar panel installation project at its headquarters in Driffield.
Chris explained: “Following a review of the business and a discussion about its growth plans, we arranged for Shields to have an independent energy assessment by a specialist company that we appointed. This was fully funded and highlighted a number of energy saving measures they could take as part of their commitment to becoming more environmentally sustainable.”
Chris helped the Shields team to submit a successful application for grant funding to cover part of the cost of installing solar panels. Now in place, they will help reduce the company’s carbon footprint by 20 tonnes per year, as well as helping to reduce its overheads by providing huge energy cost savings. The solar panels will also provide other environmental benefits for Shields, such as providing green energy to power its fleet of electric cars. However, this is only the first phase of the company’s mission to reduce its CO2 emissions and overheads; it also has plans to switch plant, vans and other cars from diesel to electric.
Carey Kelly, a Director at Shields, said: “As a company, we have enjoyed a long and positive relationship with the Invest East Yorkshire Business Support Services team. As the business has grown and our plans have changed, we have worked closely with them, not just in relation to financial assistance but also for ongoing advice and guidance. We are very appreciative of this support and look forward to this relationship continuing as we grow as a business and create more skilled jobs for Driffield and the surrounding area.”
Part of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Invest East Yorkshire offers a comprehensive range of support services to local businesses, delivered by helpful and knowledgeable advisors, who offer a free diagnostic process to help businesses identify the most appropriate support and development opportunities for them. This holistic approach includes one-to-one advice, workshops, networking opportunities and access to a wealth of resources and referrals.
For more information, go to: www.investeastyorkshire.co.uk/business-support/
Donna Stocks, who owns The Beverley Card Company on Dyer Lane in the town, first made contact with the Invest East Yorkshire team when she took over an existing greetings card shop known as Special Days. After getting in touch with the team via its online grant funding portal, Donna was delighted to learn that she was eligible to receive a Love Your High Street grant of more than £1,900 towards the cost of carrying out work on her new shop premises.
Donna’s fledgling business was soon going from strength to strength and quickly outgrew its existing premises. Having identified larger shop premises to move into, in 2023 she contacted the Business Support Services team again and was able to access a second grant of more than £3,300. Donna used this to transform a derelict former charity shop into much larger premises, bringing the vacant shop back into use and, at the same time, further enhancing Beverley’s shopping offer.
As well as occupying new, larger premises, Donna’s growing business now employs a team of four people and won the ‘Best Greeting Card Newcomer’ Award at the 2023 Greeting Cards Retail Awards, known as the RETAS, beating off fierce competition from businesses around the country.
Donna was guided through the grant application process by Business Adviser Trevor Douglas, who visited her premises on numerous occasions.
Part of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Invest East Yorkshire’s Business Support team works closely with businesses on projects that will help them to grow and evolve, as well as identifying any sources of funding that may be available to help them, such as the Love Your High Street grant accessed by Donna. It’s a funding scheme that can support local businesses, town and parish councils or organisations and community groups with projects that will help our high streets to flourish.
Donna said: “I was very happy with the service Trevor provided through my Love Your High Street applications, and I’m impressed by the commitment of East Riding of Yorkshire Council to help high street businesses.”
If you’re looking for advice, support or want to check your eligibility for grant funding, visit www.investeastyorkshire.co.uk/business-support for more information.
Company Overview:
When Alison Leighton first made contact with Invest East Yorkshire’s Business Support Services team in 2022, she’d just established her health and wellness brand and was looking for general business advice.
Less than two years later, Alison has launched her castor oil products across three different continents and seen her turnover and profit soar. She has taken on her first full-time employee, employs several casual members of staff and has moved into premises at Brough Business Centre.
The Business Support Services team has advised and supported Alison every step of the way over the last two years, helping her with everything from understanding arrangements with her customers and suppliers, to accessing grant funding and marketing support.
Business Advisers Richard Wright and Harry Booth have helped Alison, a nutritional therapist and colonic-hydrotherapist, to turn her passion for the health benefits of castor oil into a growing global brand.
Harry said: “Richard and I have helped Alison with a wide range of things, offering general advice on everything from business structure and VAT to legislative and regulatory requirements. We’ve also helped her to access marketing support; with business planning and financial forecasting, and several successful grant funding applications; by signposting her to other support that’s available to new start-ups; and with a risk analysis of the production and manufacturing process.”
Alison said: “I have been working with Harry for over two years. He is always there at the end of the phone for advice and support. I have made some valuable connections through Harry and it has helped move my business in the right direction.”
“Harry has helped me apply for various grants, which I wouldn’t have known about. The support has been phenomenal. It can be quite scary starting your own business but knowing that there is someone to talk to and support you has made it so much easier. I cannot recommend Harry and his team enough.”
Alison first became aware of the many benefits of castor oil through her training and studies. Her castor oil and castor oil packs are designed to support the liver, immune system, fertility, hormone balancing and overall health and wellbeing. They were inspired by Alison’s desire to share the benefits of castor oil with the world.
Invest East Yorkshire’s Business Support Services team can help eligible local businesses access grants through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF). Advisers work closely with business owners to help them identify projects that will help their business grow and evolve, as well as identifying any sources of grant funding that may be available to help them.
If you are looking for support or to find out if you’re eligible for grant funding, go to www.investeastyorkshire.co.uk/business-support for more information.
Baron Hartley Wines is located in sensitively renovated premises in Hornsea’s historic Market Place and opened for business in November, just in time for the festive season.
Its owner, Lee Hartley, worked with the Business Support Services team in the months leading up to the launch of his new business after contacting them through the Invest East Yorkshire website. Although he’d initially enquired about funding opportunities and support for another of his businesses, Lee mentioned the idea of taking over the wine business during a meeting with one of the team’s knowledgeable and experienced Business Advisers. At that point, it was merely a start-up idea; he had not yet registered his new business with Companies House or identified suitable premises in which to locate it.
Business Adviser Chris Page advised Lee on the many different things that he would need to consider to progress his idea of opening a wine shop, from securing an alcohol licence to recruiting staff. The team also helped to identify grant funding that Lee was able to access to help cover the cost of renovating the empty shop and bringing it back into use as the headquarters for his fledgling business.
Chris said: “I also introduced Lee to the Hornsea Collective group of business owners. This helped him to forge useful contacts within the local business community and gave him a platform through which he could start promoting the forthcoming launch of Baron Hartley Wines.”
Baron Wines was previously an established online business, which Lee decided to take over when its owner, one of his close friends, opted to semi-retire. Lee, who lives in Hornsea, saw an opportunity to take the business in a completely new direction by establishing retail premises in his hometown, offering wines to the public and local businesses, as well as wine tasting events and local delivery. However, he also continues to offer online sales through the website.
The new venture, which opened for business ahead of Hornsea’s annual Christmas lights switch-on, has already created one full-time job and there’s potential for one or two more part-time posts to become available soon. It’s a welcome addition to the local shopping experience and has helped to enhance the visual appearance of the Market Place by restoring vacant shop premises and bringing them back into use.
Lee Hartley, Director of Baron Hartley Wines, said: “To have the support of an adviser like Chris helping me focus on an action plan, from conception to completion, gave me a lot of encouragement to pursue personal and premises license applications, as well as the grant funding contribution. On top of all this, local business-friendly contacts came forward from the Hornsea Collective to put Baron Hartley Wines on the map via competitions and sponsorship, which helps to keep the seaside town alive and kicking.”
Invest East Yorkshire’s Business Support Services team is able to help eligible local businesses access grants through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF). Advisers work closely with business owners to help them identify projects that will help their business grow and evolve, as well as identifying any sources of grant funding that may be available to help them cover the costs.
If you are looking for support like Lee has been able to obtain, go to www.investeastyorkshire.co.uk/business-support for more information.
Mindmap Productions have had offices at the ergo business centre on the Bridgehead Business Park in Hessle, since 2019. At the end of 2020 they received support from the council’s Invest East Yorkshire team. They moved into a larger unit at the business centre and were able to create a new, high-end broadcasting unit. They applied for funds from The Supply Chain Network to help with its creation.
Event industry business Mindmap Productions faced growing adversity as a result of the pandemic. They knew that they had to make changes to enable their business to thrive.
By being part of The Supply Chain Network they could talk to their business advisor, Lianne Emery, and work through the most effective way to turn things around.
Lianne explained: “The company had ambitious plans to create a broadcasting suite, similar to a TV studio. Business networking and conferences were no longer an option unless it was virtual. The idea was to create an environment to film people with a background or virtual workplace dropped in behind them. They have an extensive network of presenters and actors, which would give businesses a cost-effective opportunity to get their message out with a professionally produced video or virtual conference. Following a business review it became clear that a significant investment both in time and money was needed. Peter and Paul at Mindmap had the time and we could identify and guide them through the grant assistance needed”.
Having gained the clarity of vision, Mindmap set to work putting their plans into action. Supported by the ergo team, they were able to move to a larger room to facilitate and create their new high end broadcasting unit. This has led to a turnaround in business. By adapting to what their clients need in a more virtual, remote working world, using green screen technology and creating state of the art videos.
Peter Hadfield, creative director/film producer at Mindmap said:
“The Supply Chain Network team guided us through the process and helped us to apply for the funds. We are now in a really strong position to offer a cutting edge facility unique to this region.”
Business partner, Paul Leeson-Taylor added:
“When the pandemic hit we lost half of our turnover, but gained a significant amount of time to develop our business. A negative situation was turned into a positive opportunity.”
For further information about The Supply Chain Network, visit: https://www.thesupplychainnetwork.co.uk/ Or email: supplychain@eastriding.gov.uk
The need to lead more sustainable lives and find more eco-friendly ways of operating becomes increasingly apparent as each day passes and the realities of the climate crisis really set in.
The good news in this regard is that it’s becoming easier for us to reduce our own individual environmental footprints – and there’s one relatively new business venture that’s starting to become a hallmark of high streets everywhere and that’s the zero-waste shop.
As we all know, business works on a supply and demand basis so it’s certainly interesting to see just how many businesses of this kind can now be found around the UK, revealing the extent of the nation’s appetite for leading more sustainable lifestyles.
I Love Zero is one such venture, set up by Theresa Brindley in the charming Yorkshire market town of Pocklington back in May 2020. At the time, Theresa was still in full-time employment as a teacher at a local primary school – but she was keen to follow her passion for all things environmental… and keen to make a difference.
And thus I Love Zero was born! The shop itself serves its customers by offering an alternative to supermarkets, with all products organic and free from non-recyclable packaging, where possible.
But it’s not just the shop shelves that are green and all business decisions bear the environment in mind, everything from working with local suppliers and using eco-friendly energy suppliers to selecting brands that share their core values of fair trade, fair wage, ethical sourcing and great quality products.
Theresa got in touch with the Invest East Yorkshire business support team via the Market Weighton Business Centre to help her achieve her ambitions.
We advised her on completing tax returns, writing a business plan with financial forecast, issued with the application and guidance for an ICT Start-up grant worth £1,000, and referred to the Love Your High Street Fund for support in transforming her leased property from a fabric shop to a zero-waste weigh and save shop.
I Love Zero, the eco-friendly store, opened its doors late in September 2020, having been completely refitted with state-of-the-art gravity dispensers, an EPOS system that will barcode a customer’s own reusable container and stocked with many local producers’ items.
The new business has been well received by local residents and continued to serve its community through the various lockdowns, providing socially distanced shopping, a click and collect service, as well as an online ordering and home delivery service.
With the new shop website now fully functioning, Theresa is also about to launch her online service for a wider community developing an online Shop A Little Greener directory.
Here’s what Theresa had to say about our support and guidance:
“We valued the support of the council’s business support team as they guided, advised and supported us through the various options that were available to us. It was, and is, lovely to know we have the support at the end of the phone or email. It makes the business world a little less daunting.”
If you’d like to find out more about how Invest East Yorkshire can help you develop your business in the future, get in touch with us today.
