This included online group sessions and 1-2-1 coaching on areas including marketing, workplace culture and employee retention, finance, and digital compliance, as well as the StriveLive start-up programme designed to help grassroots entrepreneurs launch their business.
Fourteen people joined the seven-week programme which consisted of a series of workshops, advice sessions and start-up challenges delivered by experts from Enterprise Cube who have successfully run businesses, as well as worked with nearly 4,000 entrepreneurs. At the end of the programme, participants could also compete to impress business experts at the project finale to win a share of £2,500 in funding.
Karen Allen, from Kidzplay Play Box joined the StriveLive programme and was successful in picking up two awards for being the most customer orientated and having the best business concept. With years of experience running preschool sessions in play centres, Karen co-founded Kidzplay Play Box during lockdown, with play centre owner Lisa Mee. They put their creativity into an activity box for children.
“StriveLive popped up on my social media at a point when I was searching for support with the business,” explains Karen. “I was looking to get to know other entrepreneurs in the local area, looking to increase my knowledge and understand how I could progress.
“The programme gave me the confidence to move forward, the understanding to face the challenges, and the connections within the local area to continue the support after the course finished. Strive for me allowed me to step up and to move the business on thanks to the supportive team and experienced entrepreneurs with years of experience, knowledge and stories.”
Kidzplay has featured at Springtime Live and boxes are stocked in local farm shops like Fodder and a variety of garden centres across the county, with plans to launch a subscription service soon.
Also involved in the programme was Hanna Dilley, founder of Benji’s Bites Toddler Food who picked up the award for Best Marketing. “I really enjoyed the Strive course, the subjects we discussed, and meeting fellow local business owners,” says Hanna, whose product is stocked locally in Crimple Foodhall. “Starting and running a food business by yourself is really tough so it’s great to connect with other people going through similar challenges as me, and share ideas.
“I was delighted to have won the prize for ‘Best Marketing’ and the funding will enable me to reach more busy parents in need of a helping hand at toddler mealtimes!”
For Chihuahua Lounge owner, Caroline Leather, the course helped her make useful connections which contributed to the successful launch of her business: “StriveLive proved to be particularly useful,” explains Caroline. “Amongst other things, I met another new business owner who has since developed the most fantastic website and booking system for my business, which was something that I had been struggling with.
“In the first week, I sold out my opening weekend and took nearly 100 bookings. My business has also been featured in the Stray Ferret and I have had interview opportunities with BBC Look North and Radio York”
Following its success, the York & North Yorkshire Growth Hub team are looking to fund more opportunities for Harrogate entrepreneurs to join dedicated start-up programmes and extend it to York-based businesses as part of a wider scheme of support.
Find out more at www.ynygrowthhub.com