Tag Archives: Manufacturing Growth Programme

News

Health on the shelf as Kirsty’s commitment to Net Zero helps it retain major retail deal

A Harrogate manufacturer of award-winning gluten and dairy free chilled ready meals, frozen pizzas and deserts has retained a major UK retail contract thanks to support from the Manufacturing Growth Programme (MGP).

Kirsty’s, which was started by entrepreneur Kirsty Henshaw after her son Jacob was discovered to be allergic to nuts and intolerant to gluten and dairy, is working towards being Net Zero by 2050 which is a key requirement of one of its largest retail customers.

Having a plan to reach net zero has helped safeguard the jobs of Kirsty’s 49 staff, including 18 new recruits brought on to help support its expansion.

The company reached out to MGP to part-fund an environmental audit and bring in a specialist consultant that was experienced in complex food manufacturing and could support its carbon reporting and help it put in place its Net Zero plan.

“Our retail customer announced in January this year that it wanted all suppliers to have a plan in place by the end of the year to get to Net Zero by 2050,” explained Natalie Parker, Marketing Director for Kirsty’s.

“We’ve only been manufacturing our own products in Harrogate for two years, so as a small SME this was a massive challenge, and we needed some external assistance.”

She continued: “This is where the Manufacturing Growth Programme came into play and we found the adviser very easy to work with, very understanding of the challenges of our business and very keen to put us in touch with experts and funding that made a real difference.”

The Manufacturing Growth Programme is currently the UK’s largest and leading business support programme for SME manufacturers.

The initiative, which is designed and delivered by Oxford Innovation Advice and funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), has secured nearly £15million in grants for 4300 companies over the last three years, creating and safeguarding over 10,000 jobs in the process.

With ERDF funds being phased out, MGP is due to end in early 2023 unless the ‘essential lifeline for small to medium-sized manufacturers’ can be incorporated into the Shared Prosperity Fund.

Shaughan Farrow, Manufacturing Growth Manager for MGP, added her support: “The Covid-19 pandemic impacted many businesses across the UK, but Kirsty’s was still able to grow its turnover by more than 11%.

“Bearing in mind she set up her business with the remnants from her student loan, when Kirsty Henshaw says she has set her sights on reaching a turnover of £25m within the next three years, we can genuinely see that happening.

“This business is a success story for other budding entrepreneurs, recognising a need in the market based on a personal situation, having an idea, and having the guts to go for it!

“It also shows that fast-growing companies need expert support at certain parts of the journey and, by accessing MGP funding and advice, it has secured a major retail contract that has given it the platform to grow and create 18 new jobs.”

Kirsty Henshaw initially launched her business selling ice-cream in health food shops across the UK.

However, trying to juggle work, parenthood and making ice-cream, she took a leap of faith and entered the Dragons Den in 2010, becoming the youngest entrepreneur to receive funding from ‘Dragons’ Duncan Bannatyne and Peter Jones with her range of free-from and ice cream alternatives.

Today, the meals business is worth more than £10m and supplies ready meals from its manufacturing facility on Springfield Business Park in Harrogate and frozen pizzas and frozen desserts through co-manufacturing agreements.

News, South West

Silver Fox targets growth after coordinated investment drive

A Hertfordshire manufacturer that supplies its labelling solutions to companies such as ABB, London Underground, Mitsubishi, Network Rail and Vodafone is looking to expand after tapping into expert support.

Silver Fox Ltd has continued to invest in new plant and machinery throughout Covid-19 and, when combined with specialist external assistance, this has helped it grow considerably over the last twelve months.

The family-run business has benefitted from accessing industry knowledge through the Manufacturing Growth Programme (MGP), an initiative designed for SMEs, funded by the European Regional Development Fund and delivered by Oxford Innovation Advice.

“We design, develop and manufacture highly durable labelling solutions, particularly for the electrical instrumentation, data, and telecoms sectors. We’re also seeing growing success in the process sector,” explained Nick Michaelson, Director at Silver Fox Ltd.

“One of our innovations is an industry-leading product called the Fox-in-a-Box®, which means clients can print our entire range of thermal labels all from one software, one printer and one ribbon.”

He continued: “This includes the highly durable Fox-Flo® tie-on cable label, which is both UV-stable and Low-Smoke Zero-Halogen. This makes it ideal for use trackside on Network Rail, in tunnels with the London Underground and across oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, data centres, public buildings and the rapidly expanding renewables sectors.”

Silver Fox, which was the first manufacturer in Hertfordshire to become carbon-negative in 2020, is a strong advocate of MGP and the specialist support it has provided.

It is urging other SMEs to tap into the remaining grants available for business improvement projects and is calling on management teams to throw their support behind the initiative as the new funding landscape is being formed.

“Industry really needs to make the most of the Manufacturing Growth Programme whilst it is here and, importantly, ensure that it is still around when the new support packages are announced,” added Nick.

“It is a helpful service, and it makes the process so easy. The impact is immediate, and we’ve also looked at using the specialist support to complement our own long-term solutions for our business.”

Amanda Freeland, MGP’s Manufacturing Growth Manager for Hertfordshire, concluded: “The company is a great example of a specialist firm that has really served its marketplace, formed strong connections with very large clients by making products that are world-beating.

“In addition, it is a carbon-negative company that builds sustainability into everything it does, from investment in energy savings and process improvements, to reductions in plastic waste and choosing biodegradable materials in its packaging for example.”

As the business grows during these challenging times, it is likely that Silver Fox will also be looking to expand its workforce in the months to come.

News

Skincare products manufacturer looking good after sustainable approach helps it target £5m sales

A specialist in organic skincare and beauty products has become one of the greenest businesses in its field, doubling sales in the past two years in the process.

Good Ventures, which was first formed by female entrepreneur Laura Rudoe in 2007, is on course to hit £5m by the end of 2022 and its desire to be a ‘regenerative’ force for the environment, body and mind is driving this growth.

The St Albans-based manufacturer has tapped into support from the Manufacturing Growth Programme (MGP) to help boost its sustainability credentials, not to mention getting it ready for ISO 9001 and ISO 22716 quality accreditations.

It has also used external support and a grant to purchase a semi-automated filling machine that has speeded up the production process and increased capacity by 20% and 15% respectively.

“The initial concept dates back more than 15 years, but by the time we had developed it into a product I knew could make a difference it was 2014, the year I took on my first employee to cover £140,000 of sales,” explained Laura.

“We’ve come quite a way since then, with sales doubling during the pandemic as more people were investing in skincare that they could do at home. Sales have remained strong and, with three products about to launch later this year, we are expecting to hit the £5m mark before too long.

“Our two main skincare ranges – Evolve Organic Beauty and Adaptology – are all handmade and organic and their ethos has always been on about being regenerative…making sure we leave a positive legacy on the world and the people who buy our artisanal products.”

She continued: “This is not empty marketing rhetoric. With the help of MGP, we completed a carbon foot printing that has helped us become one of, if not, the most sustainable cosmetics businesses in the world. That’s some achievement for a SME that is competing with multinational brands.

“There’s a lot of greenwashing about and we wanted to avoid this by showing consumers how transparent our supply chain is and how we are doing everything we can to become Carbon Neutral.”

Good Ventures is one of 4300 companies that have been supported by the Manufacturing Growth Programme, which provides grants and dedicated consultancy to manufacturing SMEs in England.

A team of industry-experienced Manufacturing Growth Managers have worked with management teams over the last six years to complete strategic business reviews, before unlocking funding for improvement projects that help with planning, productivity and process improvement, competitiveness, innovation and leadership and management.

This service has delivered more than £13.5m grants and helped safeguard or create more than 10,000 jobs.

Now the focus is turning to the future to ensure the new UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) reflects the desire for the continuation of specialist industrial business advice and support.

Laura, who has seen the firm’s products stocked in John Lewis, in 100 Holland Barrett stores and in 36 different countries, added her support: “MGP has been brilliant. When you are running a small business, the process needs to be easy to apply for and it was certainly that.

“The other thing for me is the fact you are dealing with people who understand manufacturing, and this can make a massive difference when helping you scale. We’ve received grants for three very different projects, all of them fundamental to helping us grow and taking us to our now 30-strong workforce.

“My one word of advice to local authorities in charge of the UKSPF, please, please, please make sure you don’t reinvent the wheel – just support the Manufacturing Growth Programme and back an initiative that is already working.”

Amanda Freeland, MGP Manufacturing Growth Manager for Good Ventures, concluded:

“Laura and her team have proven how a little bit of specialist support can make a massive difference in helping a challenger brand take on bigger rivals and win due to its product quality, customer service and their commitment to sustainability.”

For further information, please visit www.goodventures.co.uk or  www.manufacturinggrowthprogramme.co.uk