Free business support helps put the HR in Sweetheart Marketing

A Burnley-based marketing agency is set to expand its workforce after receiving free support from a £7.2m regional business growth programme.

Sweetheart Marketing has accessed HR support through the Lancashire LEAP programme, available through Boost Business Lancashire, after experiencing growth which opened up capacity for additional staff.

Charlotte Miskell, managing director at Sweetheart Marketing, attended three HR seminars and received free HR coaching which allowed policies and procedures relating to recruitment, induction and employment to be put in place. The support was delivered by experts from Community & Business Partners.

Sweetheart Marketing is now looking to employ additional staff in the near future. The firm also offers work experience placements to Burnley College students.

Charlotte said: "The coaching and seminars from Boost Business Lancashire have provided me with the knowledge and focus I need to ensure I have the best team working at the company to support the delivery of our growth strategy.

“It has really made a difference. Having the correct HR procedures in place means I can concentrate on marketing the business to new customers and developing it further."

Charlotte Miskell set up Sweetheart Marketing in May 2012, creating the business from her mother's kitchen table. She now has a successful business servicing UK firms and international companies as far away as Australia.

Boost Business Lancashire is the £7.2m Lancashire Business Growth Hub, offering free and part-funded business support to ambitious and growing businesses. Delivered by Lancashire County Council and the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, and supported by £3.6m from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), it aims to grow Lancashire’s economy by £20m and create at least 1,200 new jobs and safeguard 700 more by 2015.

To apply for support call 0800 488 0057.