Home Boost Business Lancashire logo

Blackpool entrepreneur gets a boost to help grow her new business

jennifer_copy 2

Blackpool entrepreneur Jennifer Duthie hopes to see her innovative brand of children's trainers stocked in stores next year after receiving free business support.

The Skribbies have a special surface, similar to a whiteboard, which can be customised with magic pens and stickers. Children can wipe off the designs and create new ones as often as they like.

Jennifer, who only started trading in Summer 2013, required additional support to prepare her new business for growth. She accessed free support through the Lancashire LEAP start up programme, which is run by Regenerate Pennine Lancashire and Winning Pitch as part of Boost Business Lancashire, the £7.2m Lancashire Business Growth Hub.

Jennifer accessed free boot camps which provided her with essential knowledge required to run a new business, including sessions on how to access finance and plan ahead for growth. She also received free business coaching, a mentor and accessed partial finance for Skribbies through growth vouchers. These will contribute towards the promotion of the product.

Jennifer said: "The support has been incredible. It really honed my focus on critical aspects of my business particularly in the financial and legal areas. The interaction with other start-up stage entrepreneurs was particularly insightful and encouraged me to be more lateral in my thinking.

"Since the bootcamp sessions, revenue is growing and new products are in the design and development stage. We are looking forward to further growth in 2014!"

Boost Business Lancashire (Boost) is the £7.2million Lancashire Business Growth Hub led by the Lancashire LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership). It is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007 to 2013.

Businesses looking to sign up to Boost's growth programmes can use our online form or call 0800 488 0057.

Share

You may also like...

Boost support story: Henshaw Safety & Training Solutions Henshaw Training

Boost support story: Henshaw Safety & Training Solutions

Marcia Henshaw
Henshaw Safety & Training Solutions,

Business support story: Cannabrew and Access to Finance Cannabrew stock web

Business support story: Cannabrew and Access to Finance

Elliot Horner
Cannabrew, Lancashire

Sign up to our newsletter

For insights and events to help your business thrive.

In completing this form, you understand that Lancashire County Council (Boost) has a requirement to process your personal data. Lancashire County Council will only ever process your personal data where it has a clear lawful basis for doing so in full compliance with data protection legislation - UK GDPR and The Data Protection Act (2018). We will ensure the security and confidentiality of your personal data at all times. For full details of how Lancashire County Council handles your personal data please see our privacy notice here . Some information relating to this public funded project may be declared to third parties under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Funded by local govmt
Department for Trade and Business
Northern Powerhouse
Lancashire County Council

The website uses cookies.

Some are used for statistical purposes and others are set up by third party services. By clicking 'Accept all & close', you accept the use of cookies. For more information on how we use and manage cookies, please read our Cookie Policy.