PCPM Limited, a provider of professional refrigeration ventilation and air conditioning services, had traded for several years as a small business and decided to take their business to the next level. To do this they recognised they needed to invest in developing their digital marketing strategy as they were currently relying on word of mouth to attract new business.
They decided to design a new website and develop their brand identity, restructure the business along more strategic lines and invest in advanced management software, recruitment and training. The business wanted to grow by expanding their market share and attract a wider customer base through growing a distinctive online presence.
PCPM approached the Sheffield City Region Growth Hub for advice and support to convert their digital marketing plans into a strategy and achieve their desired next level growth. They received one to one support from Business Growth Specialist Manny Agalamanyi who helped the business identify funding, sign posted them to specific advice and worked with the business to ensure their funding was invested wisely.
Business owner Peter Crown said, “Manny was extremely helpful at sign-posting us to sources of further advice and support and was a good sounding board in terms of looking at our plans for restructuring the business and talking through the best ways of doing it and how effective they may be.”
The business received a grant of £4,000 to fund the development of their new digital marketing strategy, which is a crucial tool for attracting new customers and validating their credibility to clients. They also focused on the development of a brand identity which better reflected the company, their history and their values and the way in which they work in collaboration with their clients.
Peter stated “We operate in a competitive marketplace, so being able to stand out was key to being able to compete with some of our bigger, more established competitors and grow our market share.”
The business also attended a number of Masterclasses that are available from the Growth Hub, which are aimed at developing the skills within small business across the region. These Masterclasses cover a broad range of subjects, and PCPM were referred to Masterclasses to develop their Public-Sector Tendering abilities and their financial skills. “They were all very interesting, providing real-world business advice from expert practitioners who understand the needs of small business and how to achieve growth in a challenging economy.”
These levels of support, specialist grant funding, one to one support and Masterclasses, are offered to SME’s across the Sheffield City Region by the Growth Hub’s Enhancement Project which offers a range of support aimed at high growth companies and is financed by the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020.
Since the support from the Growth Hub the business has advanced their digital marketing efforts through PR, SEO marketing and social media, establishing their brand in the market place online. As a result of their success the business has also employed an additional seven team members, including an apprentice, with a further two senior directors joining the team in due course.
The Sheffield City Region Growth Hub Enhancement Project is receiving up to £2.7m of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’ (and in London the intermediate body Greater London Authority) is the Managing Authority for the European Regional Development Fund. Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, business, create jobs and local community regeneration’s. For more information visit www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding