Dinnington business PLP Lift Trucks, who provide forklift trucks, access equipment and training, were seeking support to develop their processes and were searching for streams of funding to modernise their ICT systems.
The business was experiencing significant uncertainty surrounding the upcoming General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the need to implement changes to its data handling and ICT systems. To address these issues, the business decided to seek external support.
They met Andrew Klinkenberg, Key Account Manager for Rotherham Investment and Development Office (RIDO), after attending a supply chain event with McLaren Automotive. Andrew informed Laura Edson, Business Development Director of PLP, of the support on offer from the Sheffield City Region Growth Hub 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.
Laura explained “Once we met with Andrew, we were amazed at the amount of support available to us that we didn’t realise existed”.
After an initial business review, Andrew discussed support available for purchasing a new computer software system, replacing their current out of date system. He also outlined the benefits of installing LED lighting throughout the premises, amongst other areas.
Andrew supported the application for a Superfast South Yorkshire Innovation Voucher for the software system, and the Carbon Trust Green Business Fund to support the changes to the factories lighting system.
Laura said “This is one of the biggest ways RiDO supported us. Our current system is not very user friendly. With the innovation voucher, we have had 50% of the new system funded.
With their application approved for 50% of funding from the Innovation Voucher Scheme, they are now in the process of installing the software.
The LED lighting equipment they acquired, thanks to the Carbon Trust Green Business Fund, helped reduce electricity costs within the business and improve health and safety.
Andrew also referred the business to a number of Masterclasses on offer by the Enhancement Project, which were aimed at supporting the business to improve their future planning performance, financial skills and to discover more on the subject of GDPR.
Laura said “All three masterclasses I found incredibly useful for different reasons; for example, with GDPR, although it has been widely discussed, there was limited information actually available and a lot of confusion regarding the new legislation, whereas the masterclass made this topic clearer”
In addition to this, Andrew invited the company to the Get up to Speed with STEM event, a regional showcase of industry and careers fair for young people aspiring to work in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Manufacturing sectors. This helped market the business to these potential employees first hand, resulting in a number of applications from apprentice’s keen to work at the company.
The business felt positive about the support delivered by RiDO “Something we value is that any problem we have run into, we know that Andrew is at the end of the phone for us.”
“The support was incredibly helpful to us and exceeded our expectations, we would never have done all of this without it.”
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