Armstrongs expand after receiving grant
A forward-thinking firm of chartered accountants and tax advisers in Coventry and Warwickshire is continuing its expansion and jobs growth after receiving a grant.
Armstrongs, which has offices at Bond Street in Nuneaton, Torwood Close, Westwood Business Park in Coventry and Station Road in Hinckley has acquired two other firms since October 2021 – Bishop Simmons in Bulkington and Dowsett Moore which had offices in Nuneaton and Hinckley – to take its number of employees to 50.
Following its move from Coton Road to Bond Street in Nuneaton, Business Development Manager Cheryl Stanley contacted Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) Growth Hub to find out if there was any grant funding available to help with the fit-out.
Cheryl worked with Gary Thyeson at the CWLEP Growth Hub and Richard Middleton at Coventry City Council, to successfully apply for a £24,900 grant from the Coventry and Warwickshire Business Support Programme which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund to add to £24,900 invested by Armstrongs.
The result is an improved office with a reception area, meeting rooms for clients with presentation equipment for hosting online meetings and a better working environment in an open plan space for the 20 staff based in Nuneaton.
Muhammed Shabbir, Director at Armstrongs, said its stylish office in Nuneaton reflected the business’s image at its head office in Coventry.
He said: “We have been established for over 40 years and the recent acquisitions of Bishop Simmons and Dowsett Moore reflects our continued growth path.
“The support from the Growth Hub and Coventry City Council has been fantastic and the grant has enabled us to fit-out our premises to a high standard to benefit our clients and our staff.
“Since the move and investment, we have recruited three members of staff and we are currently going through a recruitment drive for another five people to ensure we have the resources internally to keep up with demand so the future is bright.”
Gary Thyeson, Operations Manager at CWLEP Growth Hub, said Armstrongs’ presence in Nuneaton had been enhanced by the funding support.
He said: “At the Growth Hub it is one of our priorities to really get to know businesses throughout Coventry and Warwickshire so that when funding like this becomes available, we can really make a difference.
“Armstrongs’ new base in Nuneaton perfectly suited their needs but it needed modernising and the grant has helped to transform the office which makes it much more welcoming for its wide-ranging client base.”
The ERDF grants are part of a package of loan and grant programmes for Warwickshire businesses including the County Council’s Small Capital Grants, Warwickshire Recovery & Investment Fund and Green Recovery Grants.
For information about the County Council’s package of loans and grants, please visit here or email business@warwickshire.gov.uk
To find out what other support is available to support your business, call CWLEP Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747.