Start-up support provides springboard for Nuneaton entrepreneur

"The Start-Up programme is a perfect example of how collaborative support can work brilliantly to offer businesses exactly the help they need.”

A Nuneaton man who launched a new business to give his family a better life has urged others who are thinking of doing the same to seek support.

Joe Foster is celebrating being in the second year of running his own company, EA Digital, which specialises in the installation of TV, telecoms and security within both domestic and business environments.

Joe worked for many years as a satellite TV engineer but decided to go it alone after the birth of his second child and hasn’t looked back.

As the business was growing due to word-of-mouth demand in the local area of Galley Common. Joe decided to increase his businesses potential and received start-up business support, which forms part of the Business Growth Warwickshire programme.

The support was delivered by Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce on behalf of Warwickshire County Council and Warwickshire’s five District and Borough Councils. The support is part funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (via Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council), and Warwickshire County Council.

EA Digital received free business advice thanks to the support on offer from the Start-up Programme which comprised of regular one to one meetings with a business adviser. The bespoke support covered all aspects of business foundations including growth strategies, financial management, and extensive marketing planning.

Joe said: “I just wanted a better life for my family both financially but also being able to work my hours around them so I was keen to get all of the support I could. The company vehicle is now fully branded, I’ve grown our presence on social media and have just launched a new website.

“The help has been amazing, and I can’t thank the Chamber and the council enough for giving me this backing.”

The business advice gave Joe an insight into how to market and brand his business to increase the growth potential and from there he was able to win further work and focus on his business full time. Joe said the company has gone from strength-to-strength since receiving the help.

He said: “I’m really pleased at how far we’ve come; word-of-mouth was massive for me in the early days and now I’m building on that. I really want the business to grow and, potentially, look at taking on staff of my own in the not-too-distant future.

“Sarah was a brilliant sounding board and someone I could check-in with if I had an idea and got me to think about where to invest my time and money as the business is growing. I would 100 per cent recommend anyone to make sure they ask for support when they are starting out because it has made a massive difference to me.”

Sarah Humphreys, a business adviser at the Chamber, said: “Joe has been brilliant to work with from day one. If I’ve given suggestions or actions, he’s worked on it straight away and has made significant progress in his business growth.”

Warwickshire County Council’s Portfolio Holder for Economy & Place Cllr Martin Watson said: “I am delighted that the Start-Up support has proved of such high value to Joe and helped him to unlock the full potential of his business. The Start-Up programme is a perfect example of how collaborative support can work brilliantly to offer businesses exactly the help they need.”

Cllr Kristofer Wilson of Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council said: “I’m delighted that the support we have been able to provide EA Digital through the UKSPF funding has enabled Joe to develop and expand his business. As a local council there is a range of support we can provide, and his success story is proof that when you come forward and we work together we can achieve great results. Well done to Joe!”

The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce is delivering free-funded business support on all aspects of business. To get started, please email businesssupport@cw-chamber.co.uk or visit https://www.cw-chamber.co.uk/business-support/business-start-up/

* To find out what other support is available to your business, please call CW Growth Hub on 0300 060 3747