Project Warwickshire up and running to help hospitality, leisure and tourism sector

"We joined the programme at the end of last year and what we have learned so far has been invaluable at how we now look at our business"

A programme created to help small businesses in the hospitality, leisure and tourism sector has hit the ground running and is supplying "invaluable" support.

Almost 100 businesses have already engaged with the Project Warwickshire programme, delivered by Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce on behalf of Warwickshire County Council.

Backed by £320,000 of council funding, supplemented by £230,000 of European Regional Development Fund money, it will enable the Chamber to implement a wide range of support through to March 2024.

Project Warwickshire has already received almost 100 enquiries and is actively working towards 33 assists with businesses across the sub-sectors. These include an alpaca farm, tipi parties and narrowboat hire but the majority of businesses are in the restaurant and drinks industry.

Among these are Sip ‘n’ Swig Mobile Bars and Stag Gin, in Stratford-upon-Avon. Giles and Jodie Stagg, who run Sip 'n' Swig, are looking ahead with renewed confidence after receiving expert input from Project Warwickshire advisor Marie Stephenson.

"We joined the programme at the end of last year and what we have learned so far has been invaluable at how we now look at our business," they said. "We have looked at it from outside as well as from inside and have seen many areas that we can improve...and have started already.

"We are looking forward to meeting further with Marie and joining the various workshops looking more in depth at how we can streamline our business and market ourselves better. We are sure this programme will help us grow our business."

Project Warwickshire is supporting a broad spectrum of businesses (both limited companies and sole traders) with turnover ranging from £23k to over £1 million. Challenges they have faced, and continue to face, include difficulty trading throughout the pandemic and consequent lost revenue and staffing issues including retention and sickness due to Covid.

Recurring themes for requested areas of support are around business strategy, marketing, social media, website management, assistance with funding and grant searches.

Project Warwickshire addresses these issues by providing a package of help across the sector, including 1:1 advice, networking and a range of masterclasses.

Louise Hart, of Hart Restaurants in Leamington Spa, has also engaged with the programme.

"I am super excited to begin the Project Warwickshire programme," said Louise. "It will ensure that, as a business owner, I take time out to view my business in a different perspective. It will give me the opportunity to run through my ideas with an expert advisor and get support on how to make those ideas a reality to grow my business.

"There is such a great selection of workshops it was hard to choose. This is a fantastic opportunity to get back 'in the classroom' and learn new skills. Learning has been put on the 'back burner' since starting my business so i am really excited to be able to have the opportunity to develop my skill set and bring it into 'the modern day.'"

Caroline Trainor, Project Warwickshire Programme Manager, said: “This programme is a brilliant opportunity to bring comprehensive support to this sector, post-pandemic. Our Business Advisors at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce continue to demonstrate how their practical advice and workshops are helping small businesses in the county to grow and thrive.”

WCC's Strategy & Commissioning Manager (Economy & Skills) Alison Robinson said: "I am delighted that so many businesses are accessing support from Project Warwickshire. Businesses in the hospitality, leisure and tourism sector contribute so much to our county, both economically and in terms of quality of life, and it is great that WCC can enable this free support, accessed through the Chamber, to supply the help they need."