ERDF grant springs small family-run business to next level
A training company in Nuneaton has opened a new centre to celebrate its 20th anniversary thanks to a business support grant.
Profit from Training Partnership (PFTP) Limited has opened a training centre on Attleborough Fields Industrial Estate.
The family-run business specialises in automotive training, including tyre-fitting, brake-fitting, four-wheel alignment and air-conditioning courses, and also delivers teacher training, health and safety and personal development courses.
Until now the team has travelled to businesses across the country but they can now offer training at their Nuneaton base, thanks to a £3,000 grant. The company was assisted by the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce through the Coventry & Warwickshire Business Support Programme which is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund, with further support from Warwickshire County Council and Coventry City Council.
The company has already seen a boost in business thanks to the new building - and is now also looking to expand by delivering a wider range of courses.
PFTP managing director Alison Higginson said: “We are a small family business and, as it is our 20th anniversary this year, we thought opening a training centre would be an excellent way to celebrate. The new centre means we can now also deliver our courses from there, allowing flexibility for customers and more opportunities to improve the training we offer. Our running costs have gone down and our clientele has grown.
"We can now offer our services to smaller companies, such as small garages, who may not have the space or number of learners for us to travel to them but can send staff to our training centre.”
A 30% grant towards the new training centre came from the Business Support Programme which has £1.5m of ERDF funding available to support Coventry and Warwickshire Small and Medium Enterprises via capital investments to facilitate growth, leading to job creation.
“As we are quite a niche business we have never been eligible for grants in the past," said Alison. "However the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce were very helpful and identified that we were able to apply for ERDF funding. We have already had a lot of positive feedback about the new training centre.”
Helena Bassett, business advisor at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “Profit from Training Partnership Limited has demonstrated exactly how much a grant can benefit a business and we wish them every success in their new training centre.
“ERDF grants are available to established and new start-up businesses that need financial assistance, and we would urge eligible businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire to apply.
“If you are an SME with fewer than 250 employees and are looking to purchase capital assets such as machinery or equipment, or you are looking to move to new premises, you could benefit from up to a 30 per cent grant to cover the costs of your investment.
“We are looking to support businesses that have not previously received a grant and applications are welcomed from all sectors, except retail.”
For details and assistance with the application process, contact the Chamber at supportyourbusiness@cw-chamber.co.uk