"Brilliant" grant support enables Adventure Park expansion
"Warwickshire County Council's support has been brilliant for us and allowed us to carry out expansion which otherwise would probably not have happened, certainly not in the short term."
An adventure park in north Warwickshire is offering new and more inclusive attractions after becoming the 100th business to benefit from a Small Capital Grant from Warwickshire County Council.
NPF Bassetts Pole Adventure Park has installed a brand new activity - Laser Clay Pigeon Shooting - and renewed its fleet of 15 quad bikes at its base near the Warwickshire/Staffordshire border.
The Small Capital Grant enabled the company, which employs eight full-time staff and up to 35 part-time at its seasonal peak, to expand and refresh its offer for customers of all ages from ten upwards and all abilities. The injection of the Small Capital grant is also forecasted to increase the full time staff by five by 2025.
"The grant has been a huge help to us," said NPF director Fraser Colley. "It allowed us to purchase and set up a brand new activity, Laser Clay Pigeon Shooting, which has very broad appeal. It is accessible to all because, unlike regular clay pigeon shooting, it is not restricted by physicality. There is no recoil so it is comfortable for everyone, young or old, to have a go. It's competitive and fun, so really appealing to corporate customers, and very much the latest trend so it's brilliant to have it here.
"The grant also meant we could replace our quad bikes. We now have 15 brand new quad bikes of different powers for different age-groups so that young and old and take them round our 200-acre site in maximum safety and comfort. That is great for the customers but also a real saving for us because we were spending around £500/week, plus mechanics' costs, on maintaining the old ones. That £500/week plus we can now divert to other capital projects and further expansion.
"Warwickshire County Council's support has been brilliant for us and allowed us to carry out expansion which otherwise would probably not have happened, certainly not in the short term."
NPF Bassetts Pole Adventure Park is the latest beneficiary of a Small Capital Grants scheme which has, since 2015, supported small businesses across the spectrum of the Warwickshire economy. Grants have helped small businesses in the Visitor Sector, Manufacturing, Food & Drink, Education, Automotive, Leisure, Events & Conference, Hospitality, Wellness, Retail, Engineering and Logistics.
The scheme remains ongoing and the application process is simple with all the necessary advice to hand.
"It was very straightforward," said Fraser. "Coventry & Warwickshire Growth Hub, who have been very supportive of our business before, put me on to the Small Capital Grants and everyone I dealt with at Warwickshire County Council was very helpful. I would recommend that any small business which is thinking of expanding should apply and see how a grant can help them. It could make a huge difference."
Warwickshire County Council Business Support & Growth Programme Manager, Jon Stead, said: "I an delighted that a WCC Small Capital Grant has been so instrumental in enabling NPF Bassetts Pole Adventure Park to go ahead with their expansion plans. The Small Capital Grant scheme has now supported 100 small business with their aspirations to grow and remains an integral part of the package of business support offered by the County Council."
* For more information on Small Capital Grants please visit here or email business@warwickshire.gov.uk