Employee wellbeing and mental health are hot topics right now, but it can be challenging for businesses to find the best ways to engage with their teams, particularly on a low budget.

Donna Fisher, believes doing the right thing by telling staff you care shouldn’t cost the earth, and this is the premise behind her recently launched start-up, Smile-Box. Providing ‘care boxes’ containing a variety of sustainably sourced treats, a Smile-Box is a way for employers to let their staff know that their health and wellbeing is important to them, increasing staff motivation and retention along the way.

Based in Redditch, Worcestershire, Donna benefitted from the Enterprising Worcestershire Grant to help get her business off the ground:

“I really wanted to get Smile-Box business off to a strong start,” she says, “but I had concerns about the start-up costs that would be involved in launching my new business. I was pleased to see the Enterprising Worcestershire’s Start-up Grant was available and could to help me out with some of the expenditure and the challenges around launching my product range and marketing my new business."

Donna knew that presenting her range in a professional manner was critical to her success:

“I knew tasks such as getting high quality photography for my products were very important. The grant covered the costs for this and also provided funding for marketing brochures, web design and prototyping.”

The grant application process was also a positive experience for the new business owner:

“The grant application was seamless and easy. What’s more, the team at Enterprising Worcestershire were always on hand to offer advice and help if I had a query. They had a genuine interest in my business and a desire to see me succeed which meant a lot. I’ve applied for grants elsewhere before and this was by far the best experience.”

The support received from the grant funding had an almost instant impact on Smile-Box, resulting in a very successful first year of trading, leading to expansion plans for year two:

“The support from the Start-up Grant has had a massive impact on my business,” says Donna. “I wouldn’t have been able to afford some of these expenses without funding. I have been able to recruit staff and provide essential equipment like laptops, desks, and storage for our warehouse area. It has also allowed me to promote our services, to help maximise sales.”

Donna is full of praise for the grant-funding programme and the support she has received:

“This experience has been incredibly beneficial and provided me with a successful start to my business. Without this help I wouldn’t be where I am now,” she says. 

“My advice to any local businesses considering the programme is to apply now – you won’t regret it! And if you’re not sure whether you’re eligible for support, reach out to the team for advice – they are so friendly and helpful, they will guide you all the way.”

Enterprising Worcestershire offer a variety of support options to enable start-up and early-stage enterprises to develop and thrive. The support includes start-up workshops, business coaching, mentorship, and grant funding to help take your business ideas to the next level.