Have you ever looked at a pair of recently purchased trainers in dismay, as they are already sporting a hole in the fabric near your big toe?  You’re not alone! The cause of this problem is a medical condition called ‘hyperextension of the distal phalanx’ which is surprisingly common.

Andy Chancellor, from Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, was one of those affected. “My job at the time involved lots of physical activity, and I found I was being hit with a recurring problem … a hole in my trainers just above the big toe area, after about three months. It was costing me a fortune!”

Out of curiosity, Andy tried to find a solution to the problem but found that there wasn’t a product available that could help. Working full-time, Andy would not normally have had the time to explore this further, but with the advent of the first Lockdown his business was forced to close, and he found himself with time on his hands. 

With a background in product design, he set about creating a prototype product to help solve the problem.  After receiving positive feedback from those he showed it to, he felt confident enough to enrol on the Enterprising Worcestershire High Growth Activate programme, where he discussed his invention with the advisors. 

He began to realise that an investment in his business at this early stage could really help accelerate his progress, and he was quickly signposted towards the Enterprising Worcestershire Start-up grant. The team worked with him to navigate the grant funding process, helping him to identify where the grant funding could have the most impact.

“At the beginning, it was easy for a team of two to manage everything,” says Andy. “However, it was clear that working from the kitchen table was not a sustainable long-term plan. Using the support I received on the programme, I applied for grant funding to create a proper office space with suitable IT equipment and infrastructure”. 

“In addition, with my projected growth figures, I also needed to increase the number of employees within the business, and the grant funding has paid for the extra equipment required to get them up and running.”

Sometimes, applying for grant funding can be a complicated, drawn-out process - but this was not the case for Andy:

“Sue Bailey at Enterprising Worcestershire made sure that I always had appropriate support which ensured that the process progressed smoothly,” he says.

The future is looking bright for Trainer Armour.  Now a team of four, the business has ambitious growth plans:

“Trainer Armour sales have grown significantly over the last year and will continue to grow over the foreseeable future. However, there are dangers in being a one product business. Therefore, it is important for us to develop new products – but this takes time.  

An additional benefit of the Start-up Grant funding is that our recruits can assist with the day-to-day activities, freeing up my time to concentrate on developing new products. I am pleased to say that products 2, 3 and 4 are on the way.

As a small start-up, we are agile and able to react to opportunities quickly. We are now actively following up on distribution leads in mainland Europe and Australia.”

As for recommending the Start-up Grant Funding to other business owners, Andy could not be more encouraging:

“Some business owners might find the process a bit daunting, especially whilst also trying to run your business, however the long-term potential gain from the grant funding makes it all worthwhile. I would recommend it to anyone.”

The 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.