Frank P Matthews, a local tree farm and nursery based in Tenbury Wells, is on its way to expanding its customer base after receiving a grant from Enterprising Worcestershire. This initiative has enabled this 120-year-old business to not only vastly improve their set-up time but also attend more shows, such as the RHS Malvern Spring Festival, BBC Gardeners World Live Show and Shrewsbury Flower Show.

Charles James, Director of Frank P Matthews recognised the need to improve the logistics and labour involved in exhibiting at RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) shows. Seeking to expand their client base across Worcestershire and exhibit at more events, Charles applied to the Enterprising Worcestershire new start-up grant to invest in an exhibition trailer.

How the grant has helped transform their business

"We’ve historically exhibited at the RHS Malvern Spring Show and various local shows. In the past, attending these shows required sending a team a few days in advance for setup. The idea behind applying for the grant is to purchase a trailer that allows us to streamline the process and attend more shows throughout the season. With everything pre-set up, a smaller team can set up quickly on the day of the show and focus on the tasks at hand."

Experience with the application process

"The application process was nice and straight forward and James talked us through everything we needed."

Following the grant funding Charles has been able to 

"This increase in efficiency has enabled us to attend more shows in the local area and further afield such as BBC Gardeners World Live Show and Shrewsbury Flower Festival allowing us to expand our presence and connect with more local customers. We produce everything in Worcestershire, and through these events and our website, we aim to increase brand visibility, attract more local customers, and drive sales. We aim to continue growing our business and strengthen our presence across the county and beyond."

The Enterprising Worcestershire grants programme offers 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.