Scott Garrett, Director of SGM Group, has spent over 20 years in the music and creative industries. During that time, he noticed a significant gap in the market: there were few health supplements specifically designed for individuals who rely on their voice as a key part of their work. Motivated by this need, Scott and his business partners, Carrie and Jack, spent two years working closely with nutritionists and clinical specialists to develop an innovative new product: VitaVoice, a health supplement designed to support vocal health.

VitaVoice was created with singers, actors, teachers, public speakers, and anyone else who depends on their voice for their profession in mind. The product was developed to help people maintain vocal health and performance, keeping their voices in optimal condition for demanding work.

Recognising a gap in the market for health supplements tailored to creative professionals, SGM Group launched VitaVoice in the UK about 18 months ago. The product quickly gained endorsements from high-profile figures, including cast members from EastEnders and performers from Frozen: The Musical, validating its effectiveness and appeal.

Vita Voice has since become a go-to supplement for those in creative fields who need to keep their voices in top shape.

How the grant has helped transform their business

"Promoting vocal health is at the heart of what we do. To expand into markets like Germany, we had to reformulate our product to comply with EU regulations, which is what we've used the Innovation Worcestershire grant for – developing the new formula."

"We received valuable Innovation Business Support, including a mentoring session with Bethan Mills at BEC, which really helped us clarify our goals for the grant. The funding has been crucial in allowing us to create the new formula and innovate new products."

It has enabled us to expand and take on more local freelancers for our marketing and we are potentially now looking into apprenticeships.”

Experience with the application process

“We found the well-designed application form, created by the innovation team, straightforward to submit, and this was supported by bid-writing expertise within our team. Additionally, the availability of guidance for completing it from the innovation team was a significant contributor. Our clear understanding of the grant's objectives and the desired outcomes further ensured the success of our application.”

Development and innovation following the grant

"The innovation support and grant has helped us to develop our holistic approach to vocal care. Since receiving the grant, we have launched more products such as VitaBeat, a copper warming patch for joint care and bespoke performance and recovery tea for vocal cords."

The Innovation Worcestershire grant and support initiative offers businesses the resources to embrace innovation, develop new products, services or technologies, and stay ahead of the competition. Whether you're looking to create a groundbreaking product, streamline processes, or implement new technology, the programme can help you achieve these goals and tap into new markets. Through grant funding and support, businesses can innovate and thrive in an ever-evolving marketplace.