Enterprising businesses flourishing in the West Midlands Region

January 2008

The West Midlands Region has received double recognition for its efforts to support enterprise and entrepreneurs across the region.

Start-ups and small businesses continue to flourish with various projects to help them develop and grow, most notably the North Staffordshire Regeneration Zone (NSRZ) which has been named as the national winner of the Enterprising Britain Award.

Furthermore, a survey for the BT Home Enterprise Week found that the number of home based self-employed people in the West Midlands Region has increased by 2.3 per cent in the past year - now totalling more than 180,000 - which makes it the second fastest growing area for home enterprises in the UK.

As well as 500 new businesses, NSRZ has helped to create more than 1,000 new jobs, 21 sustainable social enterprises and given over 7,500 young people the opportunity to run a real business. The project has since gone on to represent Britain at the European Enterprise Awards on in Porto, Portugal, where it was runner-up in the Enterprise Support category.

Worcestershire County Council has also demonstrated excellence and was one of the shortlisted entries in the West Midlands regional heat of the Enterprising Britain awards. The entry was noted for projects such as the Youth Enterprise Initiative, providing funding for 18 to 30 year olds, women and the disabled.

Here is an introduction to case study examples of enterprising businesses in the West Midlands Region:

Sub-4

Sub-4 was founded in 2004 in the garage of former professional athlete Clifton Bradeley, who was the first Briton to run an indoor sub-four minute mile and held the British 1500m record in the 1980s.

The company, which develops and manufactures orthotics (or custom-built orthopaedic shoe inserts), now employs seven people at its base in Stoke-on-Trent. High profile clients include international footballers Michael Owen, Nicky Butt and Kieron Dyer. Orthotics help sports people to be more efficient by making their body shape symmetrical and prevent injury.

Clifton was injured training for the 1988 Seoul Olympics and now has almost 20 years experience as a podiatrist. Sub-4 supplies prescription orthotics for more than 150 clinics nationwide, manufacturing approximately 20 bespoke inserts per day, with turnover due to top £500,000 this year.

During 2008 Clifton and his business partner Andy Bradeley are also planning to launch franchised high street outlets offering high-tech biomechanical assessments, including human symmetry tests.

Wiggly Wigglers

Set up by Heather Gorringe, who works from her home farm in Herefordshire, this fast-growing gardening supply company started in 1990 by selling wormeries, which swiftly transform organic waste into rich compost.

The company now has an annual turnover of more than £2.5 million, also selling plants, seeds, wildlife feed and much more. It recently won the 2007 Rural Enterprise Award for business development.

Using the web to promote and sell supplies, the Wigglers website (www.wigglywigglers.co.uk) carries an e-shopping facility, Heather's popular blog and a weekly podcast.

Plinkfizz

Julie Grant launched her marketing company Plinkfizz in June 2003. Plinkfizz specialise in research led consultancy, and Julie has developed the business over the last four years to include design, public relations and digital marketing.

The company moved to a new base at the Hothouse - managed office space set up by NSRZ for entrepreneurial businesses in Stoke-on-Trent.

Following a successful four years in business, Julie now employs a team of experts and has over 50 clients including national firms such as Dollar Financial and pub retailer Greene King.

Case studies are also available for the following enterprising West Midlands Region businesses:

- Chokolit, Bridgnorth, Shropshire - family-run enterprise creating premium quality chocolates, founded by 13-year-old Louis Barnett in 2005

- Turtle Bags, Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire - making ethically-sourced cotton and jute bags

- Organic Smokehouse, nr Craven Arms, Shropshire - using traditional methods of smoking fish and dairy products

To arrange interviews or for further information about enterprise in the West Midlands Region, or any of the case studies highlighted above, please call: Oliver Du Croz or Nick Trueman at Seal Communications on 0121 200 0780 or email thewestmidlandsregion@sealcommunications.co.uk