Business Development Fund - Success Stories
Fernwood Nursery - Howard Wills
In October 2002, Fernwood Nursery was awarded a Business Development Fund grant, which assisted with the requirements to help them extend their growing season, create a sales and display area and to purchase additional propagation facilities.
With the grant from LEADER+ they were able to purchase a heating system to keep the polytunnel frost-free in the winter, and to set up an area of cold frames to protect their alpine plants from excess rainfall.
The Business Development Fund also helped to create a display area. As a result of this, it has improved the quality of their business premises, increased sales and drawn more customers to the area. The display area has also generated large amounts of publicity.
Fernwood Nursery have large collections of a variety of other plants that require special conditions for effective propagation. The Business Development Fund helped Howard and Sally Wills to purchase a glass greenhouse. The greenhouse has helped to increase the range of plants they produce, which has given them an opportunity to expand into new market areas.
Providence Farm - Pammy & Ritchie Riggs
Mrs Riggs from Providence Farm (Holsworthy) was successful in obtaining a LEADER+ Business Development grant to assist them with the purchase of equipment. Purchasing the equipment has helped them to streamline and increase efficiency, open new markets for cutting and packaging as well as create a unique dedicated organic butchery in the Torridge area.
The grant has safeguarded Pammy & Ritchie Riggs own employment and has led directly to the employment of two full-time and one part-time members of staff. They are also looking to employee a trainee butcher.
Wordentec Ltd - Phil Mingay
In February 2003, Wordentec was awarded a North West Devon LEADER+ Business Development Fund grant. The grant assisted with the requirements to construct an in-house vacuum test facility to provide, product development tool, demonstration facility and an instrument test bed.
The demonstration facility has helped to reassure customers of quality by full in-house testing. It is an essential sales tool and has helped to secure new business. Thorough testing has also improved the quality and reliability of their products, thereby building the company's reputation.
Jobs created & safeguarded:
- One full-time job created
- Three full-time jobs safeguarded
- One part-time job safeguarded
- In addition to providing direct local employment Wordentec also use local sub-contractors.
