In 2012 the DR Company Set up the Young Business Growth Project to Help Young Entrepreneurs

Case Study: Accessing Funding

The funding streams we manage at the DR Company include specific grants for farms and rural businesses in South and West Devon. On their organic farm near Kingsbridge, Natasha Green’s family has developed their fruit juice and cider business with the help of a Local Action grant …

Over 25 years ago, the Green family started to diversify their business, setting up an award winning fruit juices and cider business called Heron These developments have also enabled Natasha to Valley Drinks. When Natasha took on the concentrate on the next stages of her business plan, business, she wanted to retain the quality of all of extending their product range and expanding their their products, but recognized that it was time to customer base. In addition the Heron Valley Drinks modernize the business and that this would help website has been developed to offer online sales of them meet increasing demand for their products. the full sparkling drinks range.

Natasha approached the DR Company for “Overall the whole project has been a great assistance with this, and we identified that a grant success – not only are we now quicker, but from South Devon Coastal Local Action Group could be suitable for the development of her also our product consistency has improved” business to help her with the costs of purchasing Natasha is delighted with the way the business is the much needed carbonation equipment. growing and has more exciting plans for the future.

In order to access this grant, Natasha needed to “This was the first time we had sought grant complete an application form, and submit a funding for projects at Heron Valley and The detailed business plan including financial DR Company really helped us through the projections. Our project advisors assisted Natasha process, ensuring that we had full support to prepare this information and ensure that she presented her business ideas in the best possible throughout and assisting and advising us light. Her application made it clear how her whenever we needed help. We are a small project would make her business more profitable but growing company, and the grant and employ additional staff, and Natasha was assistance we secured has immeasurably awarded a grant of £9,500; 50% of the costs of the helped the development of our business.” new equipment.

The new equipment doubled the capacity for the production of cordials and subsequent For more details about Heron Valley Drinks please carbonation of sparkling drinks. As soon as it was look at their web site: www.heronvalley.co.uk installed, 2 additional staff were taken on to work in the new improved carbonation production area, with further recruitment planned.

The DR Company @theDRcompany The DR Company www.drcompany.co.uk 01837 658643 [email protected]