Local firms receive Business Promotion Grant to reach new audiences

A group of 10 Devon businesses have been awarded funding to help them reach new audiences.

The latest round of Devon County Council’s Business Promotion Grant has been announced – providing up to £1,000 to cover exhibiting costs of attending trade shows or events.

The grant scheme, which is organised through the County Council’s Devon Delivers programme, aims to enable businesses to gain valuable exposure at high-profile industry events across the country, promoting them to national and international audiences.

Among the businesses receiving the grant are:

Ebb Tides, based in Sidmouth, is licensed by The Crown Estate and Natural England to harvest seaweed to make versatile seaweed products for everyday cooking. The company was established in May after a couple of years of research and it has more products in the pipeline.

Tony Coulson, Owner of Ebb Tides, will attend the BBC Good Food Show in Birmingham in November. He said: “We’re quite a niche product. We’re attending shows most weekends, although mostly in Devon, which helps raise brand awareness. Around 80,000 people go to the Good Food Show so it will be great to get our name out there, and the grant goes a long way to making the show affordable.”

Letter Box Hamper, based in Exeter, produces the UK’s smallest hamper, containing luxury food and drink items. They will attend the Taste of London event in November.

Jonathan Winfield, Owner of Letter Box Hamper, said: “Being an online business we never really get to show the hamper in person or discuss the produce, the majority of which is local. There’s so much quality local produce to choose from, it would be foolish not to use it, and our hampers are sent everywhere – Australia and the USA. We probably wouldn’t be bold enough to attend without the grant so hopefully the show will be a huge boost to business and it’s an opportunity to shout about the best the South West has to offer.”

Otter Vale Products, which recently moved from Budleigh Salterton to new premises in Cullompton, specialises in hand made, gluten free chutneys, preserves and other traditional food. The company will attend the International Food and Drink event in London in March.

Ben Laxon, Managing Director of Otter Vale Products, said: “We’ve been established for 35 years and being based in Devon is a selling point – it’s who we are. We’re very Devon-centric and market direct to retailers in Devon, Dorset and Somerset. Attending this show is a toe in the water. The funding has been a helping hand. It makes sense to go to a show that’s not on our doorstep and see what comes out of it. We haven’t tried before and we don’t know unless we try. We’re expanding, we’ve invested in new premises and we’re taking a step in the right direction.”

Woodbury Salterton-based craft beer microbrewery, Powderkeg Brewery, will show at Craft Beer Rising in London in February.

Jessica Magill, Co-owner of Powderkeg Brewery, said: “It took us 18 months to set up the brewery and we’ve been selling our beer for 14 months to local pubs, restaurants, wine shops and wholesalers. As a relatively new business we probably wouldn’t have taken the financial risk of going to a trade show at this point without the grant. This is THE industry show – it will provide a good platform to reach new customers and get our name known outside the West Country. Devon produce has a good reputation and we look forward to representing the county in a national forum.”

Witty Doodle, based in Tiverton, produces stimulating nursery wall art for babies and toddler. The company will attend the Harrogate International Nursery Fair next March.

Aggie Szpinda, Founder of Witty Doodle, said: “Last year was a great success - it gave us new clients, and because of that we’re launching products in Mothercare and Kiddicare this year. The Nursery Fair is a great opportunity to reach potential new partners and at the same time we’ll be promoting Devon to show that small start-up businesses from Devon can achieve success.”

The other Devon businesses receiving the Business Promotion Grant are Agricamera, based in Harracott near Barnstaple, Care Control Systems, based in Tavistock, CQC based in Barnstaple, Martha and Hepsie, also based in Barnstaple, and Westaway Sausages, based in Kingsteignton.

Councillor Andrew Leadbetter, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Economy and Growth, said: “The Business Promotion Grant proved to be a huge success when we launched it earlier this year. I’m pleased that with some additional funding we have been able to support even more businesses with a second round of the grant. Trade events can provide important exposure for businesses, and the 10 successful Devon companies will now be able to promote their products and services, as well as the county, to a much wider audience.”

For more information go to www.investdevon.co.uk