Business Promotion Grant awarded to Devon businesses

Funding has been awarded to ten Devon businesses to help them promote their goods and services to potential new customers.

The Business Promotion Grant, from Devon County Council, is designed to help local companies to cover exhibiting costs at high profile trade shows or events.

Grants of up to £1,000 were offered through a competitive bidding process. The successful companies can gain valuable exposure to reach national and international audiences, which can help the development of their business and support Devon’s growing economy.

The grant is part of the County Council’s Devon Delivers programme which highlights that Devon is a great place to live and work, and a location where businesses thrive.

The businesses receiving the Business Promotion Grant this year are:

Totnes based Argand Solutions is an energy technology company which helps commercial, industrial and renewable businesses to optimise their energy systems. It will attend the Energy Management Exhibition, in London, in November.

Fraser Durham, Commercial Director at Argand Solutions, said: “Devon County Council’s Business Promotion Grant will be of great value to our developing business as we take our products to market and commercialise within the UK and abroad.”

Bird Sunglasses, based in Exeter, will attend MODA, in Birmingham, in February. The company, which launched in March, produces stylish, handmade sunglasses using sustainable materials such as bamboo. For every pair sold, the company distributes a solar light to families in Malawi, Zambia and Uganda through its partnership with SolarAid.

Ed Bird, Founder of Bird Sunglasses, said: "Starting a new business is hard work and expensive, so we're really thrilled to be working with Devon County Council to promote what we do. It makes a big difference knowing that we're supported and have the backing of our regional council. The South West is the perfect place for a sunglasses business, but we have our sights set on being a global brand.”

HORNIT designs and manufactures innovative cycle products to improve cycling safety. Its range includes the world’s loudest cycle horn, and the Mini Hornit range for children which features 25 sounds to keep children safe on their bikes and scooters. The Exeter based company will attend the London Toy Fair in January.

Ian Ham, Sales Director for HORNIT, said: “HORNIT is originally renowned for creating the world’s loudest cycle horn. We will be taking our safe, but fun, kids range to London Toy Fair, in the new year. Receiving the Business Promotion Grant from Devon County Council will allow us, as first time exhibitors, to showcase products designed to keep young cyclists safe on our roads.”

Life Space Cabins designs and creates beautiful small life spaces for home, work and play. Based near Totnes, it builds cabins all over the country including home offices, garden rooms and additional guest accommodation. The company is going to attend the Rural Entrepreneur Live in Birmingham.

Jamie Wilson, Director of Life Space Cabins, said: "As a fledgling business we're delighted to have been selected for the Devon Business Promotion Grant. It's fantastic to have the support of Devon County Council and be able to have the opportunity to showcase what we do outside of Devon."

LoveKeepCreate Ltd, based in Plymouth, will attend the Harrogate International Nursery Fair in March. The company makes unique, personalised keepsakes using precious old baby clothes or items people can't bear to part with.

Merry Whitaker, Managing Director of LoveKeepCreate, said: "Harrogate Nursery Fair is the largest UK trade event in the nursery sector. We applied for this funding as we believe that the fair gives us the best chance of reaching out to major retailers in the industry with our new range of off-the-shelf organic baby wear and gifts. We’re really excited and grateful to have been given this grant as it makes attendance at the fair financially viable."

Milkalyser Ltd, based in Exeter, is developing new technology to revolutionise fertility management in dairy cows. The firm will attend Dairy Tech in Coventry in February.

Toby Mottram, Founder of Milkalyser Ltd, said: “Farmers don’t often take time away from their farms but days out at events like Dairy Tech are a good place to talk to them. The Business Promotion Grant is enabling us to attend the show and get farmers interested in our technological solutions.”

Moo Free Chocolates, based in Holsworthy, will attend the VegFest UK Trade Show in London next month. Moo Free is the creator of the world’s first dairy free chocolate Easter egg and since expanding to Devon two years ago, has become one of the world's leading dairy free chocolate manufacturers.

Mike Jessop, Co-founder of Moo Free Chocolates, said: "Moo Free Chocolates is incredibly grateful to the Devon County Council for the Business Promotion Grant and the opportunity that this will give us to further promote our dairy-free chocolates to companies across the UK. With the increase in sales facilitated by this grant, Moo Free Chocolates will no doubt be able to employ more people in the Holsworthy area and beyond while also boosting the local economy."

Rudds Wellies will be attending the Olympia Horse Show in London in December to promote its unique Wellington boots. The Salcombe based company makes Riding Rudds for horse riders. They are designed with a stirrup-friendly outsole tread to make them safe to ride in and are made using a rubber which will resist manure and wet conditions. Its Farming Rudds and Sailing Rudds are also being launched over the next year.

Rachel Rudd, Director and Founder of Rudds Wellies, said: "We're delighted that Devon County Council has supported us to attend the Olympia Horse Show in London in December. Exhibiting in London can be very expensive, but with Devon County Council support we can show that Rudds Wellies can compete against other worldwide fashion retailers in the capital."

Community Interest Company Visit Devon promotes the county as a tourist destination, working closely with organisations such as Visit Britain and Visit England. It will attend Explore GB in Brighton in March.

Simon Fishwick, Visit Devon’s Company Secretary, said: “Our job is to raise awareness of what Devon has to offer, with our two coastlines, two national parks, and fantastic food. We can target the audiences we’re looking for at Explore GB, and attending this event will benefit the tourism industry as a whole in Devon.”

Dartmoor based Wild Hive Paper Flowers will attend the Independent Hotel Show in London in October. The company was founded by designer / maker, Bee Watson, who handcrafts paper flowers for weddings, events and gifts. Its signature range of paper flower bouquets contain a removable pod of perennial wildflower seeds in their centre, purposefully chosen for their bee friendly qualities, which can be sown to mark an occasion or honour a memory.

Bee Watson, owner of Wild Hive Paper Flowers, said: “We’re delighted to be given the opportunity to launch our new line of paper flower décor at this leading industry event. We’ve spent the summer designing a range of paper flower backdrops for interiors, wedding hire and venue styling which we’re looking forward to showcasing to over 5,000 independent hotels and boutiques from across the UK.”

Councillor Stuart Barker, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Economy and Growth, said: “These are really innovative companies offering high quality products and we’re pleased that the County Council can support their efforts to promote their goods and services. By gaining exposure at trade shows and events, the aim is for these companies to reach new clients and customers which will help them grow and at the same time boosts our local economy.”

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