When the closure of SSI was announced Dan and his business partner Mathew Switzer researched business support in the area and came along to Five Lamp’s “Is It for Me?” workshop
The workshop is designed to help people who are interested in exploring the possibility of starting their own business.
After the workshop Dan and Mathew attended one to one business advice sessions with Carol Sanderson, Five Lamps Business Adviser.
Neither Dan nor Mathew had any previous business experience but with support and guidance quickly carried out research into their idea and started work on a business plan.
Their research clearly identified a gap in the market for a LGV training provider in Teesside and a shortage of qualified LGV drivers. Dan and Mathew organised meetings with large organisations such as PD Ports, EMR Haulage and DWP and successfully lined up significant amounts of work.
With Carol’s help Cleveland LGV Training Ltd. finalised their Business Plan and applied for the Business Compass Start up Grant, a government grant available to ex-SSI employees and affected supply chain businesses. The business plan was submitted and their grant application was quickly approved.
Cleveland LGV Training Ltd. Is now going strong and even offers LGV training to ex-SSI employees referred to them by local Job Centre’s.
Dan and Mathew said
“From the first time we spoke to Carol she offered nothing but help, support and guidance. Carol was always there for us when we needed advice. Carol assisted us in preparing our business plan and helped us to the secure the funding that enabled us to start our business. We are now providing LGV training to our customers and are assisting many former SSI colleagues with re-training, allowing them to move into a new career in the haulage industry, where there is a large shortage of drivers”
UK Steel Enterprise, the business-support subsidiary of Tata Steel, is also backing the company with a £3,500 loan from its Regeneration Fund to help with initial start-up costs.
UKSE’s Sarah Thorpe said:
“Our Regeneration Fund helps to encourage new and early-stage businesses that are setting up in our steel areas when they can find it difficult to access finance. We were especially pleased to be able to help Mat and Dan who, as a former SSI employee, is using his redundancy payment and all the skills and experience he has acquired to start a business that already looks set to be a success”