Liverpool pod entrepreneur lands £50k Arts Council grant

An entrepreneur from the Liverpool-based business accelerator programme, Spark Up, has secured significant investment for her ‘end of life pods’ business.

Gina Czarnecki, founder of The Last Wish Company, has received a £50k grant from the Arts Council England North West.

The company manufacturers 100%recycled and biodegradable ‘end of life pods’ and this money will be used to produce 10 prototypes and will be exhibited as artworks before being sold.

Gina, from South Liverpool, started formulating idea for the creative and bespoke pods three years ago after the loss of her father. She believes individual and unique coffins can help people with their grief after the death of a loved one.

She said: “There was a gap in the market for customisable, eco-friendly coffins and I found more and more people telling me that it was a great idea and that they wanted one too.

“I just came into Spark Up with an idea rather than a business – Spark Up has already helped me to refine the concept and be able to communicate it clearly. I’ve received sound advice on core business areas such as finance, law and marketing.

“My idea was quite complex and the programme has helped me to formulate a proper business plan – I feel totally supported and am learning all the time. I am excited to see what happens over the next few months, not just for my business but for the other start-ups on the programme too.”

Spark Up is supported by major organisations operating in the region, including Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, NatWest and national PR firm, The BIG Partnership. It aims to help create 500 ‘super businesses’ in the region in the next five years and is the first of its kind in England, in that it is entirely private sector funded and doesn’t take equity from the start ups it supports.

The programme includes free mentoring, coaching, office space and IT facilities. Entrepreneurs have been receiving boot-camp style master classes designed to maximise sustainable business growth. The programme is modelled on the MassChallenge project in the American city of Boston.

The ‘Bright Sparks’ have already enjoyed free workshops covering a range of essential business knowledge including sales tactics, online marketing, accounting and IP law. The entrepreneurs have also been able to take advantage of one-on-one training from business mentors who have been assisting with writing individual business plans.

Spark Up programme director Dr Nick Owen MBE said: “The first month has been a great success. All the participants are completely on board and are committed to their businesses and the process. The progress made by some of the entrepreneurs has been fantastic and completely well-deserved. Who knows what else we can achieve in the next four months but we’re certainly looking forward to it.”

Other participants have said Spark Up has enabled them to focus on their business and helped them define business branding and perfect their products. In addition to The Last Wish Company, the 15 businesses involved have already achieved investment, increased sales, and secured interest from international distributors.

The Spark Up programme has another four months to run, with the ‘Bright Sparks’ graduating in July as a part of the International Festival of Business in Liverpool.

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