Member Article

Malton sportswear firm expands online and with new staff helped by Superfast North Yorkshire

Malton-based sportswear start-up Pro-Am Kits Ltd has taken on its first employee and adopted a digital business strategy to expand into a host of new online markets across the UK with help from Superfast North Yorkshire.

Pro-Am Kits is the latest business to go through a programme run by the Superfast North Yorkshire project offering free business support and advice on a variety of topics designed to help businesses harness the potential of high speed fibre broadband.

It also marks an important milestone for the Superfast North Yorkshire Business Support Programme as Pro-Am Kits is the 1000th small business to complete the training since the scheme launched in January 2013.

Taking part in the Business Support Programme has givenmanaging director Dan Hodgson’s business a further boost as he was eligible for a £700 grant for completing the scheme.

Dan Hodgson said: “It has been just about a month since I completed the course and already I’ve seen a real impact on the business and been able to take on my first member of staff. The programme helped us to develop a new digital business strategy and launch an online marketing campaign which is really making a difference and helping to attract new customers.”

“Having high-speed broadband definitely removes the barriers to doing business in the digital world like online trading and helps put you on an equal footing with larger businesses. But you also need the skills to exploit these new virtual markets, to sell new products and to try new models. That is the competitive edge that the Business Support Programme was able to give us,” said Dan.

Business advisor Amanda Rowen, who worked closely with Dan to help him find the best classes and courses to benefit his business, said: “The experience of Pro-Am Kits is typical of many of the local firms who go through the programme.

“What the programme demonstrates is that technology isn’t just for the creative industries, but that new online ways of working can benefit everyone – and all of them are made better and easier with the use of faster fibre broadband.”

Eligible companies (based on size, primary activity, turnover etc) canreceive a wealth of support and advice aimed at helping their businesses to grow through better use of technology.

North Yorkshire businesses wanting to find out more and to check whether they are eligible for the Business Support Programme should call 0845 0020021, emailenquiries@sfny.co.uk or visit www.sfny.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .