An inspiring story, highlighting the potential of this programme is that of Adam Elshaw, the founder of Adam’s Acre Limited.
“I have been gardening since childhood and absolutely love it! I decided to change my career path for something that I am really passionate about, where I can still make a positive difference in people’s lives. I offer gardening services, including garden maintenance and improvement, lawn care and maintenance, hedge cutting, tree trimming, green waste disposal and general cleaning. I also offer tips and useful information to help people to enjoy and get the most out of their garden. Adam’s Acre is a business built on trust, integrity and hard work. All work undertaken is carried out with care, passion and an understanding of the client’s needs and wants”, Adam shared.
Through the financial boost of successfully accessing grant funding Adam said “The Start in South Staffs programme provided me with the knowledge I needed to set up a business from scratch, that is now thriving. It helped me to decide what type of business it would be, how to reach potential clients, engage with them and build lasting positive working relationships. The course informed me of how to tackle topics such as bookkeeping, advertising, marketing, business planning, income and expenditure projections and a whole host of important factors that I had no knowledge of. The start-up business grant that I successfully applied for and was awarded was a significant help to getting some of the essential equipment I need for my business”.
Venturing forward, Adam now looks into another avenue of business. “Milo and Otis, my pug puppies, are an integral part of the business. I often work on my own and they are excellent company. The vast majority of my clients adore the pugs, as Milo and Otis are very friendly, inquisitive and love a fuss! Now that they are old enough I have applied for them to be trained as Therapy Dogs. They have already had ‘work experience’ in a residential home for older adults with learning difficulties and they were a massive hit!” Adam said.
The council encourages other aspiring entrepreneurs in the South Staffordshire district to take advantage of this opportunity. Applications for the grant funding must be submitted by 31st December, 2024.
Click here to register your place onto the programme.