Boost Growth Support programme helps social media firm prosper

An enterprise that helps businesses to harness the power of social media is poised for a successful future after taking part in Boost’s Growth Support programme.

Blackburn-based Smith Media Limited helps businesses to develop an effective social media presence without having to pay for a full digital marketing team.

They help other companies to create strategic social media campaigns, tailored to their target market and budget.

The business idea came about when Daniel noticed that busy firms didn’t have the time or knowledge to promote their services to potential and current customers on social media platforms.

Daniel Smith, founder and managing director of Smith Media Limited (pictured), gained a clear vision of which direction to move in as a result of gathering ideas and insights from other businesses on the programme.

He heard about Growth Support through a referral and contacted Yusuf Musa, senior business adviser at Enterprise4All, who delivers the programme for Boost.

The programme involved Daniel taking part in a 1-2-1 diagnostic, during which Yusuf got to know about Daniel’s commercial ambitions. It soon became clear that, despite Daniel’s technological expertise, he required advice on how to set up his business.

Daniel also attended a Mini Launchpad session, as well as completing a Business Model Canvas and a Visioning Orbit, which helped to give his business strategic focus moving forward.

Boost is Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub and is led by the Lancashire LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership) and Lancashire County Council and supported by funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Daniel said: “Being in a room of other start-up businesses helped me to realise that I’m not the only person trying to make a difference, and it has given me a sense of togetherness. Being able to get my ideas out of my head and onto paper in a constructive way has given me a clearer picture of the vision I have for my business. I have already recommended this programme to two people and I’ll be sure to recommend many more.”

Yusuf said: “Daniel is a great example of the type of entrepreneur we support to go on to develop high growth businesses, and we’ll continue to support Daniel along his journey. This means Daniel will carry on attending workshops to broaden his knowledge and help to create a dynamic and effectively structured enterprise.”

Boost Business Lancashire (Boost) is the name for the Lancashire Business Growth Hub. It is led by the Lancashire LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership) and Lancashire County Council and supported by funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The role of Boost is to help growth-hungry Lancashire businesses realise their potential by providing simple access to a range of leading-edge funded programmes, delivered by specialists with a track record of growing established and innovative start-up businesses. Boost also helps businesses access specialist private sector business support, as well as other nationally funded programmes, where relevant.

Between July 2013 and July 2015, Boost provided growth advice and support to over 2,800 local businesses across Lancashire, with many benefiting from tailored programmes of consultancy, grants or mentoring to support their growth. Boost has so far helped to create over 1,200 jobs and new economic activity valued in excess of £10m.

In November 2015, Boost secured £7.8m of new funding to run for a further three years from January 2016.

Boost Business Lancashire has received £3.8m of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Department for Communities and Local Government is the Managing Authority for ERDF. Established by the European Union ERDF funds help local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations.  For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding. For more information about Growth Vouchers and business eligibility visit www.boostbusinesslancashire.co.uk/support/growth-vouchers/