GrowBiz welcomes 1000th client

A rural Perthshire-based enterprise support organisation has welcomed its 1000th client since October 2016.

GrowBiz's team of experienced facilitators have advised and supported people of all ages, from all walks of life and at all stages of their entrepreneurial journey. 

GrowBiz clients offer everything from fish and chips to artisan vegan and gluten-free luxury products, from care and wellbeing services to adventure tourism, from designer wallpaper to body positive rainbow bright underwear demonstrating the level of ingenuity and resilience that exists in rural communities.

The 1000th client herself is a perfect example of how creativity and tenacity can contribute to significant growth the rural economy. Crieff-based Anna Malyon runs Coppertop Croft, producing a range of homeware products such as cushions and stationery with contemporary designs for the wholesale gift and tourism markets. Her designs and products – everything from tea towels, aprons and coasters to cards and bags - are stocked by Historic Environment Scotland, the National Trust for Scotland and many independent retailers throughout Scotland.

Anna also sells her products through her own website, www.coppertopcroft.com. She set up her business last year and heard about GrowBiz through social media. She signed up to the monthly newsletter and then attended a Women’s Enterprise Network event in Highland Perthshire.

Anna said:

"My creative practice had almost exclusively been painting but I started to think about running my own design-based business. I saw an opportunity to use my printmaking to pursue my love of design and have a more commercial side to my artistic endeavours.

"I wanted to design products that would promote Scotland positively and provide retailers with something different and design-led to offer their customers, be they from home or abroad.

"GrowBiz has been so responsive to my need to get support and everyone at GrowBiz has a genuine desire to help. They have been able to identify the most pressing areas of support and have given guidance and support over and above what was ever expected.

"GrowBiz also recognises the need for the continuation of support and the importance of networking events to bring rural businesses together.

"This encourages shared experience, peer support and collaborations that wouldn’t happen otherwise. It enables businesses to thrive which creates further opportunities for employment and builds resilience and capacity in rural communities."

Jackie Brierton, CEO of GrowBiz, said:

"We were delighted to welcome our 1000th client in three years and Anna is a shining example of the innovative nature of so many people who live in rural areas.

"Rural enterprise is worth an estimated £36 billion to the Scottish economy each year, nearly 25% of Scotland’s overall economy, and with the right kind of investment and business support, this figure can only increase.

"The rural economy offers huge potential for economic growth, but it’s a bit different from the ‘urban’ economy. There are more small and micro-businesses, and fewer medium and large enterprises. More social enterprises and, increasingly, more businesses using digital applications in innovative ways which weren’t possible even five years ago.

"In the last three years GrowBiz has attracted, on average, more than one new client a day.

"The ingenuity and resilience that our clients demonstrate day-in, day-out is testament to their creativity and tenacity and are a powerful indication of the importance of the rural economy to the national story."

For more information visit the GrowBiz website.