Growth Hub Helping Coventry Sportswear Brand To Expand

The entrepreneur who founded a sportwear brand that has received the Queen’s Award for International Trade showed a Coventry MP how to throw a few punches as they discussed the growing company’s expansion plans.

BOXRAW, which is currently based at the Quadrant in Coventry city centre, was founded in 2017 and provides sportswear and equipment for boxing and has developed the world’s most comprehensive machine learning model for boxing training, based on the largest data set of boxers ever captured.

The business was encouraged to enter the prestigious Queen’s Award by the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) Growth Hub after growing its overseas sales by 335 per cent over the last three years.

Founder and CEO Ben Amanna met up with Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana to discuss his delight at winning their latest award as well as tell her about the plans they have submitted to Coventry City Council for new premises – as well as recruit over 200 roles in the next few years.

BOXRAW’s plans involve re-developing an existing garage on land north of Broomfield Road in Earlsdon to create a five-storey 2,603 sqm office space with a fully equipped boxing gym with bags, machines and a competition size ring.

A two-storey atrium is proposed above the boxing ring with a viewing gallery on both floors along with changing facilities, a sauna and amenity spaces, and the offices would be a mix of work pods, meeting rooms and collaborative work spaces.

Ben said it had been great to meet Coventry MP Zarah Sultana and highlight their plans for new premises to continue the growth of their international business in the city.

He said: “It was great to teach Zarah a few boxing moves from a sport which continues to grow in popularity for men and women.

“When we left the ring, I talked about our plans for our own purpose-built building which will reflect our international business and attract the best talent in terms of boxers and employees.

“We would like to provide open plan flexible workspaces with a range of working environments to suit all employees as well as a boxing gym and ring for staff and community use.

“It has been a whirlwind 12 months for BOXRAW since the Queen’s Award success followed being included in the Forbes 30 under 30 list and winning the Midlands Young Entrepreneur of the Year award at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards.

“This is a really exciting time for the business as we want to take it to the next level again and it is great to have so much support from the Growth Hub.”

Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana said: “I had a fantastic time learning some boxing moves with Ben, though I probably do still feel more confident sparring with political opponents in Parliament than landing punches in the ring!

“The success he’s built with BOXRAW is testament to the determination and ingenuity of the people of Coventry and I am sure he will take it from strength-to-strength. Congratulations to him and everyone at BOXRAW for winning the Queen’s Award for International Trade."

Justine Chadwick, Account Manager at the CWLEP Growth Hub, said BOXRAW continued to receive a wide range of business support to enable them to build on their top-selling overseas markets in America, France, Germany and Australia as well as closer to home in the UK.

“I started working with Ben and his team when they were just starting out and it is great to see their innovative business flourish,” she said.

“I have helped by making business referrals to support their product development, with financial advice and providing support to use the supply chain to work with other businesses in Coventry and Warwickshire.

“The Growth Hub has also helped with recruitment to add to their 34 staff and provided advice regarding International Trade as well as encouraged Ben to apply for the Queen’s Award which was fully deserved.”