Stepping In The Right Direction

Healthy Steps by Julia Mitchell was established in 2021 in Warwickshire after she needed to change career due to health problems – twice.

Julia had been diagnosed with a form of rheumatoid arthritis 20 years earlier while working in IT and was advised to spend less time sitting down all day at her desk or driving across the UK to prevent her spine fusing.

After initially launching a successful floristry business in 2004 which included working with Warwick Castle, Le Manoir in Oxfordshire and Blenheim Palace, Julia required a full knee replacement and was again forced to re-assess her job.

After enjoying Tai Chi at her gym, she decided to undergo an instructor’s training course to provide corporate and community Tai Chi sessions as well as focusing on the importance of wellbeing in the workplace – and ‘Hatton Tai Chi Qigong’ began.

The Challenge

In 2019, Julia began holding Tai Chi classes in Warwick at Wren Hall in Wroxall and Shrewley Village Hall, Shrewley Common, and secured a number of corporate clients including Birmingham Business Park.

But then Covid-19 struck, forcing Julia, like so many other businesses, to flex to holding her sessions online.

The Solution

Julia invested in a new lap-top to hold webinars and Zoom classes with a positive response from everyone who attended.

She also completed a training course with British Nordic Walking – which is similar to using a cross-trainer in the gym except it is outdoors. The specially designed poles with gloves attached are used and provide a low-impact whole body aerobic workout. This extended the range of her services.

During lockdown, Julia also completed the IAFPD Certificate in Coaching and IAFPD Primary Certificate in Health & Wellbeing Cognitive Behavioural Coaching from the Centre for Coaching in London.

She wanted to rebrand her business and improve her website to bring all the different elements together but needed financial assistance.

Through the Socially Shared Women’s Business Support Network, Julia contacted the CWLEP Growth Hub who put her in touch with Warwickshire County Council to apply for its Survive, Sustain and Grow programme.

The Result

Julia self-funded her rebranding and the new logo was created by Rebecca Jones of Glory Design in Coventry.

The £3,500 grant that Julia received enabled Rebecca to also build the e-commerce website that Julia so badly needed. Anita Dinnes was the business mentor assigned to Julia by the Growth Hub and she has helped to create a greater corporate focus.

Julia said: “This has given me the image I wanted. It has video content, people can make enquiries or make bookings and there is information about Nordic Walking, Tai Chi, Well Being and the Corporate Experiences that I offer.

“I feel so well compared to the pain that I was in and the amount of medication I was taking in my 30s and 40s. I set-up this business because I wanted to share that knowledge with people working in a corporate environment. There are so many small ways to improve your overall health and wellbeing.

“I have never previously received a penny in grants for my business but when I was contacted by Adam from the Growth Hub, who was fantastic, he suggested the Survive, Sustain and Grow programme as a way forward to take the business to the next level.

“The grant has been a massive help and I can’t thank Warwickshire County Council enough because without them, I wouldn’t have been able to afford the new website.

“It has also enabled me to outsource some of my marketing and administration while I deliver the sessions which is another fantastic outcome.”

The CWLEP Growth Hub

The CWLEP Growth Hub, which is part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), was established by the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership to provide a one-stop shop to help make businesses aware of the advice and support available to them.

The Growth Hub pro-actively helps businesses grow by providing access to private sector professionals with commercial experience in a whole host of fields including marketing, finance, IT, training and logistics.

The Growth Hub has experts in various fields to help companies access grants and funding to diversify or expand by providing introductions to a range of services and support from other organisations across the region.

The Growth Hub offers help with:

Access to finance
Business Innovation
Business Support
International Trade Advisers
Skills4Growth
Inward Investment
Planning
Supply chain opportunities

Partners involved include the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, UKTI, Local Authorities across the sub-region, Coventry University and the University of Warwick.

For further information, email or telephone 0300 060 3747.

Caption: From the left, Cllr Izzi Seccombe (Warwickshire County Council), Julia Mitchell and Adam Plumb (CWLEP Growth Hub)

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Client testimonials

Without the Growth Hubs help and assistance, we would never have been able to increase our sales & output and also grow our local business. With this help in purchasing new equipment we have expanded our operations and gained a new and increased customer base.

Nuneaton Roof Truss,

Over the past few years, Armstrongs has built up a fantastic relationship with Gary Thyeson from the Growth Hub. His advice on grants and funding has been really valuable to both Armstrongs and some of our clients. His knowledge of local business support has been helpful in signposting us to relevant support agencies as required. We look forward to working with Laura Delahunty moving forwards.

Armstrongs Accountancy LTD,

In the short time since first engaging with the Warwickshire Growth Hub we feel that Laura has understood our vision and has been so very supportive in linking us to the specialist teams who are now supporting us with training, finance and recruitment. A great service that every growing organisation should connect with

MES Systems Limited,

I have had an excellent experience working with Laura from the Growth Hub, from day one, she was taking detailed attention to my concerns and ideas. She was able to put me in contact with different organisations and people to find out answers to my questions and help me to solve some inquiries I was having. I feel this support definitely had a positive impact in my plans.

PALACIOS LTD,

It’s been a fantastic inaugural eight months for the TalentTech Recruitment team and, although the reality of setting up and running a company can be a somewhat daunting experience, we have been extremely grateful for the superb help, advice and guidance given to us along our journey by Gavin Barnett and the team at CW Growth Hub. Gavin’s introductions to both Warwick & Coventry Universities and his wider business network have been absolutely invaluable.

TalentTech Recruitment LTD,

For many individuals out there, it is very hard to figure out ways and know which direction to go when it comes to setting up a business. The challenges of taking your idea and bringing it to life and not knowing where to go and who to speak to for advice. it can get very frustrating..

King of Saffron LTD,

This grant [which we received with the help of the Growth Hub and Coventry City Council] will really help us get on track for business growth and succeed with our vision. Personally, I would also like to thank the team for supporting me through the grant application process. You have been very approachable and attentive throughout.

Exeter Analytical (UK) Limited,

Thank you for the comprehensive and professional guidance

Burbidge & Son Ltd,

Over the years since the Growth Hub was set up we have habitually gone to our Account Manager as a one-stop shop for all business-related information. It has been a really convenient way of finding suppliers, advisors and, on one occasion, we even asked for assistance with finding customers. We are invited to a wide range of business events including business development workshops, Brexit roundtable discussions, seminars on various topics and have also been asked to speak at some events. When we have needed additional information, for example, finding finance sources or help with selecti

Marchantcain Design Limited,

Thanks to CW Growth hub getting us access to grant funding we have been able to invest in the latest computer monitoring system, which will enable us to compete with the national companies within our industry.

Comrie Leisure Limited,