Sunderland food startup grows with North East skills programme

A specialist Sunderland food business has taken advantage of a free training programme designed to upskill SMEs.

Calder’s Kitchen, based in Sunderland City Centre has seen an estimated 10 per cent increase in business after taking part in a ‘Boost Your Business’ course, delivered through regional skills and enterprise programme, Go>Grow.

The ‘Boost Your Business’ course is delivered by several agencies and collectively known as the North East Enterprise Agency. It is being rolled out to SMEs across the region as part of a £1m package of business improvement support.

Calder’s Kitchen, owned by entrepreneurs Andrew and Anne-Marie Calder, is renowned for producing a modern version of the classic British condiment piccalilli – the English interpretation of Indian pickles, containing chopped vegetables, mustard and spices.

The gourmet couple took advantage of the course to learn how to develop business further, increase growth and gain new digital marketing skills.

Andrew Calder said: “The course was really intense, but I took so much away from it and learnt a lot. When I got home after completing the course, I put my new-found skills to the test and used four new social media resources.

“The demand for our products has definitely increased. Not only have we acquired social media skills, but our business has seen an increase of roughly 10 per cent since undertaking the course, which I hope will only continue to grow.”

The three-day ‘Boost Your Business’ course has helped hundreds of North East-based SMEs since April 2017, with plans to roll out further free training for dozens more of North East businesses this year.

Adam Clemerson, skills project manager for North East Enterprise Agency, added: “Several like-minded agencies came together to form a consortium, all with the same idea of helping small North East businesses upskill, boost productivity and improve performance.

“The initiative means that we are able to offer the training in various locations across the region, which gives all eligible businesses a chance to participate.

“We want as many businesses as possible to take up this opportunity of free training, as well as gaining a wider understanding of business enterprise.”

Go>Grow has the backing of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership as well as the North East of England Chamber of Commerce.

Experts in the Go>Grow team will work to develop training that meets individual needs of businesses, or offer those who wouldn’t ordinarily undertake training programmes, the opportunity to access bespoke packages specific to their needs.

A tailor-made programme is then developed and delivered at any of the Go>Grow training provider sites, or within the premises of the individual businesses.