Grant support helps Tees entrepreneur thrive

A Teesside business owner is helping local firms grow and thrive, thanks to grant funding and business support that have propelled his own company to new heights.

Lee Walker, founder of Walker Business Transformation in Redcar, has received grants from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and support from initiatives such as the Tees Valley Supply Chain and Tees Valley Expertise programmes to strengthen his business.

Lee’s company specialises in Lean Six Sigma, a methodology that improves efficiency and reduces waste, and now shares this expertise with other businesses in the region.

Through the Tees Valley Supply Chain programme, delivered with RTC North, Lee has led workshops connecting his firm with key regional partners and enhancing its local presence.

The programme, which focuses on ‘capacity building’, offers personalised supply chain advice, networking events and tools to help businesses unlock new revenue streams.

Lee said: “It has really opened doors for us in the region.

“With the help of the Tees Valley Supply Chain programme, I organised and delivered six Sigma workshops tailored for local businesses.

“I also built strong connections within the local business community, which helped raise my profile and generate new consultancy leads.

“The benefit to Tees Valley businesses is they can find ways of becoming more productive and more efficient within their organisation in the services and products that they provide.”

Additionally, the Tees Valley Expertise programme, run by Orangebox Training on behalf of the Tees Valley Combined Authority, connects SMEs with the specialist knowledge they need to grow.

With further support from business support agency Like Us to develop his website, former IT manager Lee credits these initiatives with raising his business profile and helping to expand opportunities.

“I’ve been on their expertise programme as an expert providing three or four businesses in the area 20 hours of funded support through the Combined Authority.

“This has meant my business has benefitted as it’s opened doors for me regionally – the local businesses have benefitted too by applying some of the LEAN principles we teach. 

“I’m also a receiver of the expertise programme – I’ve got a great coach in Iain Caldwell who has helped me with my business plan and positioned my business ready for the next three to five years.”

Mike Racz, Tees Valley Business Board lead for business growth, added: “Lee’s company is a great example of what we want these programmes to do.

“His invaluable experience and knowledge are perfect to pass onto our region’s businesses and companies.

“In return, we see new connections forged and more business generated within the Tees Valley.”

Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen also added: “Entrepreneurs like Lee who have the drive to go out, take a risk and create new businesses are crucial to our region’s very fabric and our future success. 

“His example shows not only how we have talent and knowledge right here on our doorstep, but also shows we can help him to pass on his expertise to our rich bed of businesses right here in Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool.

“In turn, his company is reaping the benefits of our business support and getting the grants it needs to grow and thrive.

“This is what the programmes are all about – linking up businesses, getting them the support they need, and making connections here in our region to ensure as many people as possible get the chance to tap into what we do best.”

The Tees Valley Supply Chain and Tees Valley Expertise support programmes are fully funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

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