Chutney maker relishes online growth

A Darlington-based family business has boosted its sales after receiving digital marketing training supported by the Tees Valley Combined Authority.

Calder’s Kitchen, founded by Andrew Calder in 2015 using his grandad Charlie’s original piccalilli recipe, has seen orders soar following tailored support from Enterprise Made Simple’s digital marketing skills bootcamp. 

The course, funded by the Combined Authority, helped Andrew sharpen his online strategy after poor weather disrupted in-person events earlier this year.

What began as a hobby selling homemade jars at farmers’ markets and local fairs has grown into an award-winning condiments brand. 

The company’s range of handcrafted piccalilli and chutneys, each featuring Charlie’s image on the label, has become a firm favourite among food lovers across the region.

The fully funded four-week course provided Andrew with practical tools to enhance Calder’s Kitchen’s online presence. 

Armed with new digital knowledge, he launched Facebook Ads and boosted newsletter subscriptions – moves that quickly translated into higher sales.

Andrew said the programme offered exactly the kind of support he needed to futureproof his family business and preserve his grandad’s legacy – one jar at a time.

He said: “The problem for me was it’s not my strength. 

“I'm much more comfortable talking to people face to face – and I don't know an awful lot about social media, and how to manipulate markets and reach our audience that way.

“I needed some training, and I needed to upskill, but I didn't really know how to go about it.”

“I'd looked online and at companies that offered the training and resources with some of them in the USA, and some in the UK.

“I realised was it was extremely expensive – thousands of pounds with no guarantees on a return on investment.

“I contacted the TVCA and they kindly put me in touch with Enterprise Made Simple.”

Andrew added: “I think it's probably the best thing I've done.

“What I learned on the course, I was able to start implementing straight away – they had experts who came in from the industry and they told us all about the things we needed to do, from telling your story through different mediums, from email marketing, through Facebook and social media, and understanding who your customer is.

“I think from that point on everything else just kind of fell into place.

“If you're a business in the Tees Valley and you're not aware of the funding that's out there, or you just feel as if you need to upskill, there's all sorts of business support available.

“There's everything from accounting to just general good practice – and if you're starting with business from scratch, I’d say get the advice from the beginning.

“I would 100 per cent recommend people to get in touch with the Combined Authority to find out what sort of funding and training might be out there.”

Delivered by business training specialists Enterprise Made Simple in partnership with ETC and the Tees Valley Combined Authority, the Digital Marketing Skills Bootcamp is part of the Government’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee. 

It aims to help local entrepreneurs strengthen their digital capabilities and reach new audiences.

Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen added: “We’ve got brilliant local firms across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool, and it’s great to see one of our small businesses benefiting from the backing we’ve given.

“Andrew and his family company show just how deep our ingenuity runs – and how support through our programmes makes a real difference to bottom lines.

“Getting more firms access to this support is vital if we want everyone across our region to feel the benefit of what we do, so I’d urge people and business owners to get in touch with our brilliant business support team to see what help they can offer.”

Councillor Lisa Evans, leader of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council and TVCA cabinet member for education, employment and skills, added: “This shows what’s possible when business owners get the right support, training and skills. 

“We need to ensure we’re working together to help businesses build confidence, sharpen their digital skills, and reach new customers.

“I want as many businesses as possible across the Tees Valley to take advantage of the fantastic and broad range of support on offer – and picking up new skills and tools is an important part of that.”

To find out more about business support available, go to Contact us - Business, email business@teesvalley-ca.gov.uk, or call 01325 792600 and ask for the business support team.

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