Wirral Chamber of Commerce Helps Hypa Spa Make A Splash To Celebrate Opening Showroom

With many years’ experience in the Spa business and an ambition to be his own boss, it wasn’t long before Wirral based Danny Griffiths set up on his own.

Hypa Spa is the result of countless hours of hard work from Danny, turning a business idea into a reality in just a few months. Working alongside the Wirral Chamber’s Enterprise Hub team, Hypa Spa is ready to start trading officially as it looks to make a splash in the Wirral market.

Danny’s business has grown from strength to strength which has seen him celebrate the opening of his own showroom in Bromborough and a second showroom at a well-known water garden centre in Burton. 

Speaking about the programme, Danny said; 

“I feel Wirral Enterprise Hub has helped me a great deal in giving me the confidence to go forward.  They have supported me in every aspect. I was lacking a lot of fundamental knowledge of business, but the programme has provided the help and training I needed to improve”.

To find out more about what Hypa Spa’s range of hot tub, sauna and home spa solutions can improve your health and transform your home visit https://www.hypaspa.com/

Enterprise Hub is funded by the European Regional Development Fund. For more information about the support available email us on enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk or ring us on 0151 706 8113

Wirral Entrepreneurs 'Raising The Resolution' With New Business, 'Drone Factor'

Launched in April this year by Amy and Sam, Drone Factor started to take shape in September 2016 and following storm Doris in the early part of this year, the pair decided that the time was right to get trained, commercially licenced and fully insured to fly UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) commercially. Since then they have started working for blue chip providers...And that's before they start printing stunning aerial photography.

During the development of the business plan, which was 90 pages at one point, they realised that they were going to be able to go big with this business in a short period of time. The nature of drone technologies is such that there is always progress, so planning 6 to 12 months in advance is important to ensure Drone Factor have the best systems available. The initial investment training, hardware and setup costs were self-funded through a Sam’s contract teaching at Wirral Metropolitan College and Amy's job at Marks & Spencer.

With support from Enterprise Hub partner; Wirral Chamber, Drone Factor Ltd took shape rapidly. In the short time they have been operating, they have created promotional videos for Ness Botanical Gardens, created 3D maps of ancient meadows at Royden Park, and have begun developing their system integration with Merseyside Search & Rescue, along with creating a suite of beautiful images of Wirral and Cheshire.

Drone Factor plan to expand their aerial inventory to accommodate a wide range of emergency service assistance, including the RNLI, Police and Fire Service as well as thermal imaging surveys and long range inspection work.

Speaking about the programme, Sam said; 

“The help and support that we’ve received through Wirral Enterprise Hub has been brilliant. We have been introduced to some great contacts as well as being able to pop into the Enterprise Hub to run ideas by the team or use their space to work on the business”

In its first month of operating, Dronefactor provided footage for a Channel 4 documentary, and have recently set up CopterKids, a drone flight school and club aimed at 8-14 year olds. Also, to accommodate for weddings and other special events, a specially designed sub-brand named AirHeart, as a homage to the famous female aviator, Amelia Earhart.

Visit www.dronefactor.co.uk for more information on pricing and other benefits they can bring.

Enterprise Hub is funded by the European Regional Development Fund. For more information about the support available email us on enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk or ring us on 0151 706 8113

Alpha Swim Makes A Splash

After over 10 years in the leisure industry Mike Caffrey has launched his private swim school with the support of St Helens Chamber and Enterprise Hub.

Alpha Swim provides fun and effective aquatic training programmes for children and adults starting from 18 months. Mike’s classes are tailored to the needs of his swimmers, offering a personal approach with a commitment to quality.

Mike is putting his decade of industry knowledge and expertise to good use following five years in Dubai managing his own swimming programme. On his return to the UK Mike decided to set up his own business having identified a shortage of quality teaching programmes in the area.

Having been referred to St Helens Chamber through their Starting Point employment service, Mike was assigned a dedicated Business Coach, Steve Mather, who worked with him to create a solid business plan.

Mike also attended Be Your Own Boss events and Business Essentials workshops, both of which equipped him for self-employment.

Mike said: “It’s been a whirlwind since my first meeting with the Chamber’s Start-up Team.
“Every time I meet with my Business Coach I leave with fresh ideas and a renewed vigor for pushing forward with my business.

“I’ve got a lot of experience in the industry so I had a good idea about what works and what doesn’t, but the advice from the Chamber has helped me put this into a thorough plan. It’s given me structure and the confidence to know that I could take the leap to full time self-employment.”

Since starting his swimming school Mike is teaching four days a week, with over 50 regular clients, and hopes to expand into a new venue in the coming months.

Adrian Ellis, Business Start-up Manager at St Helens Chamber, said: “Mike came to us with a very strong idea of what he wanted his business to be. We’re delighted to have helped him formalise his ideas and launch his business full time and we’re excited to see how Alpha Swim continues to grow in the coming months.”

Mike added: “I would highly recommend the Chamber’s Business Start-up support. It’s quality advice from business experts and it’s been invaluable for me, especially the one-to-one time with my Business Coach.

“The Chamber’s support empowered me to come out of work and pursue self-employment and I don’t think the business would be as far ahead as it is right now without their support.”
St Helens Chamber is part of Enterprise Hub, the enterprise gateway for business start-up support in Merseyside. Offering expert advice and support to anyone thinking about starting a business including help to:

• Understand the process of starting a business
• Research a business idea
• Build a comprehensive business plan
• Develop a marketing plan
• Create financial forecasts to understand the costs of running your business and potential income
• Identify sources of finance to get started

Enterprise Hub is funded by the European Regional Development Fund. For more information about the support available email us on enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk or ring us on 0151 706 8113

Good Karma For Yoga Steve!

Steve Thomas has changed his life having set up a business as an advanced yoga practitioner and holistic therapist in St Helens.

After suffering for 17 years with chronic ill-health, during which time he almost died, Steve is on the road to recovery thanks to his yoga practice. Setting up his own business has allowed him to get back into work and share his healing lifestyle with others.

Having learned from Sivananda yoga masters, Steve wants to bring traditional yoga to the public.

Steve said: “Yoga is spiritual, putting you in a good place and back on the right path, especially if you are coming from a place of depression or stress. I was really in a bad way and I didn’t understand how my lifestyle could have made me unwell.”

Steve is a British School of Yoga qualified meditation teacher with over 7000 hours of practice under his belt. In addition he is qualified in massage therapy, psychology and stress management.

He added: “I got into yoga after meeting an instructor at my local gym and once I opened myself up to the practice I’ve never looked back. I felt emotionally and spiritually better and I could feel the positive change within me. I wanted to share this with others and soon began my yoga teacher training.”

Steve was referred to St Helens Chamber from by Local JobCentre Plus and was assigned a dedicated Business Coach to help him into self-employment.

Steve said: “My Business Coach at the Chamber, Steve Mather, has been incredibly helpful, I really value his constructive advice.

“Every step of the way Steve has supported me and made me feel like what I’m doing is worthwhile. He listened to me and believed in my idea – he gave me the confidence to push ahead with my business.”

Steve Mather, Start-up Business Coach at St Helens Chamber, said: “Steve is incredibly inspiring. He has used yoga to turn the life around and he is very passionate about sharing this with the world. We’re delighted to have supported him into self-employment and we’re excited to see how his business grows.”

St Helens Chamber is part of Enterprise Hub, the enterprise gateway for business start-up support in Merseyside.  Offering expert advice and support to anyone thinking about starting a business including help to:

• Understand the process of starting a business
• Research a business idea
• Build a comprehensive business plan
• Develop a marketing plan
• Create financial forecasts to understand the costs of running your  business and potential income
• Identify sources of finance to get started

Enterprise Hub is funded by the European Regional Development Fund. For more information about the support available email enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk or ring us on 0151 706 8113