Posted on 26th September 2016
Category: News
Anthony and Denise Fowler have set up an exciting new leisure attraction in North Lincolnshire.
Arialtrail Ltd operates an outdoor climbing and high rope course covering 6000 square metres of woodland at the Pink Pig Farm in North Lincolnshire. The course consists of 16 elements approximately 5m from the ground ending with two 100m-zip lines. The course has a safety system called a rope roller whereby once a person is connected on the ropes they cannot disconnect until they have finished the exhilarating ride. The course caters for children over a metre tall but is also designed for adults who wish to go on the course by themselves or with their children.
Anthony is employed by the North Lincolnshire Fire Service but wanted to start a business in which he could use his skillset, receive an acceptable investment return and grow an enterprise which will continue when his employment with the Fire Service ends. Anthony is joined in his business venture by his wife Denise, again employed in the Fire Service, who has run her own business in the past, is MBA qualified and is also training to be a psychotherapist. The third Director of this new business is Andrew Jackson who is a part owner of the Pink Pig Farm.
Each of the Directors brings different skills to the business but they recognised the need to have Business Advisor support to offer an independent view of their plans and signpost them to other Agencies as well as highlight appropriate funding streams.
Arialtrail Ltd became aware of the LEADER funding scheme (a Government grant aimed at rural businesses) through the North Lincolnshire Council’s Economic Development Team.
The Directors of Arialtrail approached North Lincolnshire Council’s Economic Development Team for support and were introduced to Michael Lister, Business Adviser from the Humber LEP Growth Hub scheme and Shalon Perkins, LEADER Coordinator.
The Growth Hub programme links eligible businesses planning to develop and grow with Advisers who can support them with business planning, marketing, finance applications and identification of regulatory aspects affecting them.
Following this introduction the Growth Hub Adviser and Council staff helped them to develop a detailed plan so that a funding application could be made to help the business successfully start.
The business plan drawn up by the Company was prepared with Growth Hub Adviser’s guidance and advice to ensure they were successful in developing their ideas, confirmed viability and ensured that aspects of Employment and Health & Safety Law were addressed and crucially that their grant application was successful.
Anthony had not completed a business plan and application before and cited that without the help of Council staff Shalon Perkins, Paul Schofield and the Growth Hub Adviser Mike Lister he would have found the whole process difficult.
Whilst the business is now established and growing, providing employment for 6 people, the Growth Hub service still benefits the Company as regular reviews with the Adviser take place to ensure Arialtrail Ltd remains on track and continues to grow.