Teessider Lee says business and grant support has seen company go from strength to strength

A Teesside business owner whose company has supercharged a range of our region’s own start-ups says that business and grant support have given him a vital boost.

Redcar ’s Lee Walker has seen his business, Walker Business Transformation, go from strength to strength with the help of grants via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and a range of business support. Now the 55-year-old is passing on his expertise and knowledge to other businesses in our region through the Tees Valley Supply Chain, with the support of RTC North, and also through the Tees Valley Expertise programme with Orangebox.

Lee said: “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.

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“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.”

Walker Business Transformation provide training, consultancy and fractional management in a particular area called Lean Six Sigma. This is a process which they say makes firms more efficient and reduces waste.

It’s Lee’s knowledge in this field which has seen him share his expertise through workshops on the Tees Valley Supply Chain programme. This has benefitted his firm as it’s secured vital targeted connections for his business and allowed him to forge a stronger foothold in the Tees Valley.

He added: “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.”

The Tees Valley Supply Chain offers personalised support from advisors and specialists to help firms address supply chain challenges – and link them with world-leading firms in the region as well as the local and national business community. Businesses can access workshops, networking and events, alongside industry visits and an online exchange portal.

It also focusses on ‘capacity building’ – offering tools, networks, intelligence to help local businesses secure new revenue in existing or new markets. Meanwhile, Tees Valley Expertise is delivered by Orangebox Training on behalf of the Combined Authority and aims to connect local SMEs with the industry expertise they need to grow.

Former IT manager Lee, who has also had backing from Like Us to develop his website, said the support he’d received via grants and programmes had made a huge difference in boosting his company’s name locally. “We have a much higher profile in the Tees Valley now,” he said. “I’m getting contacted by other businesses in the Tees Valley that either want to join the Expertise programme, or want to be part of the Supply Chain.

“In turn, several local businesses have sought my services after attending the workshops, which has expanded my client base in the region.”

Seeing the difference his support makes to businesses is what keeps Lee coming back to work every day. “When I see an organisation improve productivity, improve morale and get the team working together and focused on delivering the things which matter to the customer, it’s just so rewarding for me.”

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “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.”

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.”

The Tees Valley Supply Chain and Tees Valley Expertise support programmes are fully funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. To find out more, go to: Business & Invest in Tees Valley.