Access to Finance helps local furniture makers secure funding to open new workshop in North Cornwall
Atlantic Makers Ltd, a new fine furniture making workshop and training hub in Bude, is creating opportunities for local craftspeople and giving young adults the chance to train as furniture makers.
Supported by the Access to Finance programme and the BIG Productivity Fund, the Collective is the brainchild of directors Jonathan Walter, Tom McIntyre, Alastair Bremner and Rob Ball who met at the Rowden Atelier Woodworking School. The purpose-built workshop not only produces exceptional handmade furniture, but also benefits the local community by providing local craftspeople with space and support to help them grow their own businesses.
Director Tom McIntyre, explains: “The Atlantic Makers Collective is not just a business. It is a community. There is already a strong movement of potters and painters in Cornwall, but there is also a history of furniture making. We are hoping to create a real hub for crafts here, showcase local furniture makers and train the next generation.”
The Collective designs and manufactures bespoke furniture for private and commercial clients, both nationally and internationally. Profits are used not only to grow the business, but to support other makers within the Collective, and to employ and train young adults.
Tom continues: “We make a wide range of product from chopping boards and space saving desks through to complex and bespoke furniture. We try to use sustainable timbers predominately from the UK. These include English oak, cherry and sycamore.”
To generate additional revenue, the Collective runs short training courses for people who want to develop their skills and learn to make an item like a stool, wall cabinet or side table. Current courses include woodworking essentials and reupholstery. Spaces are also available to rent within the new workshop, which will additionally offer members support with starting a business.
After coming up with the idea for the Atlantic Makers Collective, the four directors contacted the team at Access to Finance, which provides one-to-one support on all aspects of business finance.
Tom says: “We met with a specialist from Access to Finance, Chris Cotter, who talked us through the funding options for our business. After introducing us to the BIG productivity grant, he gave us a lot of guidance on what to focus on in the application, financial forecasts and cashflows. It was extremely useful to have someone objective looking at our business plan and grant application.
“I can whole heartedly recommend the Access to Finance programme. The team are always swift to respond, going above and beyond to provide advice and support. I’m not sure if we would have secured a grant without their help, and if we did it would have definitely taken far longer. Our business is certainly a lot further along thanks to their support.”
Tom and the team successfully secured over £19,000 worth of grant funding from the BIG Productivity Fund to cover 45% of fit out costs for the building, which included dividing up the space, fitting flooring and installing machinery in the main workshop.
The future is looking bright for the Atlantic Makers Collective, which already has enough enquiries to keep the team busy for six months. In the short-term, the plan is to employ a full-time member of staff, launch further training courses and work with schools to organise educational visits for young people.
“The BIG Productivity grant has made a massive difference,” concludes Tom. “It has helped us get up and running, and employ someone much quicker than we anticipated.”
Since it was established in 2017, the Access to Finance programme has supported over 2,400 businesses across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, and helped local businesses raise over £36 million over the last five years. As well as delivering workshops, the team provides tailored one-to-one support and can assist with everything from financial forecasting to identifying and applying for funding.
The Access to Finance programme, which is designed and delivered by Oxford Innovation Advice, is fully funded by the European Regional Development Fund. With a regional office in Redruth, Oxford Innovation Advice has been engaged in ‘levelling up’ and supporting businesses in Cornwall for over 12 years – enhancing the economy, lives and prosperity of communities and individuals across the county.
For further information on the Atlantic Makers Collective, visit atlanticmakers.co.uk