As a self-employed welder, David Balmer had always made a good living from work that required his skills but at the age of 40 he decided he wanted to do something more creative.

“I wanted to combine blacksmith skills with modern welding technology to create original and hand-crafted designs.”

Having set up a forge and workshop in buildings attached to his father’s farm in Appleby, Smith & Pulse was open for business, but David realised that, to grow the business, he would need marketing advice and assistance.

“We approached the Growth Hub but as we weren’t strictly a start-up, the business wasn’t eligible for BSUS support, but it could offer to fund consultancy from a specialist marketing adviser.”

The help we received from the Growth Hub was invaluable because it put us on the right path from the start.

Their adviser provided the marketing support and guidance they needed.

“He identified that in order to push for work, we needed a clear marketing strategy that would enable us to stand out from the crowd.”

As well as developing their website they also began promoting their products through social media channels. The strategy has really paid off and has led to a string of orders and enquiries.

Six months into his new business venture, David has no regrets about his change of direction. Indeed, David is now looking to recruit skilled staff to help meet the demand for his products.

“The help we received from the Growth Hub was invaluable because it put us on the right path from the start. Other businesses need to know that the Growth Hub is more than just a funding organisation.”