Background

After completing her five-year course in chiropractic training, Rebecca England set up her own business, Fellside Family Chiropractic, based in Brampton. Now for two years Rebecca has provided chiropractic care to her local community, helping a diverse range of clients from toddlers to people in their 90s, with problems including back pain, neck and shoulder issues and mobility issues. Rebecca finds that with her hands-on treatment, within three to six sessions, their pain is resolved and they’re able to get back to what they enjoy doing.

The Challenge

As she took on more clients, Rebecca found she lacked some of the professional equipment needed to scale the business, in particular a stationary chiropractic bench. The portable bench she had purchased as a student was not designed for heavy daily use, and the company that manufactured it had gone out of business, making repairs difficult. The bench also had a weight limit, meaning Rebecca had to turn away certain clients who exceeded the safe threshold. Rebecca explained: “I was becoming more and more nervous about the wear and tear on the bench, which wasn’t designed for prolonged use. If something went wrong, I wouldn’t have been able to continue treating clients until I could afford a replacement.”

The Solution

To mitigate this risk to the business, Rebecca decided to invest in a new bench and contacted the Growth Hub regarding a grant scheme, funded by the Rural England Prosperity Fund, provided through Cumberland Council. After a short application process, she was awarded £1,100 grant that covered 45.7% of the cost of a new stationary chiropractic bench. 

Shipped from America, the new bench has solid oak legs and no weight limit, allowing Rebecca to treat anyone who needs chiropractic treatment. She also used part of the funding to buy a pregnancy pillow, giving her the ability to treat pregnant women more comfortably in the clinic.

“The application process was well supported,” Rebecca said. “I had a one-to-one Zoom meeting with an adviser from Cumbria Business Growth Hub who helped guide me through the process. There were a few technical terms I needed to understand, but there was always someone there to answer my questions.”

Impact

With the new equipment in place, Rebecca has been able to eliminate a major business risk, ensuring consistent care for her clients. She can also now treat a broader spectrum of patients and has reserved her portable bench for home visits, saving time and effort.