Across Cumbria, businesses are investing in new technology and experiences to improve productivity, reduce waste and build year-round resilience. With support from Cumbria Business Growth Hub, three very different organisations, a long-established print and signage specialist, a historic village inn, and a fast-growing footcare manufacturer, are all demonstrating what’s possible when confidence meets the right investment at the right time.
Reeds: Precision Laser Cutting Brings More Work In-House
Reeds has been part of Cumbria’s business landscape for 148 years, providing printing, signage and digital services. Following a management buyout in November 2024, Director Andrew Oliver and his partners have focused on strengthening operations and diversifying the company’s offer.
With £10,000 of grant support Reeds invested in a high-specification Trotec Q500 CO₂ laser cutter, a move that is already transforming how the business produces signage and acrylic work.
The new system enables fast, highly accurate cutting across materials such as acrylic, wood, plastics and paper, supporting a wide range of jobs from detailed signage components to precision finished pieces. Importantly, the laser delivers a clean finish on acrylic work, reducing, and in many cases removing, the need for manual finishing processes like flame polishing.
“Efficiency was the big driver,” explains Andrew. “The laser allows us to cut materials quickly and precisely, with low running costs. In many cases, the product comes off the machine finished, which saves significant time compared to traditional methods.”
Reeds can now handle jobs up to 1.3m x 900mm, which covers around 90% of their acrylic work. The laser’s motion camera system also improves alignment, helping reduce errors and speed up workflow, which means shorter lead times for customers and more flexibility for the team.
Without the grant, the business would have continued relying on its CNC router. While effective, it is not designed for intricate cutting work, meaning certain jobs would have been outsourced or turned away. Bringing this capability in-house has expanded Reeds’ product range, supported new work wins, and strengthened their growth plans in the signage sector.
The Wheatsheaf Inn: A Year-Round Visitor Experience in Beetham
In Beetham, The Wheatsheaf Inn is a historic coaching inn built in 1609, and still a central part of village life today. Owned and run by Sally and Dan Schrieber since 2018 under Fairy Steps Ltd, the business combines a traditional village pub, locally focused dining, and boutique B&B accommodation, with a strong emphasis on local produce, community events and authentic Cumbrian hospitality.
With £25,851.71 in grant support, Fairy Steps Ltd invested in a new indoor golf simulator experience, “Hole Inn One,” creating a high-quality all-weather attraction alongside associated equipment and signage.
For rural hospitality businesses seasonality remains one of the biggest challenges, with visitor peaks in summer and quieter off-peak months where maintaining footfall can be difficult.
“Rural hospitality businesses face increasing seasonal pressures,” says Sally. “The simulator provides a year-round activity that attracts visitors beyond peak summer months, supports local trade in quieter periods, and broadens our appeal to new audiences.”
Since launching, the simulator has attracted local residents, visiting golfers and guests looking for something different to do during their stay. It has increased midweek footfall, encouraged longer visits, and created a new social space within the pub, strengthening Beetham’s visitor offering year-round.
Without grant support, the project would likely have been delayed significantly. Looking ahead, Fairy Steps Ltd plans to build on early momentum by developing leagues, coaching sessions and community events, creating even more reasons to visit Beetham throughout the year.
Sidas UK: Advanced Digital Foot Analysis Expands Services and Creates Jobs
In Kendal, Sidas UK is a distributor and manufacturer of specialist footcare products, supplying podiatry and physiotherapy clinics, sports retailers and specialist centres across the UK. The company will celebrate its 25th anniversary next year — a journey that began in 2002 when founder Steve started the business from a spare bedroom at home before growing into dedicated premises.
With £18,021 in grant support, Sidas invested in new machinery for its Kendal podiatry and physiotherapy clinic, alongside advanced digital pressure plate technology used for detailed foot and gait analysis, equipment more commonly found in large specialist centres.
“The investment gave us the confidence to expand, recruit new staff and accelerate our growth plans,” says Steve. “It strengthened our clinical offering and positioned us at the forefront of digital foot analysis.”
The impact has been immediate: increased clinic capacity and shorter lead times, improved efficiency through streamlined clinical processes, and the creation of a new locally based physiotherapist role.
Sidas has also won new work nationally. Since October, the business has opened services in five American Golf centres across the UK, offering assessments that recommend correct shoe fit and custom supportive insoles designed to match an individual’s arch profile, improving comfort and performance for golfers of all abilities.
Without the grant, Steve says the business would likely have taken a more cautious “wait and see” approach rather than investing decisively. Now, their focus is on expanding distribution, continuing staff training, and implementing new CRM systems to support sustainable growth.
Unlocking Ambition Across Cumbria
From advanced production technology and waste reduction to new visitor experiences and specialist clinical services, these three success stories show how targeted investment can unlock growth, productivity and resilience.
Cumbria Business Growth Hub continues to support businesses across the county with advice and grant funding to help them innovate, diversify and scale, strengthening the region’s economy, creating jobs and helping local businesses compete with confidence.
Funded by the UK Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Rural England Prosperity Fund, Westmorland and Furness Council awarded £948,791 to Cumbria Chamber of Commerce to provide a programme of advice and grants to support rural small and micro businesses.
