First wave of Accelerator funding boosts Derbyshire businesses
The Derbyshire Accelerator programme is firmly on track to deliver growth and innovation across the county. The first wave of businesses have successfully secured fully funded expert consultancy support.
Firms across Derby and Derbyshire looking to develop, grow and innovate are benefitting from extensive support available through the Derbyshire Accelerator programme. Delivered by East Midlands Chamber on behalf of the local authorities in Derbyshire, the project runs until 31 March 2026 and has received £722,398 from the Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The one-year extension builds on the initial three-year programme delivered in Amber Valley, Chesterfield, Derby City, Derbyshire Dales, High Peak, North East Derbyshire and South Derbyshire.
During the first phase (Autumn 2023 to March 2025), the programme achieved:
• 61 new businesses created
• 259 jobs created
• 276 jobs safeguarded
• 163 businesses introducing new products, technologies or processes
• Significant numbers entering new markets, increasing R&D activity and boosting export capability
Since April 2025, 900 Derbyshire businesses have joined the extended programme. Many have received tailored one-to-one support from a Chamber Business Adviser or attended action-planning workshops covering digital skills, sales and marketing, leadership and management, and workplace problem-solving.
A total of 141 businesses have already accessed Growth Vouchers worth £2,000 each for specialist consultancy or training to adopt new technology or processes. Businesses have also been signposted to the Export and High Growth Accelerator projects where relevant.
Get Loos in Chesterfield is one of the businesses benefiting from better systems and stronger leadership through the Derbyshire Accelerator support programme.
Fast-growing portable toilet provider Get Loos needed support to manage enquiries, improve processes and access finance. A business review led to co-founder Adam Sinnott joining the High Growth Academy and securing a £5,616 grant for a CRM and automation tools, saving around 15 hours a week. A £2,000 Growth Voucher, leadership training and finance workshops have further strengthened the business and safeguarded jobs.
Adam Sinnott said:
“We knew we needed better systems and stronger leadership structures to match the pace of our growth, but finding the right guidance and tools wasn’t always easy… We’re now more structured, more confident and more in control of our growth than ever before.”
East Midlands Chamber Deputy Chief Executive Diane Beresford said:
“We are now past the halfway point of the Derbyshire Accelerator programme and I’m thrilled that there has been such a high take-up of support. Businesses are often clear on what they want to achieve but working out how to get there can be the real challenge. By advising them on tapping into expert advice and financial support on a wealth of different subjects, the Accelerator project really is offering the most tailored support – whether that be introducing a CRM to better engage with customers, introducing e-commerce to their website and undertaking research into new overseas markets to boost sales, or equipping business owners and emerging leaders with the skills to get the best out of their teams.
“I would urge businesses to consider where they might benefit from specialist training and consultancy as there is still budget for Growth Voucher support in some districts and fully funded workshops have been scheduled until the end of the programme in March.”
North East Derbyshire District Council Assistant Director for Regeneration and Programmes Steve Lee added:
“The benefits brought to businesses though the Derbyshire Accelerator’s dedicated one-to-one support as well as its engaging workshops delivered to wider audiences have been outstanding. Through the co-ordination meetings between the local authorities supporting Derbyshire Accelerator, I was fortunate to hear many inspirational stories regarding the positive impact that the programme has provided to businesses from a breadth of sectors and locations across the county.
“We are very grateful to the Chamber’s committed Team for their quality provision and recommend that local businesses seize the opportunity to take the next step in their growth, or tackle the challenges they face, with the support that Derbyshire Accelerator can offer.”
For further business support please visit our funding page: www.chesterfield.co.uk/business/business-support
