A LONGSTANDING tree farm and nursery in Tenbury Wells is one of the latest to benefit from a county council grant.
Frank P Matthews has received an Enterprising Worcestershire grant to help improve the logistics and labour associated with exhibiting at Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) shows.
Worcestershire County Council’s grant scheme has enabled the 120-year-old business to not only vastly improve their set-up time but also attend more shows, such as the RHS Malvern Spring Festival, BBC Gardeners World Live Show and Shrewsbury Flower Show.
Director of Frank P Matthews, Charles James recognised the grant could help expand the organisations client base if it facilitate involvement at more shows.
The Enterprising Worcestershire grant helped the tree farm and nursery invest in an exhibition trailer.
Charles James, Managing Director at Frank P Matthews stated: “In the past, attending these shows required sending a team a few days in advance for setup.
“With everything pre-set up, a smaller team can set up quickly on the day of the show and focus on the tasks at hand.
“This increase in efficiency has enabled us to attend more shows in the local area and further afield.”
The Enterprising Worcestershire grants programme offers a variety of support options to enable start-up and early-stage enterprises to develop and thrive.
The support includes start-up workshops, business coaching, mentorship, and grant funding to help take your business ideas to the next level.
Councillor Adam Kent, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Economy and Skills at Worcestershire County Council, said: “It’s fantastic to see local businesses like Frank P Matthews benefiting from the support available.
“The expansion of their retail offering and the improvements to their logistics will help them reach more customers and continue to grow, while also supporting the local economy.
“It’s great to see such a long-standing business modernising and adapting to new opportunities.”
