3WhiteHats - Case Study

How 3WhiteHats found out about the Starting a High Growth programme

Managing Director, Tom Telford, first read about the Grow Cornwall programme in the Financial Times when Oxford Innovation was announced as winning the contract to deliver High Growth support to start up businesses in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

The Start-up Challenge

At the time Tom contacted Oxford Innovation he was running his business from his bedroom, having just made the transition from employment to concentrating on running his business full time. The main challenge he faced was starting up without any investment.

How has Oxford Innovation’s Grow Cornwall Team Helped?

Oxford Innovation coach, Mike Jobson, assisted Tom with his strategic planning. Tom says of the support that he has received: “The coaching that I have received has been really useful in helping me retain focus and develop the direction of the business. Being able to use Mike as a trusted sounding board for new ideas or challenges and learning from his experiences has made all the difference”.

What is happening now?

The business is growing fast, expecting to move from a £30k turnover in 2010 to an expected £150-175K for 2011. The business has grown and is now an agency of 4 full time staff members, with a 5th on the way, and has already expanded into new premises for the second time in a matter of months. This success was recognised by3WhiteHats winning The Hub Awards Best Business Start Up.