Le Mark supplies the arts and entertainment industries with dance floors, staging and other equipment to companies across the globe, and were keen to purchase new machinery to support their continued growth.
They used the grant to purchase a new, modern CAM slitting machine, a new server and an automatic log slitter. These machines will enable Le Mark to upskill its workforce, improve order turnaround times and increase the product offering. The investment has already led to the creation of a new job, and the team expects three further job roles to be created.
Signpost 2 Grants is funded by the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough LEP, and is designed to support companies with a desire to grow.
Neil Darwin, Chief Executive of the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough LEP, commented:
“Le Mark has helped global brands and household names within the arts and entertainment worlds with quality flooring and equipment. The complex machinery required by Le Mark to continue to improve business is costly, so we are pleased to be able to support their continued investment in growth by providing them with Signpost 2 Grants funding.”
The new equipment is now in place at Le Mark and helping them to fulfil orders more quickly and continue to serve a global client base.
Steve Exon, Non-Executive Director at Le Mark, said:
“The speed of expansion and the pressure that is put on our manufacturing was having a negative impact on the company. With the help of the grant, Le Mark has invested in a relatively unique slitting machine that has tripled production.
“Without the grant, we would still have purchased the machine, but it would have probably been 12 months down the line. The process and paperwork for the grant were both extremely easy to navigate and within three months the machines were in production.”
Signpost 2 Grants is designed to support companies who are keen to invest in their growth, and is funded by the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough LEP. Grants of between £2,000 and £20,000 are available to local SMEs who are looking to invest in new equipment, new machinery, improvements to their premises, or other capital purchases. The grants can be used to fund up to 20% of a total project cost, to provide businesses with the extra help they need to grow.
To be eligible, businesses must be located within the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough LEP area to apply, which covers Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, Rutland, West Suffolk, West Norfolk, Uttlesford, North Hertfordshire, South Holland and South Kesteven.
You can find out more at www.signpost2grants.co.uk, by calling 01223 967676 or 01733 602060, or by emailing hello@cpcagrowthhub.co.uk.
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Notes to editors
- Photo caption: Le Mark’s Managing and Sales Director, Linda Gibbons, with CPCA Growth Hub Navigator, Joe Watson.
- CPCA Growth Hub is a new small grant scheme from the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough LEP. You can find out more about the LEP by visiting gcpg.co.uk.
- Business must be located in the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough LEP to be eligible, which covers: Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, South Holland, South Kesteven, Rutland, West Norfolk, West Suffolk, Uttlesford, and North Hertfordshire.
- Further information about CPCA Growth Hub, the LEP’s business signposting service, can be found at signpost2grow.co.uk.
