A Cumbrian chiropractor is looking forward to expanding her business after being able to buy new equipment thanks to a grant.
Rebecca England set up Fellside Family Chiropractic in Brampto, two years ago.
She provides chiropractic care to her local community, helping clients from toddlers to people in their 90s, with problems including back pain, neck and shoulder issues and mobility issues.
As she took on more clients, Rebecca found she lacked some of the professional equipment needed to scale the business, in particular a stationary chiropractic bench.
The portable bench she had bought as a student was not designed for heavy daily use, and the company that manufactured it had gone out of business, making repairs difficult.
The bench also had a weight limit, meaning Rebecca had to turn away certain clients who exceeded the safe threshold.
Rebecca said: “I was becoming more and more nervous about the wear and tear on the bench, which wasn’t designed for prolonged use. If something went wrong, I wouldn’t have been able to continue treating clients until I could afford a replacement.”
Rebecca decided to invest in a new bench and contacted the Growth Hub regarding a grant scheme, funded by the Rural England Prosperity Fund, provided through Cumberland Council. After a short application process, she was awarded £1,100 grant that covered 45.7% of the cost of a new stationary chiropractic bench.
Shipped from America, the new bench has solid oak legs and no weight limit, allowing Rebecca to treat anyone who needs chiropractic treatment. She also used part of the funding to buy a pregnancy pillow, giving her the ability to treat pregnant women more comfortably in the clinic.
“The application process was well supported,” Rebecca said. “I had a one-to-one Zoom meeting with an adviser from Cumbria Business Growth Hub who helped guide me through the process. There were a few technical terms I needed to understand, but there was always someone there to answer my questions.
“The grant has allowed me to expand my working hours, see more people, and grow my business. Before, I was at a point where I couldn’t increase my client base without proper equipment. Now, I can move forward.”
Head of business support at Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, Lesley Robinson said: “We’d like to congratulate Rebecca on the success she’s achieved using the funding. Stories like this show the transformational impact funding can have on small businesses.”
For more information, visit www.cumbriagrowthhub.co.uk
