A Sandwell-based marketing agency found great value in attending our Sandwell Business Boost programme for ambitious entrepreneurs.
About Eighty3 Creative
Eighty3 Creative is a marketing agency offering a wide range of online and offline solutions. These include search engine optimisation, pay-per-click, social media management, brochure design, websites, branding and logo creation, branding workshops, exhibition graphics, printed literature and email marketing.
Directors Amie Whale and Craig Slater [pictured above] set up Eighty3 Creative in November 2008. They have known each other since they were sixteen, going to college together and then Staffordshire University. They worked for different design agencies after graduating, before Craig joined Amie’s agency. Eventually, they decided to start their own business.
Craig said: “Our main reason for doing this was being able to work on the projects we wanted to work on, with people we chose to work with”.
‘An increase in turnover, profit and enquiries’
Eighty3 Creative has been based in different places: a business incubation space at Wolverhampton Science Park, which it soon outgrew, various offices in the same complex, and a semi-rural location in Wombourne. That’s before a successful move to Burnt Tree in June 2023.
“We target manufacturers and felt our market was back in the Black Country,” said Craig, explaining why he and Amie moved the business to its Sandwell location.
“Since the move to Sandwell we have seen an increase in turnover, profit and enquiries. We love dealing with other businesses in the area, and 90 per cent of our clients are within a ten-mile radius”.
Eighty3 Creative’s own branding
‘Enabled us to effectively engage with our target audience’
We (the Sandwell Business Growth Team) welcomed Eighty3 Creative onto Sandwell Business Boost in 2023. This was our specialist programme to give ambitious local businesses access to expert guidance and resources to support their growth. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund made it possible.
An experienced business consultancy delivered the sessions.
Craig told us: “As part of the scheme we had help with HR: job adverts, contracts and interview prep. We also benefited greatly from our business coach, whose expertise lies in transforming manufacturing businesses. His background resonated with our target market, making him an ideal choice. His guidance helped with technical aspects and industry terminology, enabling us to effectively engage with our target audience.
“The coaching not only assisted us in implementing crucial business systems but it has also played a pivotal role in us developing a new website tailored specifically for manufacturers, set to launch soon.
“He was instrumental in mapping out the customer journey and facilitating insightful site visits with industry contacts. These visits have provided invaluable opportunities to address industry concerns and identify how we can offer meaningful solutions.
“The programme has been fantastic and incredibly enjoyable. We just wish it could have lasted longer.”
At the time of publication (May 2024), Eighty3 Creative is looking to grow its team and give someone a step up in their career by employing a digital marketing apprentice.
Advice for manufacturing businesses on how to switch to advanced and automated technologies as well as working to improve employees’ overall digital skills.
Guidance and support programmes from the West Midlands Combined Authority, aimed at business leaders and entrepreneurs with an ambition to grow.
Support with growth and innovation
We help Sandwell businesses to grow and thrive. As well as providing support to find finance we highlight opportunities for growth through mentoring, research and innovation. Get in touch to explore the programmes and resources available to support your Sandwell organisation.
Supply Chain Transition Programme
Support to help manufacturing SMEs win new customers and grow in emerging sectors
The Supply Chain Transition Programme is funded by the West Midlands Investment Zone and supports manufacturing SMEs across the West Midlands to diversify their customer base and secure new orders in high-growth sectors.
Through a mix of workshops, specialist one-to-one support and training, the programme helps businesses innovate, develop new products and strengthen their position within priority supply chains across the region.
What support is available
Businesses taking part can access:
Specialist one-to-one coaching to develop a focused action plan
Support with research and development and grant applications
Accredited Level 4 and 5 training aligned to business needs
Mentoring and peer-to-peer learning opportunities
Risk analysis and planning support
Opportunities to connect with buyers and key customers
The programme is delivered by the Supply Smarter West Midlands consortium, bringing together partners including the Manufacturing Technology Centre, WMG at the University of Warwick, Birmingham City University, Coventry University and the University of Wolverhampton.
It is open to manufacturing SMEs based in Sandwell and across the wider West Midlands area.
A targeted support programme for ethnic minority-led businesses in Sandwell, delivered in partnership with SWEDA, Business Growth West Midlands and Sandwell Business Growth.
Flexible support Businesses trading for 12 months or more can access one of three levels of support, depending on their needs:
Option 1: light touch
Initial business discussion and company status check
General business health check
One-to-one or small group sessions
Catch-up sessions and signposting
Access to training
Guidance on employing staff and networking
Option 2: medium intensity
In-depth business diagnostic and needs assessment
One-to-one support, mentoring and training
Site visits from SWEDA Business Advisors
Joint support from BGWM and Sandwell Business Growth Hub
Referrals for specialist support including finance, premises, exporting, IP, and energy audits
Option 3: direct referral
For businesses that need a quick route to specialist help
Initial needs assessment followed by direct referral to BGWM or Sandwell Council
Launched in November 2023, this plan sets out Sandwell Council’s strategy to support our local businesses over the next two years. Download it using the link below [the PDF will open in a new tab]:
Are you looking to continue and improve upon your businesses current growth? The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), through Gateley Global , is offering the High Growth Programme (HGP) to help companies growth and succeed in a challenging market.
Purpose of HGAP
The HGP will provide tailored support to high growth SMEs in the WMCA area, helping them to unlock barriers to growth and to manage growth in a sustainable way. Each firm will be provided with a dedicated Key Account Manager (KAM) who will work with them to agree a growth ambition, look at the current position and identify key challenges. Each company will then receive a tailored account plan, a map of the journey to success, that will detail activities, KPIs and interventions needed to achieve the desired growth target by the end of the programme. In addition to a dedicated KAM, specialist support may be accessed through workshops and events created to help participants on the roadmap to success.
Why should you enrol?
It will not cost you any money – access to the KAM or specialists is provided free by WMCA.
You will receive clarity about the direction of travel of your business. The HGP will help you look at, envisage and shape your future growth.
The structure and rigour of the approach means you will know what to expect because it has been surfaced and planned for. With risks known and mitigated, any fears you have can be overcome and your confidence built before you embarking on your growth journey
Sandwell Start-Up Hub from Sandwell Business Growth
We have opened a co-working hub in Jack Judge House in Oldbury, where businesses in Sandwell can access fully funded office space in this financial year, plus ongoing support from our Business Growth Team. Don’t be misled by the ‘Start-Up’ title – we welcome established, growing businesses too!
