FEATURE
Grant – Virasel Valve Solutions director of operations Sue Donnelly, sales and service manager Ben Sexton, centre, and managing director Lee Donnelly.
GRANT DESIGNS
Don’ t miss out on businessboosting funds
54 | Tees Business
There’ s still time to benefit from major programmes to boost businesses across the region – with companies already seeing great success by taking advantage of the schemes.
A Teesside-based musical instrument business has benefited to the tune of £ 46,000 and expanded its international reach with the help of a popular export programme.
A total of £ 200,000-worth of grants and support is available for businesses through the Tees Valley Export Fund.
Geneva Musical Instruments, based in Billingham, sells top-quality handmade brass and woodwind instruments to some of the finest musicians in the world.
Funding through the programme allowed the company to improve its website and ensure language barriers were eliminated for customers looking to buy online from overseas.
In just a few weeks, the website changes saw a massive boost in direct sales online – far exceeding sales during the previous period – with customers from Norway, Belgium, South Korea, Japan and South Asia.
The programme also allowed the firm to attend a major exhibition in Switzerland – home to one of the largest markets for brass instruments in the world.
Vincent Eckerman, executive director at Geneva Instruments, said:“ Export sales are vital to our growth, representing 75 % of our overall sales in 2024.
“ The website redevelopment removed French and German language barriers, allowing us to successfully sell across the Swiss cantons – one of our most important markets for brass musical instruments.”
The fund can cover support for attending overseas trade fairs to commissioning market research, adapting websites for new markets or help with export-related consultancy and legal advice, plus much more.
Revenue grants of between £ 3,000 and £ 10,000 are available, with businesses required to fund 25 % of the total project cost themselves.
All funded activity is to be delivered by August 31, 2026, and grants are available on a first come, first served basis.
The programme is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and delivered in