Nottingham businesses are taking full advantage of Digital, AI and Sustainability support from the Nottingham Accelerator project, with the first wave of businesses successfully applying for fully funded expert consultancy support.
The ambitions of Nottingham businesses to grow, innovate, go more digital, decarbonise and reach sustainability goals are being realised with support from the Nottingham Accelerator project. Delivered by East Midlands Chamber on behalf of Nottingham City Council, the project runs until 31st March 2026, having received £124,982 from the government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
To date, 235 Nottingham businesses have joined the project, including attendance at a series of action planning workshops developed exclusively for businesses in the city such as on the impact of AI on Search Engines, Mastering Graphic Design, and Using AI Prompts to Improve Websites, Write Code and Build Apps. AI. A total of 22 businesses have so far taken advantage of specialist consultancy and training, valued at up to £2,000 of Growth Vouchers, to implement digital technology and processes and AI platforms. The workshops and financial support are complemented by one-to-one advice from a dedicated Digital Transformation Adviser and Manufacturing Adviser, and sustainability support through free energy audits and decarbonisation webinars.
East Midlands Chamber Deputy Chief Executive Diane Beresford said: “Nottingham City Council were keen to implement an ambitious programme of business support with AI & Digital at its heart. East Midlands Chamber has developed an engaging range of digital transformation workshops as a result, including on new topics such as Microsoft 365 and Vibe Coding, which uses AI prompts to improve business websites, write code and build apps. I’m pleased to say that these new topics have been incredibly well received, with businesses reporting that they have practical takeaways which are making an immediate impact on their operations.”
The first wave of Nottingham businesses to benefit from Accelerator Growth Voucher support includes:
Lace Market Aesthetics
From its historic premises in the heart of the city, Lace Market Aesthetics prides itself on delivering a unique approach to tailored aesthetic treatments and supplementary lifestyle advice. Working in an industry where discretion is valued, the business is typically unable to rely on ‘word of mouth’ recommendations and a strong focus is needed on digital marketing to reach a wider audience in Nottingham and beyond.
Clinic Director Tatiana Hallam personally carries out all treatments, marrying her skills as a fully qualified and accredited Aesthetic Practitioner with her former career as a ballet dancer to bring artistry, precision and care to her clients.
An Accelerator growth voucher is helping the business to launch its delivery of the Exobloom® service, designed for skin regeneration, collagen stimulation, inflammation reduction and promotion of overall skin health.
Tatiana Hallam said: “Our East Midlands Chamber Business Adviser was extremely supportive in identifying which areas of the business we needed to work on and introduced us to Tea Powered Projects, a digital marketing agency also based in the city. The team there have been guiding us through every aspect of SEO and digital marketing so that we can approach the market in the most effective and impactful way.”
Midlands Academy of Dance & Drama (MADD College)
Midlands Academy of Dance & Drama in Nottingham (known affectionately as ‘MADD’) is one of the oldest and most prestigious Musical Theatre & Dance Colleges in the UK. It received support from the Accelerator project to improve the user experience on its website to attract the next generation of local talent.
Principal Edward Nudd said: “Thanks to the support of the Nottingham Accelerator programme, we’ve been able to enhance our digital presence with a more sophisticated, user-friendly website. This upgrade makes it easier than ever for prospective students interested in Musical Theatre & Dance to explore, connect, and apply to the Midlands Academy of Dance & Drama in Nottingham as a place of study, helping us reach and inspire more of the next generation of national and international performers. As a registered charity, this kind of support is invaluable.”
Wellington Films
This film production company has recently celebrated its 25th anniversary in helping to originate acclaimed feature films. As a business that develops projects and then sets up businesses to run them, there are many moving parts. Support from an Accelerator Growth Voucher is enabling co-founders Al Clark and Rachel Robey to tap into expert consultancy on financial risk management systems and put in place the software to manage financial projections. East Midlands Chamber has also introduced the pair to the Export Accelerator project which led to a successful bid for grant funding to cover the cost of attending the Toronto International Film Festival.
Al Clark said: “Support from the Accelerator project has been two-fold: the financial training through Growth Voucher support gives us the foresight to make sure our forecasts are as robust as possible and to take early corrective action where needed. Attendance at the Toronto International Film Festival, which would have been too expensive for us to attend without Export Accelerator support, has enabled us to pitch a new project to potential financiers and other co-producers alike which has helped to significantly raise our international profile.”
The upcoming schedule of Accelerator workshops in Nottingham can be accessed here.
Businesses wishing to sign up for dedicated Digital Transformation Adviser or Manufacturing Adviser support or to apply for a Growth Voucher can do so at: www.emc-dnl.co.uk/services/accelerator.
