Until December 2016 I worked from one room in my home, and whilst this was perfectly adequate in the early years, the volume of work and the calibre of projects I was undertaking, meant that I needed to move to bigger, dedicated premises and build a team to help with the increasing workload.

With the help of LEADER funding from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, I was able to design and construct a detached, self-contained workroom, and purchase new equipment to support my continued business growth.  

The construction of this purpose-built workspace has enabled me to efficiently handle my increased workload, create three new jobs, and plan for continued business growth in the future.  

The new workroom was completed at the end of 2016 and we began working here in January 2017. My team now includes an Office Manager a Workroom Manager, and a Workroom Assistant, bringing not only sewing excellence, but also organisational, creative and design skills to Mary Grice Soft Furnishings.

Funding for this project was provided by the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) 2014 – 2020, via the Staffordshire Local Action Group