A PLANT pot manufacturer has germinated growth thanks to a business support scheme.

MKM Creations has seen a tenfold rise in turnover and a marked increase in profitability, thanks to Boost Business Lancashire’s Growth Mentoring programme.

The Chorley-based firm has also developed an effective marketing strategy that has expanded its customer base, as well as implementing new production processes to ensure quality and consistency. Owner Mark Francis founded the business after a career in the armed forces.

Customers include landscape gardeners, interior designers, local garden centres and hotels.

Initially making his products from steel and aluminium, Mark eventually identified a supplier that produces fibre glass moulds which can be used to mass produce some of his designs.

Mark wanted his business to grow without losing the quality that had generated his initial success.

He learned about growth mentoring from a business friend and, after contacting Boost, Mark was assigned to work with Clive Thompson, an experienced mentor at business support organisation Orvia, which delivers the programme for Boost. Boost Business Lancashire is the £7.2 million Lancashire Business Growth Hub, offering free and part-funded business support to ambitious and growing businesses.

Mark said: “Clive’s help, support and knowledge has been invaluable to the expansion of our business.

“We really can’t express enough gratitude to him and to Orvia for all the help we have received from the Boost programme.”

Clive said: “Mark displayed real enthusiasm and passion for his products and was keen to capture the potential for his designs without losing quality.”

Boost is delivered by Lancashire County Council and the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, and supported by money from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).