An e-commerce and communications company which received a major D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership grant to expand has won two prestigious business ‘growth’ awards.
Based in South Normanton, Derbyshire, Purpose Media received an £85,000 Unlocking Investment for Growth (UI4G) grant from the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership in summer 2015; since when it has tripled its office space and created new jobs.
D2N2 is the private sector-led partnership of business, local authorities, higher and further education providers, and community and voluntary organisations which promotes economic and jobs growth in Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
On Friday (September 23) Purpose Media received the ‘Outstanding Growth Performance Award’ at the East Midlands Chamber’s 2016 Derbyshire Business Awards, held at The Roundhouse, Derby.
The company also heard it was among the regional winners for ‘High Growth Business of the Year’ in the British Chambers of Commerce’s (BCC) regional business awards series. This mean Purpose Media will represent the East Midlands in that category at the BCC’s national awards, at the Chamber Business Awards Gala Dinner on Thursday November 24, at The Brewery in London.
Over the last two years, Purpose Media has acquired assets from Derby design agency Revolver Revolver and merged with Nottinghamshire corporate film-makers A-Star Media (pictured above).
Matt Wheatcroft, Purpose Media’s Managing Director, said: “It’s been a great 12 months for us, which has seen us double in size, both in terms of headcount and turnover.
“The changes we have made have enabled us to fully solidify our position as a full-service digital agency with specialisms in web development, digital marketing, creative design, video production, content marketing and PR.”
D2N2’s Unlocking Investment for Growth (UI4G) programme – which has now closed to applications – was set-up by D2N2 to help small and medium-sized businesses with growth plans to expand, by providing ‘bridge financing’.
It is estimated UI4G funds will eventually lever in over £20million of investment from business owners, alongside the D2N2 grant support received. The projects are expected to create more than 400 new jobs, around double what had been estimated at the programme’s beginning.
UI4G was funded by the UK’s Regional Growth Fund and the European Regional Development Fund, and awarded through D2N2’s Investment Panel, with the aim of creating long term sustainable jobs.
Media wanting more information about the work of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership can contact Sean Kirby, D2N2 Communications Manager, on 0115 957 8749 or email: sean.kirby@d2n2lep.org
