Beanmachines savours Goldman Sachs growth plan

A SCHEME to help small businesses grow and create jobs, is already making a difference to one North West entrepreneur, whose firm’s sales are set to double this year.

Matthew Deasy, founder of Bean Machines is one of the 23 participants from the region benefiting from the Goldman Sachs Foundation’s 10,000 Small Businesses programme.

Beanmanchines, which supplies coffee and coffee-making equipment to independent cafes, petrol stations and coffee shops, has grown from six to eight staff this year.

Turnover at the Cheadle-based company is expected to double this year from £400,000 in 2010 and may even top £1m.

Deasy says the Goldman Scheme is  proving to be “invaluable” as he grows the business, which he set up in 2003.

“It can be a pretty lonely journey running a business on your own – not many of my friends are doing this, so the programme has been great.

“It is like having a virtual board and the important thing is there are people from across a range of sectors sharing ideas. We’ve received academic advice and listened to motivational speakers, so it’s a really good mix of the theory and the practical.”

Other growing SMEs can apply for the programme, which is being delivered by MMU Business School.

Initially launched as the Business Growth Programme, 10,000 Small Businesses UK, as it is now known, is so far operating in two regions, the North West and Yorkshire.

The 23 North West firms, which include two social enterprises, come from a cross-section of the business community.

The largest number (9) are running companies supplying business services, while there are four participants from retail and three from manufacturing firms.
Other sectors represented are education, construction, environmental services and hospitality.

The ages of those involved vary considerably too, with the youngest 28 and the oldest 62.

There is a preview event to learn more about the programme next Tuesday July 5 from 17:30-19:00 at The Studio, Lever Street, Manchester. Details from 10ksb@mmu.ac.uk or on 0161 247 3854.