This growth has been supported by DigitalBoost, Scottish Government’s leading digital skills programme, delivered by Business Gateway.

Launched in 2019, Cable Cuts offers a range of bespoke cables and accessories for automotive, marine and leisure purposes.

During the pandemic, business owner Natalie Blyth enhanced her digital presence and successfully elevated Cable Cuts marketing and e-commerce offering by employing skills developed through the DigitalBoost programme to launch a website and sell via Amazon and eBay. Additionally, the rising interest in staycations this year has increased demand for cut to order cables for camper van conversions, which boosted sales by a further 5%.

As a result of this growth, Ms Blyth is planning on opening an additional, larger unit in Alloa that will expand her offering and expects to take one more employee at this site. The current unit will remain, but focus on selling essential, everyday items for those who cannot travel due to the pandemic, and two further jobs are expected to be created.

Ms Blyth benefited from 1:1 support from a DigitalBoost expert, received free, specialist marketing and SEO support, engaged with strategy and innovation workshops, and attended networking events especially for women in business. She plans to continue utilising the skills and techniques developed through the DigitalBoost service to improve the e-commerce website, allowing the customer base, enquiries, and sales to grow in the central belt and beyond.

Business Gateway also provided advice on funding, innovation, and HR during this period, and support her application for a business support grant at the start of lockdown.

Natalie Blyth, business owner, Cable Cuts, said: “The skills I developed through the DigitalBoost programme have been crucial in helping me navigate through a very challenging period for the business. The pandemic has shown that to survive and thrive, businesses need to have a digital presence to reach their customers and continue trading.

“The growth of the business will enable the vital creation of jobs, during a difficult economic period, and my hope is that I can continue to build on this, working with Business Gateway to improve my website to increase enquiries and sales.”

Alison Davidson, business adviser, Business Gateway, added: “Business must adapt in order to survive the pandemic, and Cable Cuts has done this. Natalie and her team have capitalised on the advantages of having strong digital platforms and tapped into new trends in the market.

“An effective, virtual offering will continue to be vital for businesses over the coming weeks, and the DigitalBoost programme is a useful package for any business that wants to invest in their online platforms. Filled with free support services including one-to-one digital consultancy, a digital health check, access to webinars and guidance on switching current services online.”