• Lockdown boost triples demand for Shedman sheds
  

Shedman, one of the east end of Glasgow’s most high-profile businesses which produces high-quality sheds, saw demand for its products increase three-fold during lockdown.

Demand has increased to such an extent since the country was closed down in March that the 32-year-old company is having to build a massive new shed for itself in order to keep turning out high quality sheds, workshops and play huts. Scotland’s premium shed manufacturer has seen sales nearly triple in June, easily outstripping last year.

To maintain output at its new levels, Shedman is investing £450,000 to increase the size of its production shed from 7,000 sq ft to 12,000 sq ft, as well as installing new saws, extractors and health and safety equipment. The expansion will create eight new full time and two part-time jobs, taking Shedman’s workforce to 25.

• Thriving Box Company on track to place £1m worth of business with local independent UK retailers

Since launching in March 2020, The Thriving Box Company is on track to place £1m worth of business with local independent retailers across the UK. 

The pioneering venture, founded by Edinburgh entrepreneur Robbie Allen, continues to provide a critical lifeline for small businesses across Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester, many of whom may have been forced to close their doors permanently as a result of the recent pandemic.

The venture has delivered over 8,000 gift boxes throughout the UK, to date - generating over £600,000 in revenue for small independent businesses.

• Fletcher Fabworks successfully launches during coronavirus pandemic

Gregor Fletcher, a welder based in Inverclyde has successfully launched his first business, Fletcher Fabworks, during COVID-19.

Founded at the start of lockdown, Fletcher Fabworks provides customers with bespoke metal fabrication service and specialises in the repair and creation of metal products, including steel and aluminium. 

Working closely with Business Gateway, owner Gregor Fletcher accessed a wide range of specialist start-up support. This included help securing business insurance, marketing advice and one-to-one support on his business plan. The Business Gateway team also helped Gregor register the business with HMRC and ensured everything was set up correctly. Mr Fletcher also accessed a variety of Business Gateway webinars and was signposted to relevant funding opportunities that helped him purchase necessary equipment.  

Fletcher Fabworks has successfully attracted a number of customers during a challenging trading period and since starting the business, has completed seven orders with a further 15 enquiries received for future work. 

• Intense IT develops coronavirus risk management tool for workplaces

Edinburgh-based tech firm Intense IT has formed an international collaboration to roll-out a pioneering AI-based solution, with the aim of helping workplaces minimise the transmission of coronavirus.

With seed-funding from Innovate UK, Intense IT has created the WorkSafeAITM solution to be used by businesses to decide which prevention measures are most suitable for them.

WorkSafeAITM simulates any combination of mitigation actions, building occupancy and background infection rates, so businesses will know what should work best in their specific situation, before spending on these measures. Business leaders will soon be able to verify the effectiveness of their risk policies by integrating real-time data from sensors, heat-sensitive cameras and other Internet of Things (IoT) devices.