STRESS CONTROL’S AMBITIONS REALISED VIA UKSPF’s GLASGOW BUSINESS GROWTH PROGRAMME
Stress Control Ltd was founded in 2013 and is a family-run SME based in Glasgow. It’s led by consultant clinical psychologist Dr Jim White and his daughter Kirsty White, the Programme Developer.
Stress comprises a multitude of conditions including anxiety, depression, poor sleep, panic and leading to poor mental health. The Centre for Mental Health analysis found that the total cost of mental ill health (in England, 2022) was £300 billion. Employers investing in mental health not only improve the quality of life for employees but also yield tangible benefits for the organisation such as improved employee engagement and profitability.
Drawing on Dr White’s background in psychology and his inspiring career with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), Stress Control are determined to help individuals and their employers dealing with common mental health issues such as stress and anxiety. Stress Control is a 12-week evidence-based transdiagnostic course that helps sufferers combat stress and combines positive psychology, CBT and wellbeing. It is an educational platform aimed at private individuals, corporates (accessed via an employer) and patients (accessed via the NHS or occupational health)
OPPORTUNITY LOCKED-DOWN
In 2020, however, the pandemic changed their business model overnight. While they were no longer able to deliver their in-person courses as normal, they also quickly realised there was a huge opportunity in the market for online mental health support and set an ambitious goal to build a comprehensive online presence. This is where Glasgow City Council's Glasgow Business Growth Programme (GBGF) and Digital Expert Support came into play.
Accessed via Glasgow City Council’s Business Growth Advisors and funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), the Business Growth Programme help SMEs in Glasgow grow by helping them to access a network of expert consultancy support.
SMEs can access a range of specialist support including Business Structuring and Digital Development, through a tiered programme of support that rewards businesses based on their commitment to inclusive economic growth. This programme combines traditional teaching with guidance and mentorship, meaning businesses can grow at an accelerated rate.
BUSINESS GROWTH WITH A PERSONAL TOUCH
Stress Control have worked with their Growth Advisor, Bill Cameron, over the last 4 years to access a holistic support package combining the Glasgow Business Growth Fund (GBGF) and Digital Expert Support that enabled them to transform and grow their business. The Stress Control website is now an educational platform fit for delivering 21st century digital courses and is optimised for both B2B and B2C customers. They have also transformed their classes into “an advanced mental health resource - worlds ahead of the free YouTube resource” and are also piloting a programme with Irish Rail.
Stress Control’s, Kirsty White, emphasised that the support offered through the GBGF programme assisted in making their website more user-friendly with engaging content aimed at their target audience. Although assisted by Bill, Kirsty was able to select specialist consultants such as financial and marketing through a dedicated framework.
Summing up the experience with the Glasgow Business Growth Programme, Kirsty said:
“We were able to build a much better project for the public - that wouldn’t have been as good if we weren’t able to invest as much money in it. I'll put it like this - the expert support fuelled our online growth - which was our primary focus when we aimed to tackle that online space, and the network of people we gained support and guidance from, about simple things we had never even thought about when trying to grow a business, contributed to the programme itself, how we get it out there and promote it, and the next steps we want to take. And neither would have been possible without Business Glasgow’s support.”
She went on to say that,
‘the network of support was beyond helpful – but it was ultimately the expert support that’s had the greatest impact on the business. I think it’s especially important for people who are just starting in the business world. I think the resources, the capital, and that kind of initial, basic information is really important.”
Interested in how Business Glasgow can support your business? Get in touch today.
