Callum Murray, 25, came to Five Lamps in 2013 for help and advice to set up a Butchers shop in Yarm
Despite his youth, Callum was an experienced Butcher and was now looking to start up on his own. He knew it was a big step but had seen an opportunity in Yarm, as a long standing Butcher had recently closed and he had been the only one in the town.
Callum met with Ian Garforth and Deborah Shanley from the Five Lamps Enterprise team who gave him advice and guidance regarding market research, operational preparation and compilation of a business plan. Callum had other challenges like arranging the preparation of the premises, organising suppliers and marketing and staffing issues to arrange. He then applied for a Start-up Loan via Five Lamps which was approved.
He started trading as Yarm Butchers on Yarm High Street in March 2014. After a strong start, Callum was awarded Best Business in the prestigious and ultra-competitive Tees Valley Best New Business awards in February 2015.
Advisor Ian Garforth said ‘Callum was great to work with as he has put his heart and soul into this venture and has shown determination, creativity and panache. He has done a fantastic job in an area where customers want top quality produce. His shop is really well presented and he is a big hit with the locals in Yarm, providing top quality regular meats and game sourced locally but also exotics like Wild Boar, Ostrich, Kangaroo and Crocodile. He also sells some cooking kits, prepared options, hampers and fresh fruit and veg. His website is also excellent with cooking tips, online ordering and information on his award winning meats (some awarded 3 Gold stars at the ‘Great Taste Awards’) and why they are superior. That’s how to reel customers in! I wasn’t at all surprised when he won the prestigious ‘Best New Business’ award.’
Of the service he had received from Five Lamps, Callum said:
“When I first approached Ian and Five Lamps in 2013, I didn’t understand the background of starting your own business, but Five Lamps and the team put together workshops and meetings for people like me to attend. This helped me understand the fundamentals of running your own business. I have a huge amount of respect for the staff at Five Lamps as they are very dedicated to helping people like me. Ian and Deborah showed a lot of interest in my business idea which keeps me motivated. If it wasn’t for Five Lamps I wouldn’t have this business”
Five Lamps is the local Delivery Partner for Start-Up Loans, a Government – backed initiative aimed at ambitious individuals aged 18 and over who want to start up their own businesses.