Tees Valley Business Compass is helping a Hartlepool-based professional training provider take its expertise to an overseas market.
Orangebox Training Solutions is being supported by the local growth hub to showcase its specialist training, which includes management, effective communications, first aid, health & safety and security & law enforcement, at industry conferences in other countries including UAE.
Founded in March 2016 by former surveillance trainer and specialist operations police officer, Simon Corbett, Orangebox employs 6 staff at its site on Queens Meadow Business Park, and currently runs courses across the UK.
Orangebox initially accessed funding via the TVBSS Capital Grant scheme which supports companies looking to make capital investments to grow. The business was then supported with £4,701 from the Tees Valley Business Compass’s ERDF Growth Fund pot, contributing towards a £14,257 business growth project to help with travel to overseas conferences to grow the business abroad
Director Simon Corbett said: “We have a strong operation here in the UK, which we feel is applicable in overseas markets. Our trainers deliver effective and dynamic training courses to several sectors, and we’re different to other training providers because of the trainers we have on board.
“The UAE training market appreciates the quality of British training, so there are many businesses out there that could benefit from our knowledge and expertise. We are thankful to Tees Valley Business Compass for its support, as without them, we wouldn’t be in the position to go overseas.”
The support available for companies through Tees Valley Business Compass, the local growth hub, comes from an investment of more than £9.5 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), secured by Tees Valley Combined Authority. Support is available for growth, along with projects that increase broadband connectivity, research and development, innovation, and energy efficiency.
Lesley Stothart, Business Growth Consultant at the Tees Valley Business Compass, said: “Orangebox is an impressive company that has really cracked the UK training market, meaning it’s a natural next step to take its expertise overseas.
“Simon approached us with a comprehensive plan for showcasing his offering at conferences in the UAE, and we were delighted to work through his plans with him and help him with the financial support that he needed.”