Business Support Case Study: Laughton Self Store
About the business
- Business name: Laughton Self Store
- Support programme: Rother and Wealden Rural Business Grants programme
- Participant name: Miles Gosling
Investing in growth to meet increasing demand
Laughton Self Store is a containerised self-storage business providing secure storage solutions for individuals and businesses. With growing demand and limited available units, the company needed to expand its capacity to accommodate more customers.
Thanks to support from the Rother and Wealden Rural Business Grants Programme, Laughton Self Store has been able to purchase additional shipping containers, increasing its storage capacity and improving operational efficiency.
Why they signed up to the business support programme
The challenge...
Since its establishment in 2008, Laughton Self Store has grown steadily, transitioning to a Private Limited Company in 2021. With consistently high occupancy rates, the business often had to turn customers away due to a lack of available units.
We were at full capacity and demand kept increasing. We knew we needed to expand, but finding the right funding was a challenge. That’s when we contacted the East Sussex Growth Hub and learned about the grant programme.
Miles Gosling, Director
What support they received
The solution...
Laughton Self Store successfully secured £14,098 in grant funding, covering 50% of the total project cost. This investment has enabled the company to:
- Purchase eight new 10ft x 8ft storage containers to meet rising demand.
- Acquire a 4m x 2m flatpack storage container to improve flexibility.
While the team initially found the paperwork daunting, they were supported throughout the application process, making it far simpler than expected.
The process was much easier than we expected. Fred and the team guided us through every step, from completing the application to submitting the claim. It was a real game-changer for us.
Miles Gosling, Director
How this has helped the business
The impact...
The expansion has already begun to generate significant benefits for the business and local community:
- Increased business growth – the additional storage units are expected to generate a healthy additional turnover.
- Higher productivity – optimising storage space at Averys Oak Farm allows for better efficiency and improved customer service.
- Local economic support – the business continues to serve individuals and companies across Rother and Wealden, providing secure, flexible storage solutions.
We’re delighted with the results. The additional storage capacity means we can serve more customers, increase revenue and continue to grow sustainably. This grant has helped us take that next step with confidence.
Miles Gosling, Director
Wider benefits from supporting this business
Looking ahead
With its expanded capacity, Laughton Self Store is well-positioned for continued success in the self-storage sector. The company is committed to providing secure, high-quality storage solutions while supporting the local economy.
Our advice to other businesses? Don’t let the paperwork put you off! There’s support available, and it could make a huge difference to your growth plans.
Miles Gosling, Director
Contact
For more information on Laughton Self Store, visit their website or contact them via email:
For more information on the business support programmes provided by East Sussex County Council, contact the Economic Development Team.
Economic.Development@eastsussex.gov.uk
The Rother and Wealden Rural Business Grants Programme is funded by UK Government as part of the Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) through allocations received by Rother District Council and Wealden District Council. The programme is delivered by the Economic Development Team at East Sussex County Council.
