Business Support Case Study: Train Groups and Charters Ltd
About the business
- Business name: Train Groups and Charters Ltd
- Support programme: Ready To Grow 2024
- Participant name: David Gardner, Managing Director
Train Groups and Charters (TGC) facilitates private charter train services across the UK primarily for corporate clients, normally for the purpose of attending conferences, meetings, events or for corporate hospitality. We can source all trains, from high-speed people movers through to elegant Pullman trains offering full dining facilities.
Why they signed up to the business support programme
When I set up my business I was pleasantly surprised to find that my local council offered the Ready to Grow programme for start-ups like my own. Coming from a big business background I had become aware that although I knew my product, I did lack the expertise or knowledge of running a rounded business. Elements such as online activity, HR and Finance were all relatively new areas for me. Ready to Grow offered insights into such areas which I would otherwise have found challenging to access.
David Gardner
What support they received
Firstly, a lengthy discussion between the participant and the course leader about their business and the course content proved to be a valuable exercise, enabling both to gain a better understanding of each other. This in turn appeared to lead to a degree of customisation in the course content, for which the participant was grateful. The blend of online and in-person sessions was also highly beneficial, providing opportunities to connect with others in similar positions. Additionally, the subject-specific sessions were led by local experts, offering the chance to collaborate with regional suppliers - a positive contribution to the local economy.
How this has helped the business
The programme gave me a rounded view of the issues facing new businesses and more details in the areas where my existing knowledge was lacking. It also gave me a degree of encouragement that others were in a similar position to myself and that we were all capable of taking our businesses forward. My business is developing in line with my projections, aided by many of the tools that Ready to Grow provided me with.
David Gardner
Wider benefits from supporting this business
Train Groups and Charters Ltd is not only driving business success but also contributing to wider economic growth. By facilitating private charter train services, the company supports the regional supply chain, working with local suppliers to deliver high-quality experiences. The business aligns with net-zero ambitions by promoting rail as a more sustainable transport option for corporate events. Additionally, through the Ready to Grow programme, TGC has strengthened its operational foundations, helping to safeguard jobs and build resilience in a priority sector.
I was pleasantly surprised that Rother District Council offers this genuinely useful course and support for new businesses. Credit to them for sponsoring it and not imposing any fees. In my opinion this is exactly the type of support that people considering starting their own business need and I personally wish that I’d done it years ago.
David Gardner
Contact
For more information on the business support programmes provided by East Sussex County Council, contact the Economic Development Team.
Economic.Development@eastsussex.gov.uk
Ready To Grow is a training programme for early-stage business owners, funded by UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and a collaboration between Eastbourne, Lewes, Rother and Wealden District/Borough Councils. It is supported by East Sussex County Council and delivered by Digital Islands.
