Business Support Helps Local Business to Scale New Heights
Hartley Consulting & Events provides business support.
A Coventry climbing wall business is looking to scale new heights after investing in future success.
The Ballroom Climbing Wall opened in the former Leofric Hotel in Coventry city centre five years ago and was growing steadily until the pandemic hit and then, like all other attractions, was forced to close.
It’s now back up and running and attracting more visitors per day than it was pre-pandemic for its specialist bouldering wall, which is low to the ground climbing without ropes or harnesses.
The business has received help from the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce through a special programme designed to help those in the creative and tourism sectors recover more quickly from the pandemic.
It was given specialist, one-to-one advice and that has seen it add a new member of staff to the team and also invest £30,000 into improvements of the venue, including general upgrades as well as a stronger food and beverage offer and more opportunities for younger children to use the facility.
The Ballroom Climbing Wall is run by brothers Ben and Sam Prior who opted to open in Coventry five years ago when they had the idea to start the business.
“I was an accountant and my brother was a physiotherapist but we had a passion for climbing,” said Ben.
“We decided we wanted to open our own climbing wall venue and chose Coventry even though I was living in Cambridge and Sam was living in Oxford.
“We felt it was something we could really grow in the city and that was happening – then Covid struck, so we had to close.”
He added: “Once we were able to reopen, we really wanted to grow and invest in the future.
“We found out about the support available through the Chamber and it has been a major help.
“Getting one-to-one advice and being able to look at how we could grow was invaluable. It has meant we can make around £30,000 of investment into improving the venue and look at how we grow the customer base.
“We worked with consultant Chris Hartley who was great at offering a different perspective and also in offering us introductions to contacts within the city. We’re members of the Chamber too and are using that for networking opportunities to help spread the word.”
The Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce has been awarded funds through the Coventry Creative Growth & Cultural Tourism Recovery Programme, funded by the UK Government’s Community Renewal Fund which is distributed by the West Midlands Combined Authority and Coventry City Council, to support more creative and cultural organisations across Coventry.
Chris Hartley said: “It has been great to work with the Ballroom Climbing Wall. There are so many opportunities for growth and I was able to offer advice on the best avenues to take, in order for them to emerge from the pandemic in a strong way.”
Working with Hartley Consulting & Events
If you are a Local Authority or Chamber of Commerce looking to offer support to tourism, events and hospitality businesses in your area get in touch today. Contact Chris via email chris@hartley.events or call 07736107770.