We received a grant to build more active communities
WildStrong, an community outdoor movement company, has received £5,000 through the New Founder Programme, a collaboration between Pizza Hut, Hatch Enterprise, and Groundwork.
WildStrong was founded to build local support networks through outdoor movement classes. The company teaches skills and movements to allow members to keep doing the things they love as they age. The company has four female-run micro franchises across the country. This grant funding will allow the business to grow and develop their movement workshops, reaching a new demographic with their services.
Gill Erskine, Co-founder of WildStrong said, “Iʼm so pleased that the grant review team saw the same potential in WildStrong as we did and have chosen to support us with this grant. As a small business, funding is always a challenge and this investment will allow us to have an even bigger impact in our communities. At the heart of WildStrong, is the joy that comes from being part of a community, something bigger than ourselves. We look forward to seeing the business grow to support even more people.”
This grant scheme is a part of the New Founder Programme, a three-stage initiative designed to help UK entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds by offering the tools and skills they need to start their businesses.
It is a collaboration between Pizza Hut Delivery, Hatch Enterprise, and Groundwork which has supported 41 new founders with over £84,000 funding to date.
Emily Curtis, Head of People Capability, Pizza Hut said: “Itʼs an absolute joy to see participants from the New Founder Programme receiving their grants after so much planning, preparation and sleepless nights preparing their pitches. Along with our franchisees, we understand how setting up a new business requires support from others, particularly when the economic landscape is so changeable.
“We are proud to help business leaders who rely on continued belief and magic to get their ideas off the ground, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds.
“The entrepreneurial spirit of these founders resonates not only with us, but also our Pizza Hut franchisees, who will be playing a major role in the programme. We look forward to seeing whatʼs next for these rising stars and we wish them all the success!”
Meredith Greey, Head of Programmes at Hatch Enterprise said: “At Hatch itʼs our mission to build a better world through entrepreneurship by supporting underrepresented founders across the UK. We know that funding is one of the key challenges for early-stage founders, and this is even more evident in the current climate.
“Weʼre really pleased that our partnership with Pizza Hut and Groundwork has allowed us to offer grant funding to these amazing new businesses, giving them the opportunity to grow the reach and impact they are able to have in their sectors and communities.
“Weʼre constantly impressed by the innovation and the passion of the founders who come onto the New Founder Programme, and look forward to seeing all that the grant recipients achieve as a result of this extra support.”
Graham Duxbury, Chief Executive of Groundwork UK said: “Empowering communities to improve their prospects and have more say over how things get done in their local area is at the heart of what we do at Groundwork. As we navigate through a cost of living crisis and the lingering effects of the pandemic, a programme to help more people from more diverse backgrounds develop enterprises canʼt come at a better time.
“Weʼre pleased to be able to work alongside Pizza Hut Delivery and Hatch to help grow the social and circular economy, helping people strengthen their communities and protect the environment.”
