Sudbury print and design firm Indigo Ross awarded £30,000 grant to help improve productivity following challenges of coronavirus crisis
A Sudbury print and design agency has been awarded a substantial sum of money to help it drive innovation and productivity.
Indigo Ross received a £30,000 grant from the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership as part of a scheme to support companies impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
The firm plans to use the funding to purchase a pair of digital printing presses, which will enable it to offer a wider range of materials, including bespoke packaging.
Phil Roper, managing director and founder of Indigo Ross, said: “This project is critical to us as the current pandemic brought home the need to become more innovative and productive.
“With this support, we can target new markets and become more efficient and better maintain business continuity.
“As we move into recovery, it will help us to grow existing markets and diversify into a wider range of materials, while also ensuring the employment of operator and finishing staff.”
Reflecting on the impact of the pandemic on the firm, Mr Roper said: “It has been very difficult, particularly at the start of lockdown; it is starting to pick up, but it’s a slow and painful process.”
At the height of the pandemic, the firm, which is located on Woodhall Business Park, had to furlough nine staff, a portion of which have since returned.
Praising his dedicated team, Mr Roper said: “The support from staff has been incredibly good.”
Having seen a rise in demand for visual aids to enforce social distancing rules, the firm has started producing a range of tailor-made designs, including floor graphics and signs.
Mr Roper, who established the business in 1995, described marking the firm’s 25th anniversary during lockdown as an unusual experience.
“It was very strange because it went full circle, from having a group of staff to just me working on my own,” he said.
Chris Starkie, chief executive of New Anglia LEP, commended the firm on its range of ideas to aid its recovery.
“In these challenging times, it’s essential that we move quickly to support businesses,” he said.
“This is an excellent example of a business looking to become more efficient, drive innovation and diversify at this crucial time.”