What do a beloved coffee shop, and a wellness studio have in common? In Chippenham, the answer is Millie, a local business owner turning passion into place with the launch of The Space to Move, a new Pilates studio supported by Wiltshire Council’s Start Up programme.
Just months ago, Millie was commuting to London to teach Pilates classes, dreaming of building something closer to home. She had the skills and the drive, but not the roadmap.
“I loved what I did,” she says, “but it didn’t feel sustainable. I wanted to do more in my own community - I just didn’t know how to start.”
Millie wasn’t new to Chippenham’s local business scene. As co-owner of Coffee on the Corner, she already had roots in the town. But she was ready to grow, this time through movement and wellbeing.
That’s when she discovered The Refinery, an eight week business growth course from The Future Smiths, delivered as part of Wiltshire’s fully funded Start Up programme.
Over eight weeks, Millie worked with experienced business advisors to clarify her vision, build a business model, and begin shaping what’s now become The Space to Move.
“The Refinery gave me the confidence to tackle different aspects of my business and to help me see the bigger picture of how to take it forward,” Millie said. “I feel supported and encouraged, and The Future Smiths have simplified things I thought weren’t possible or that I wasn’t capable of doing.”
After completing the programme, Millie received 1:1 coaching to support her application for a grant, helping her fund specialist Pilates apparatus for the new space. This personalised, step by step support helped turn her long held idea into a bricks-and-mortar reality.
Millie’s story is one of many emerging through Wiltshire’s Start Up programme, which offers three free pathways for entrepreneurs at any stage:
Kindle Course Start Up Course – For when the idea won’t leave you alone.
The Refinery Business Growth Course– For early stage businesses ready to grow
Catalyst 1:1 Coaching– For when it’s time to go further, faster.
All support is fully funded by Wiltshire Council through UKSPF, including potential grants of up to £15,000 for essential start up costs.
“We’re here to meet people where they are - whether that’s at idea stage or already running something,” says Simone Ward-Baptiste, Business Advisor at The Future Smiths. “Millie’s story shows the power of the right support at the right time. She’s built something brilliant, and she’s doing it right here in her community.”
Applications for Start Up support are open now. More information is available at:https://www.thefuturesmiths.co.uk/wiltshire-startup-programme/
Want to chat more?
Email: startup@thefuturesmiths.co.uk
Instagram: @thefuturesmithsuk
Website: www.thefuturesmiths.co.uk