A Midlands based event-styling business which began at home and now works with huge global clients has been given crucial financial support to bolster its ongoing growth.
Table Art, based in Leamington, has been creating state-of-the-art light-up centrepieces and event art for the last decade, helping to set the stylistic tone for guests at huge events such as the MOBO Awards and Sports Personality of the Year.
Gary and Clare Martin have built the business up together and are now reaping the benefits of their relationship with leading Warwickshire accountancy firm Burgis and Bullock, who helped Table Art secure research and development tax credits which will go towards enhancing technology and creating new designs.
The firm, which has offices in Leamington, Nuneaton, Stratford, Rugby, Stratford upon Avon and Leicester, has helped the business with research and development tax credits to the value of £70,000 over the last three years.
At present, their pioneering DMX remote control system, which independently controls custom table centres at the touch of a button, is the technological base of all Table Art designs but Gary and his team are always looking for ways to improve on what they have.
Gary said: “We believe that what we are doing is truly innovative and being able to successfully apply for research and development tax credits over the last few years has really helped us to continue thinking outside the box and creating new technology.
“We have grown from working out of our home to having our own place in Leamington and collaborating with some massive clients.
“The wide range of companies who come to us is proof that what we are doing is unique.
“We are always looking for ways to work smarter and to use technology to make what we do more efficient, eco-friendly and engaging.”
In its early days, Table Art was the subject of an episode of Channel 5’s The Business Inspector, with host and entrepreneur Hilary Devey taking an interest to the point where she became a 50 per cent share holder and CEO.
Now the company’s relationship with Hilary has come to an end but the business lessons from that time will stay with Gary and his team.
He added: “It was a great experience for us to work with Hilary and in that time we grew to work with clients from all over the world, so it was a crucial period for us.”
Table Art’s relationship with Anne Rose, Head of Tax Services at accountancy firm Burgis and Bullock, has opened up new opportunities for the business in recent years.
Anne said: “Research and development is key to helping businesses to develop and diversify to stay ahead of the competition, but many aren’t aware of what tax relief is available to support investment into new commercial avenues.
“As well as identifying whether a business is eligible to claim these tax credits, we are also able to advise on potential growth areas for owners as part of the research and development process.
“Hopefully Table Art’s innovative approach will inspire other businesses in the area to explore ways in which they can grow their business.”