The DCI programme has been fantastic. The personal support, mentoring, and different perspectives from the cohort have validated my belief that what I'm doing is correct and has a real impact.
Kelly Walton
Founder
Empowerment Learning Ltd is on a mission to or engage the young people of the North East with themselves, their education and their futures. The company provides bespoke education and behaviour coaching programs that empower students to improve their wellbeing and academic outcomes. Founded by Kelly Walton, with over 16 years of experience in education, Empowerment Learning was born out of a desire to tackle the high rates of suspensions and exclusions in the North East of England. "Suspension and exclusion have a detrimental effect on a young person's future," explains Kelly. "Our aim is to engage them in education, improve their wellbeing, and support them with their future."
Kelly offers personalised coaching sessions that engage young people and explores their behaviours, mindsets, and aspirations. Through one-on-one and group sessions, she helps students build self-awareness, emotional intelligence and explore their aspirations. The results speak for themselves. In their most recent cohort, Empowerment Learning increased student wellbeing by 23% and reduced suspensions by an impressive 43%. "We're benefiting both the young people and the schools by helping them meet their full potential together," says Kelly.
While the company's primary customers are schools, colleges, and alternative education providers, Empowerment Learning has ambitious plans to expand its reach. In the short term, she aims to provide coaching training and professional development programs directly to school staff as well as the young people themselves. “The goal is to empower more young people to take the next steps in their lives," explains Kelly. "By training school staff and young people as coaches, we can amplify our impact exponentially."
As a participant in the Durham City Incubator (DCI) programme, Kelly has received support and guidance to scale her innovative approach. "The DCI programme has been fantastic," comments Kelly: "The personal support, mentoring, and different perspectives from the cohort have validated my belief that what I'm doing is correct and has a real impact."
From digital marketing bootcamps to one-on-one mentoring, the DCI programme has equipped Kelly with the skills and confidence to take Empowerment Learning to new heights. Commenting on why other should consider the programme Kelly said: "Jump in and do it – it's been an unbelievable experience that has given me so many new skills and experiences.” With a proven track record, Empowerment Learning is well-positioned to empower more young people, schools, and communities to thrive.
DCI Manager, Leon Howe said: "Empowerment Learning Ltd is a prime example of the transformative impact that innovative educational programs can have on young people. Kelly’s dedication to improving student wellbeing and academic outcomes aligns perfectly with DCI's mission to support and scale impactful initiatives. We're proud to have supported Empowerment Learning in its journey to make a real difference in the North East and beyond."
To see how DCI can propel your innovative idea forward visit www.dcincubator.co.uk.
Some of the businesses we've helped
Finance Durham
The benefit of speaking to Maven about the Finance Durham fund is the flexibility of the fund on offer, which means we can invest from a small amount up to several millions via equity or debt.
Michael Vassallo
Maven Capital Partners
Power Roll
Maven helped us in terms of facilities by introductions into Business Durham, and also the funding opportunities here in County Durham, which really did help pull a package of measures together, which made the premises we're in today, Jade Business Park, that compelling proposition.
Neil Spann
CEO
TinkleGuard
For anyone looking to develop their business idea, DCI provides the resources and community to make that journey less daunting and more successful.
Angela Davidson
Founder
Empowerment Learning Ltd
The DCI programme has been fantastic. The personal support, mentoring, and different perspectives from the cohort have validated my belief that what I'm doing is correct and has a real impact.
Kelly Walton
Founder
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Reign Accounting Ltd
The support and friendships I've developed through DCI have been invaluable. Learning from other start-ups and having a community to lean on has made a significant difference in my entrepreneurial journey
Nicole Collins
Founder
AImploy
The DCI program has been instrumental in our journey. The networking opportunities and support from DCI contributors have been invaluable in shaping AImploy into the company it is today.
Arjun Cheruvally
Co-founder
Marmax Products
We have been delighted with the support that Business Durham and their partners have provided our company and with additional funding, we hope to further develop our working practices to safeguard our existing business and expand our capabilities to meet new customer demands and expectations.
Dave Johnson
Managing Director
Redditch Medical
NETPark is a fantastic place to do business in terms of facilities, potential for growth and for collaboration.
Steve Brown
Managing Director
Tekgem
The facilities and ancillary business services here are second to none and the campus feel of the science park suits the culture within the company.
Ian Gemski
Director
SEEDS
The ecosystem in NETPark is just right for us; SEEDS first came here because of its partnership work with the CPI and now our vision is to have a busy lab facility developing various applications and licensing them out to companies.
Peter Chalder-Wood
Head of Strategic Partnerships
Magnitude Biosciences
We expect to more than double the team in Sedgefield to 45 over the next two to three years, with a larger commercial team allowing us to expand our global footprint.
Dr Fozia Saleem
CEO
Teescraft Engineering
Teescraft Engineering has been a major employer in County Durham for a number of years and I’m delighted that, with grant support through the County Durham Growth Fund, the company is embarking on ambitious plans to significantly expand.
Hazel Sykes
Business Durham
ATT Fabrications
We knew we had the space to add new machines which would not only improve productivity and efficiency but also allow us to add new products and processes, the County Durham Growth Fund helped this happen.
Andrew Devlin
ATT Fabrications
AAA Caring Caretaker
The Caring Caretaker is a company that’s grown from one to a team of 41 and is now, with grant support from the County Durham Growth Fund, in the process of taking its business journey to the next stage, moving to much larger premises and creating a further 10 jobs, cementing its long-term future here in County Durham.
Sarah Slaven
Managing Director, Business Durham
Renovo Solutions
We’ve been incredibly lucky to have secured financial investment from Business Durham which really has been crucial to the growth of the business and fast-tracked our plans in such a short space of time.
Antony Gray
Founder
Ashgarth Engineering
The grant we’ve received from the County Durham Growth Fund has been invaluable to us as without it we probably would have only been able to purchase one machine.
Niall Ash
Director
TO Mounter
We were looking at investing in new machinery which would enable us to expand our client base, and our accountant mentioned the County Durham Growth Fund to us.
Lisa Mounter
General Manager
Creator
Investing in this additional space means we now own our future – we’re not in anyone else’s hands and that’s a fantastic position to be in.
Ryan Carter
Founder
E Catering
We took on more space than we needed to, allowing for our planned growth over the next five years, however with the grant support we’ve had from the County Durham Growth Fund, we are now looking at achieving our projections in the next three years.
Reece Ingham
Head of Finance
Tridonic
It has been a testing couple of years due to the pandemic and this support has been invaluable. Going forwards, we intend to invest further in technology and skills to strengthen our position in this competitive marketplace.
Ben Kennard
Manufacturing and Supply Chain Manager
Newton Press
We’ve got a great team now and looking ahead this year, for us it’s about building on what we have, and then expanding with new orders and further investment at the right times to propel this business forward in this new space.
Stuart Howarth
Sales Director
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