Richmondshire District Council

Grant funds equipment for local furniture business

A brand new furniture business based in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales has been given a cash boost by the district council.

Tom Addison is now the proud owner of a versatile band saw which is helping him to expand the range of products he can supply through his Fine Furniture business. He received £1,000 from Richmondshire District Council’s Small Business Grant scheme for the equipment.

Tom set up Tom Addison Fine Furniture in August 2021 when he decided he wanted to be his own creative boss designing and making beautiful bespoke hand crafted furniture for commissions and for sale. Before turning self employed full time, he spent a couple of years working in the evening and at weekends to set up his Askrigg workshop and work on some portfolio pieces.

“With this help from the district council I was able to purchase a band saw machine which has really helped my business take a big step forward,” he said. “Being a small workshop I usually do most of the making processes by hand but having this versatile bandsaw gives me different opportunities. I can now create curved pieces a lot more easily as well as cutting much larger pieces of timber.”

The Small Business Grant Scheme offers up to £1,000 to small businesses under 36 months old to help start and grow. The fund can be used towards the purchase of equipment, marketing costs and adaptation to premises.

Further details on how to apply can be found on our funding for businesses page.

Tom Addison using the new band saw
Tom Addison making use of the new band saw