Our Innovation Journey with Indirock
Published on in Skills
We were thrilled to be awarded the Gold NOVO Award for Best Use of Business Support / Funding / Grants Stream this Autumn and are in full planning mode for our opening this Winter.
The story of Indirock & Hugo’s Pantry is an interesting one, with several twists and turns…
Emily & Gordon came up with the idea of a Southend-based bouldering wall in 2019 after relocating and missing having a wall nearby. They met Rachel from Hugo’s Pantry and felt an immediate connection, as well as an appetite for her delicious bakes!
As a team with shared community values they set their hearts on opening their own wall on the high street, and were greeted with support from Krishna, the Director of Public Health for Southend, who introduced the team to the Victoria Shopping Centre managers.
Indirock’s build was within reach – and then came a global pandemic which wreaked havoc with building plans, materials and the leisure industry as a whole.
An incredibly successful Crowdfunder in late 2020 saw the business raise £25K in just 2 weeks, enabling the dreams to continue, but then came a change in landlords which meant a few more legal hoops to jump through.
But now, 2021 finally sees the build of Indirock commence. In total, over £600,000 has been raised and the community can’t wait for us to open, as demonstrated by how popular the half price climbing passes were that flew off the shelves during October’s Fiver Fest!
The ovens are on at Hugo’s Pantry HQ, and Indirock will be opening this winter – and what better way to celebrate than by winning a NOVO Gold!
Emily Vermont, co-founder of Indirock and Rachel Kruyer, founder of Hugo’s Pantry.
Check out Indirock HERE
In business, we can help – Visit – https://www.bestgrowthhub.org.uk/essex-southend-thurrock/
Speak to our team today!
info@bestgrowthhub.org.uk