How we've helped Nic Danning Jewellery

After Nic officially launched her ancient world-inspired range in 2021, the orders came in thick and fast and she knew she could make a living from her creative project.

“I thought, this is really exciting and this could grow but I need to manage that growth well and I’m going to need some help with this,” said Nic, based in Constantine, Cornwall. “I’d heard about the Growth Hub and got in touch.”

Nic wanted to find out how best to develop her jewellery business, improve her skillset and potentially create jobs for other people in the community in the process.

She approached Growth Hub with her ‘list of needs’ as she puts it and asked what she should do next.

“They were amazing at connecting me,” said Nic, explaining how she was put in touch with a network of business advisers, lecturers and other experts to help her steer her business in the right direction.

“They’ve just got their fingers on all of that stuff you need to know,” she said. “It’s just such a help.

“It’s really amazing to have an enthusiastic and highly informed body of people behind you to push you forward and connect you with the right things, the right people, the right course, the right information.”

After taking advice from Growth Hub, Nic feels ready to employ someone to help her business thrive. She also wants to return to education and enrol on a silversmithing course at Truro College next year.

In the meantime, Nic is enjoying working on her designs, inspired by her previous work in historical costuming. She uses influences from Egyptology and archaeology, as well as plumage colours and shapes from British birds to create unique pieces of jewellery from metals, such as silver and stainless steel.

A key part of her ethos is to make her business as plastic-free as possible. She also uses reclaimed silk thread or organic cotton with her beadwork.

“We’re looking to expand our ranges that we design and make - that’s the part that really gets my creative juices flowing,” said Nic, who has just got back in touch with Growth Hub to see how we can help on the next part of her business journey.

“I would absolutely recommend the Growth Hub to anyone,” she added. “I can’t imagine a scenario where they wouldn’t have something helpful, valuable and encouraging to offer.

“They have really put me on the right track and made me realise that the possibilities are endless.”

You can follow @nicdanning on Instagram

The Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Growth Hub from May 2016 -  June 2023 was part funded by the European Regional Development Fund and match funded by Cornwall Council, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership.  The project received £2,848,591.49 of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020.