Case Study: The Great British Watch Company-Business Growth Support

The Great British Watch Company is a Cheshire-based business committed to creating quality, bespoke timepieces. 

 Founder Colin Andrews is passionate about promoting the UK’s position as the historical centre of watchmaking and raising awareness of how the country was the original expert in horology. 

 He engaged the Cheshire and Warrington Growth Hub to: 

• Access support through the Business Growth Programme to bring a specific project to life by collaborating with the University of Chester.  
• Through the Business Growth Programme Colin attended business start-up workshops and accessed one-to-one support with modelling. 
• Through this one-to-one support Colin used the expert facilities at the University’s Thornton Science Park, where he was able to have his technical drawings of a new watch turned into a 3D prototype model, paving the way for further innovation and development. 

Colin, who launched The Great British Watch Company in 2011, said: “As a ‘one man band’, it’s been fantastic to be able to collaborate with a variety of groups and individuals, bouncing ideas around and focus on what needs to be achieved.” 

 Andy Devaney, Business Innovation Director at Cheshire and Warrington LEP’s Growth Hub, said: “Colin is an excellent example of a local entrepreneur with real vision and hunger for innovation. 

 “His project to create a new bespoke watch has been massively helped by the services of the Growth Hub and we’re thrilled to be playing such a crucial role in taking his businesses forward, as well as equipping him with the skills he needs to move into the next phase of the product’s development.” 

Contact the Growth Hub to access business support here

Find out more about the Business Growth Programme here

Find out more about The Great British Watch Company here