A unique equestrian carriage hire company has successfully enhanced its online presence and grown its following on social media platforms after receiving support from DigitalBoost, Scotland’s national digital upskilling programme, delivered by Business Gateway.
Launched in 1995 in Aberdeenshire, Maryculter Carriage Driving Centre is an established business with years of expertise when it comes to horse drawn carriage driving. The team also provides teaching facilities for all abilities, wedding hire facilities, and opportunities for people with learning and mobility difficulties to use specially designed carriages.
Following lockdown in 2020, co-founder Ewan MacInnes, with his wife Jane MacInnes, knew they would have to adapt their online service offering. Ewan identified that the main issue was that the business was lacking a clear marketing strategy and required support to maximise its use of social media platforms. He worked closely with Business Gateway to identify areas where he could improve his online presence.
Ewan and his business partner, Jane MacInnes, also received one-to-one support from their dedicated business adviser, as well as specialist advice on marketing. This direct support increased Ewan and Jane’s confidence in their online abilities as they both upskilled and got to grips with using social media for their business. The pair received support from a website specialist who carried out a Digital Health Check and provided advice and recommendations on how to improve traffic to their website.
The package of support has led to an increase in bookings and an enhanced social media presence for the carriage driving enterprise. Since working with Business Gateway, Maryculter Carriage Driving Centre has increased its following on Facebook by over 250%.
Co-founder Ewan MacInnes said: “The last few years have demonstrated how vital it is for businesses to diversify and adapt if they are to survive and remain relevant to their customers.
“By working with Business Gateway, we were able to identify opportunities for survival and growth by expanding our online presence to reach a much wider customer range. Fully maximising the use of social media has been challenging for us, and Business Gateway has been hugely helpful. The expertise and guidance have been much appreciated.”
Maryann Bove, business adviser, Business Gateway, said: “It is vital for businesses to have a strong online presence to attract consumers in this digital age. Maryculter Carriage Driving Centre is a prime example of how this can be done successfully, with its increased social media following putting the business in a strong position for growth.
“Through DigitalBoost, businesses can access a wealth of support to upskill and enhance their digital capabilities.”
To find out how Business Gateway’s DigitalBoost support can help your business, visit: www.bgateway.com/resources/digitalboost/.