Dance studio finds its rhythm

About the business

Based in Helensburgh, LCI Dance Centre offers a range of high-quality dance classes, including ballet, tap, jazz, ballroom, musical theatre and hip-hop, all specifically tailored to each age group and child's progress.

By working with Business Gateway, we were able to identify opportunities for survival and growth by moving into new premises and expanding our offering of classes, letting us reach a wider customer range.

How Business Gateway has helped

Through Business Gateway, owner of LCI Dance Centre, Gemma Penfold, received a growth grant for mobile equipment to help her grow the business, from the Local Growth Accelerator Programme funded by Argyll and Bute Council and the European Regional Development Fund 2014-20 Structural Funds Programme.

Gemma was also awarded a training grant which enabled her team to attend professional training courses such as Acrobatic Arts. These have helped Gemma grow the business by expanding the number and type of classes on offer.

Through continued direction and support from Business Gateway, Gemma also accessed a suite of DigitalBoost support. This included a Build Your Own Website webinar, a virtual workshop dedicated to offering key tips on how to optimise your website for your business and 1:1 specialist support from a digital expert adviser to develop her social media strategy.

This package of support has led to an increase in class bookings and an enhanced social media presence of the dance school. Since working with Business Gateway, LCI Dance Centre has doubled its school numbers and gained over 600 followers on social media.

Although impacted by the successive lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic, the business is now well established in new premises, with further growth funding support helping to kit out the studio.

Gemma Penfold, Founder, LCI Dance Centre, said: “By working with Business Gateway, we were able to identify opportunities for survival and growth by moving into new premises and expanding our offering of classes, letting us reach a wider customer range.

“I’ve found fully maximising social media to promote my business very challenging at times, but Business Gateway has been hugely helpful. The expertise and guidance helped me gain the knowledge to effectively market the dance school across our social channels, increasing our brand awareness and engagement online.”