“Working with Rockfine and going over what I do with them has given me more belief in myself and my business.”
After completing Rockfine’s free Activate High Growth Programme for mentoring support, entrepreneurial professional chef Dirk De Cuyper felt ready to serve up success with his new cooking sauce business, Saucery.
We caught up with Dirk to find out more about his exciting new venture and how the Activate programme has helped him out.
Background
The Activate High Growth programme was a free mentoring programme designed to help business leaders with young companies in Worcestershire create economic growth and build new employment opportunities.
Backed by Enterprising Worcestershire, part of Worcestershire County Council, it was open to any company based in Worcestershire and trading for up to two years with potential for high growth. To qualify, 70% of revenues had to be from the business-to-business market.
The programme consisted of one-to-one business coaching from an experienced mentor; a three-year growth plan; workshops on financial management, growing your team, managing multiple revenue streams and pitching your business; and peer support, which connects participants with like-minded business owners.
Dirk, tell us about your business.
Saucery is a food startup. We’re launching a range of delicious new restaurant-quality finishing sauces to the foodservice sector and potentially the retail space too.
Our products will all be fresh, with a focus on taste and quality. For meat, fish or plant-based protein, there’s a carefully crafted recipe for everyone.
The range is made for real food lovers who don’t want to sacrifice taste but don’t always have the time or fresh sauce making know-how.
How did you engage with the Rockfine Activate High Growth programme?
I had one-on-one coaching sessions, which were helpful, and then peer-to-peer sessions, which were good for interacting with your cohort and hearing about others’ businesses.
What were you hoping to get out of it?
I was looking for coaching where I would be able to talk freely, ask questions in a safe space and get answers upfront. I wanted an outsider to look at my business ideas and products so I could see where I was at.
What did you gain from the programme?
Working with Rockfine and going over what I do with them has given me more belief in myself and my business. I am more armed with knowledge as a result of the course, the sense of structure I have gained from it and the fact that I’ve told them my goals.
The highlights were being able to discuss the questions or situations they laid in front of me and also getting to meet new people and make connections as a result of the coaching and engagement.
B.D. sent me his book and a personal note, which goes to show that you can be nice and make money, which I’ve always believed!
My advice to anyone considering working with Rockfine would be to try them out; they offer more than just coaching.
B.D. Dalton, Rockfine strategic director: “It was great to be able to help Dirk prepare for the launch of his sauce business through our Activate programme.
“Saucery is an exciting new venture with a lot of potential for growth, so Dirk was the perfect candidate for mentoring. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for him.
“We’d love to see more entrepreneurs like Dirk with strong business ideas and ambitions for growth sign up to the Activate programme. Worcestershire has a thriving new business scene with so much potential.”