A business that uses the power of horses to change lives and a bubbly public relations guru have won free advertising and mentoring packages from the Bucks Herald.
Horsewyse, in Westfield Road, Long Crendon, is a not-for-profit company where children and adults with special educational needs learn about looking after horses.
Karen Smith, who looks after business development at Horsewyse, says she has seen lives improved when people work with horses.
Her husband, Neil, a trained residential social worker, looks after the clients.
“One family with a youngster who has complex needs said they were able to do things as a family, rather than just getting through the day,” said Mrs Smith.
Late last year, Horsewyse entered the Local Business Accelerators competition.
It’s a national scheme designed to boost the growth of small firms using the power of advertising in papers like The Bucks Herald and mentoring from local experts.
Horsewyse and public relations consultant Annie Penn, of Waddesdon, won their packages after a Dragons Den-style panel meeting in December.
Single mum-of-two Annie set up her PR agency in the dining room of her village home after her marriage ended abruptly.
Annie said: “I returned to my roots and started to help local companies with their PR campaigns, showing them how to raise profiles and liaise with the media.
“I am very good value for money and always get results because I ‘tell it like it is’.
“I expect clients to change and enjoy each happy step into profitability.”