This week, InvestSefton bid a sad farewell to brilliant Business Growth Adviser Colin B Hickey.

Despite his colleagues’ protests, Colin has decided to hang up his calculator and business planning toolkit and retire after 17 years with the team.

Just one of hundreds

As part of the celebrations to mark his contribution over the years, Colin visited Bootle firm Mersey Raw.  Led by MD Ben McIntyre, Mersey Raw is a producer of healthy food options for dogs and cats, is just one of the hundreds of Sefton businesses Colin has helped to grow.

Ben is an engineer who grew up in Bootle. He established Mersey Raw in 2022 after completing an apprenticeship in a food manufacturing company.

Ben saw the potential for producing raw dog food in a growing market and started production from home before moving to premises in Bootle to help meet demand.

Premises in Bootle

The company quickly outgrew those premises and after a brief spell in Gillmoss, moved back home to the former Lockwood’s premises in Bootle in 2024.  It sells dog food to re-sellers and via its own official Mersey Raw Dog Food website.

Colin Hickey has been supporting Ben since 2024 as the company has adapted the premises to meet their own production requirements. This includes a sales outlet open to the public in Bridle Way.

Colin’s support has included help from the Manufacturing Technology Centre who are assessing the company’s entire production process from start to finish to recommend improvements. Mersey Raw now has 11 Staff and two managers but ongoing growth means there are likely to 25 to 30 staff within the next two years.

Moving can be difficult

Ben McIntryre said: “When moving a production plant things can be difficult, but the support of Colin and InvestSefton has made that move much easier.

“I’m happy to be back operating in Sefton where it all began for us”

Testimony

Mike Mullin, Head of InvestSefton said: “We always look forward to visiting businesses supported by the team.

“This latest visit is a testimony to the great work Colin has provided, not only to Mersy Raw, but the hundreds of other Sefton companies he has assisted over the years.

“We wish him all the best in his retirement and will be keeping a watchful eye on Mersey Raw’s progress and continue our support”

Invest Sefton

InvestSefton is Sefton Council’s enterprise, business support and inward investment service.  It offers free information and advice and access to a wide range of services and is there to help any business, of any size, in any sector.

People wanting to find out more about how the InvestSefton can help support their business, can visit www.investsefton.com or contact the team on 0151 934 3452 or investsefton@sefton.gov.uk.

People can find out more about InvestSefton at www.investsefton.com.