Upholstery Workshops Get a Boost with Four-Figure Grant
Emma Semper Hopkins, founder of Semper Hopkins Upholstery & Interiors, has landed a four-figure grant to launch group upholstery workshops for businesses across the North West and Staffordshire. The funding has paid for new benches, tools, consultancy, plus marketing and website upgrades.
From Chapel to Craft Hub
Based in a converted chapel on Cinderhill Lane, Manchester, Emma has transformed the space into a creative hotspot. “We’ve added a refreshments bar, tech gear, presentation facilities, and breakout areas for meetings,” Emma, 40, explains. Her dad Ian, who has worked alongside her since they bought the chapel in 2016, handled all the refurb work.
Crafting Away Work Stress
What started as custom furniture and upholstery expanded during the pandemic to individual workshops – now it’s evolved into group sessions for 4 to 12 people from local businesses. Emma highlights the mental health benefits: “Two-thirds of small business owners struggle with anxiety, depression, and burnout,” she says, citing FreshBooks research and recent HSE stats revealing over 910,000 UK workers suffer from work-related stress.
“Crafting boosts mood, self-confidence, and reduces stress. It’s like social prescribing and a brilliant alternative or addition to therapy,” Emma adds. “Dad and I are thrilled to support local business wellness with these creative workshops.”
Community Cheers the Launch
The Federation of Small Businesses Cheshire officially backed Emma’s launch, hosting a networking event with a crafty twist at the chapel.
Workshop attendee Helen Hill, founder of UnlikelyGenius, raved: “Emma’s workshop came at the perfect time. I was burnt out and overwhelmed running three businesses. I even brought my laptop intending to check emails, but the calm atmosphere kept me fully engaged. It was restorative. I left with fresh headspace and a realisation of how important taking time out of work is.”
Emma’s workshops prove that sometimes, the best business boost comes from picking up a needle and thread.
