A Staffordshire businesswoman has seen the business group she co-founded break through the £1 million turnover mark for the first time.

Under the leadership of architect and company director Natalie Hewitt the Hewitt&Carr Group’s turnover increased by 60% in 2023.

The Cheadle-based group incorporates three businesses: Hewitt&Carr Architects, construction consultancy Hewitt&Carr and Hewitt&Carr Developments which focusses on the running of their premises, DaisyBank, which is home to a number of other Moorlands companies.

Under Natalie’s leadership the architectural side of the business has increased by 53%, services by 93% and developments by 44%.

Staff numbers have grown from 12 in 2021 to 23 in 2024 with two new staff about to start and plans to recruit further this year.

Natalie’s business journey began in 2011 when she took redundancy and formed Hewitt&Carr Architects with her friend and business partner Mark Carr. At just 28 years old and after eight years of study, Natalie was thrust into the business world.

Since then HCA has grown exponentially. In 2014 HCA reached full capacity in its Cheadle-based studio. After just three years of trading the team had grown to six members of staff. Having searched locally for alternative office accommodation Natalie found there weren’t suitable options.

Spotting an opportunity she formed Hewitt&Carr Developments and within six months she and Mark had purchased and renovated a Grade II listed former building society on Cheadle High Street, transforming it into a suitable HQ for HCA.

After moving to the office premises and making the most of its newfound space, HCA increased its turnover by 44 per cent and expanded its team from six to 11 full-time members of staff.

In 2018 Natalie and the team renovated a Grade II listed former care home which had stood empty for the previous three years and transformed it into DaisyBank Business Centre.

Natalie wanted DaisyBank to provide a social lifeline and communal base for rural enterprises. It provides small incubator units on short-term, month-on-month leases for SMEs and start-up businesses as well as bigger units and longer leases for established companies who want to expand.

The premises is now home to 12 businesses and offers hot-desking facilities.

Natalie spotted a niche to expand further in 2019 when she launched Hewitt&Carr Services. It provided services HCA previously outsourced to other suppliers including Health and Safety consultancy and project management.

Natalie is passionate about the Staffordshire Moorlands, particularly Cheadle where she both lives and works.

She became one of the youngest ever Presidents of the Staffordshire Moorlands Chambers of Commerce in 2019, something she is incredibly proud of. Five years on she still sits on the board to actively champion the area.

Natalie also sits on the Board for the Community Foundation. Since her involvement 50 grants have been awarded to the Moorlands, benefitting 31 groups and helping around 16,860 beneficiaries.

Natalie Hewitt has entered the Entrepreneur of the Year category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.