Nigel Chute from Chute Design - Summer Q&A 2021

Let's continue to celebrate the fantastic business owners we have in our region and beyond. Today we're talking to Nigel Chute of Chute Design offering product design consultancy and project management. Nigel is based in Cirencester.

JUNE is the first month of Summer – what will you be doing this summer in your business/organisation/role? 

Focusing on new products having three key attributes, based on experience of the pandemic in my sector:

a. Eco/sustainable

b. Low initial set-up/tooling cost

c. Quick rollout to market

What are your personal plans for summer activities if you feel happy to share? 

Lots more swimming now that the wonderful Cirencester open-air swimming pool has reopened! Find out more here https://cirenopenair.org.uk

Does June hold any particular significance for you or your business/organisation? 

My birthday!

June is National Smile Month. With that in mind, what things in your business/organisation/role make you smile? 

Joining the dots and making things happen for my clients.  

Are there any things in business generally which make you ‘less smiley’?

We need an end to lockdown etc. immediately! 

June is often associated in nature with growth and abundance – what are your plans for growth in your business/organisation/role this year? 

A big focus is an initiative for young people called The Cotswold Challenge.  This is a competition first set up in 2020 to benefit young people locally who have been adversely affected by lockdown.  Four of us local business people are running the scheme again this year hoping to unearth lots more creative talent in our region!

As we hit this mid point in 2021 and we’re still coming out of the pandemic – which one business has really supported or helped you over the last quarter? 

I’ve been building a highly positive relationship with local manufacturer Margaret Reid Displays of Stroud www.mrdsltd.co.uk . We are already helping one of last year’s Cotswold Challenge winners take their idea forwards so watch this space!

Have you got any summer services or special offers you’d like to mention? 

Yes! Not many people know I have ‘another life’ as a professional artist.  With the pandemic I hadn’t done a picture since 2019! However I’ve just finished my first commission (I specialise in house portraits) so, with the client’s permission, I am hoping to relaunch this offering very shortly. Here’s a taster for now though www.chuteart.co.uk

And finally:

My strapline is “Mind The Gap”! I take my clients by the hand and walk them through the minefield of developing and commercialising new products – with the benefit of 35 years’ experience. This includes getting my own products to market.    

“Mind The Gap” means managing and integrating the whole process including design, manufacturing, intellectual property and commercials.  Where these are not joined up you get a gap – down which I have seen too many good people and projects fall!

For more information visit www.chutedesign.co.uk