Bury bike business bags £13,000 innovation grant

MCRJourno

Bury-based cycling clothing manufacturer Lusso has received a £13,000 innovation grant to support the development of its waterproof jacket.

The company which headed by professional cyclist and former national Time Trial champion Jake Wright who became CEO in 2021.

Wright said: "We'd identified a gap in the market but were facing a couple of barriers. The newer sort of high-tech machinery we need to make waterproof clothing is very expensive, and as a small business we struggle to fund it.

"The textile lab has enabled us to test advanced exterior membrane fabrics for breathability and waterproofness [and] we’ve been able to manufacture a jacket that we think will be a market leader."

Based in Radcliffe, Bury, the sportswear outfit is expected to be on the market in March of this year after utilising advanced testing facilities for the product at Manchester Metropolitan University.

With further support from GM Business Growth Hub Lusso is predicting sales of 1,000 jackets in the first six months following launch creating a further two roles at the company.

Lusso received a capital expenditure grant of £8,500 to cover half the new equipment’s cost, as well as pay for training and ongoing maintenance.

An additional revenue grant of more than £4,500 funded product verification by textile specialists at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Professor Jenny Shirley, Academic Director of the University’s Centre for Enterprise said: "Greater Manchester is fortunate to have a vast array of resources and many other organisations. At Manchester Met we’re committed to helping them grow and innovate, and we’re with them every step of the way."