Arrow Case Studies
Arrow supports North East businesses through research-led collaboration, helping them innovate, grow and adapt. Below are just a few examples of what can be achieved.
Little Buildings Live: digital transformation and inclusive growth
Sector: Creative industries | Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Little Buildings Live is a grassroots music venue in Ouseburn. Through Arrow, Professor Natalia Yannopoulou and researcher Justin Souter helped the team explore new digital opportunities and inclusive access.
The project tested VR live-streaming of gigs. They used puppet personas to better understand how to engage neurodivergent audiences and those with physical impairments. The work combined academic insight with the CEO's creative vision. It strengthened the venue’s brand and international reach.
“I was beyond blown away by the outputs of the project.” — Allan Scorer, CEO
Blu Sky Tax: leadership development for scale-up growth
Sector: Professional services | Location: North Shields and London
Blu Sky Tax is an innovative accountancy firm. They used Arrow to refine and relaunch ‘Business Builder’—their in-house leadership programme.
Working with a Newcastle University academic, the team identified the programme’s unique selling points beyond finance. These included company culture, values, and growth strategy. External input helped them take a fresh look at the product’s potential.
“We now think differently about not just the product, but our business as a whole.” — Dave Gibson, CEO
Nuvo Wellbeing: community health through digital innovation
Sector: Health and wellbeing | Location: Tees Valley and North East
Nuvo Wellbeing wanted to explore taking their community fitness and wellbeing classes online. Through Arrow, they partnered with Newcastle University Business School. They carried out primary research and tested the idea with focus groups.
The insight helped shape their online membership portal, Wellbeing Bubble. The portal reinvests profits into local communities. The early research also helped them adapt quickly during COVID-19 lockdowns, maintaining services and jobs.
“Due to the work we had done with Arrow we were able to move quickly. It helped us break even and keep staff employed.” — Bethany Ainsley, Chair
Sarah McCalden and Aspire Wellbeing Co.
Sector: Finance, wellness and fitness services | Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Professor Darren Duxbury acted as academic supervisor on this project. It explored what really drives women’s financial behaviour, and what helps create lasting financial wellbeing.
Sarah said: "(The project) gives me a solid foundation to innovate further inside my business, developing new ways to help women understand their financial behaviour, make better and more informed decisions, and create lasting change.
"What really struck me today is how many different factors influence the way we manage — or don't manage — our finances, often without us realising. There’s so much more to explore, and I can already see how this will shape what’s next in my work.”
"It’s been brilliant… the depth and quality of the data are outstanding!” - Sarah McCalden, Founder - Aspire Wellbeing Co.
