Project: Investment

IndiRock

Get in touch to
find out more:

Jemma Leathley
Senior Investment Manager


Sporting Assets supported IndiRock’s journey from an idea through to a widely acclaimed bouldering facility in Southend. To help finance the development Sporting Capital provided £150,000, which unlocked a grant from Sport England.

IndiRock is a startup social enterprise with an indoor bouldering facility on a high street location in Southend-on-Sea. They had identified a need for the facility in the area and the Council recognised the proposal’s potential to help rejuvenate the High Street.

Our support included:

  • Support in raising funds from Sport England
  • Testing the business and financial planning for the proposal, providing confidence to key stakeholders
  • A Sporting Capital loan of £120,000

The business model is based upon a ‘pay to use ‘bouldering facility with subsidised rates and discounted community sessions. The inclusive philosophy includes post code related discounts to encourage users from the most deprived areas of Southend.

The team took time to understand our vision and believed in our ability to deliver on it. They introduced us to Sport England adding significant capital and revenue grants. This sort of partnership working was outside of our realm of imagination and completely unlocked our start up journey.
Emily Vermont
Founder and CEO, Indi Rock

It has been open since early 2022, and in their first full year of trading saw nearly 10,000 visitors. They have also secured service contracts from Southend City Council to help establish a diverse revenue stream.

It can be viewed as a prime example of what an inner-city sport facility on a high street can deliver, both in terms of engaging a range of users and supporting the regeneration of high streets.

IndiRock

£150k

£150,000 investment from Sporting Capital (including a £30k grant)

Regeneration

Supporting high street regeneration from non traditional provision

10k visitors

Nearly 10,000 visits within the first 12 months of trading , expected to reach annual visits of 12,000 in the next 12 months.

Related Projects See all

Project: Strategic Development
Lewes Community Football Club

Sporting Assets worked with Lewes CFC to develop their community programme and then raise the finance for a 3G pitch on land secured by a Community Asset Transfer from East Sussex County Council.

Read more