News: Krafty Kidz get support in early years

Krafty Kidz has launched in Rotherham, with support from Launchpad, helping young people build confidence, creativity and friendships through hands-on activities.

After spotting a lack of opportunities for children to socialise away from screens, Karen Powell and Jessica Broadbent established the enterprise in Thurcroft in February 2026 offering a range of creative workshops, after-school clubs and family activities. The business encourages children to develop new skills, make friends and explore their creativity in a welcoming environment.

As parents of ten-year-old daughters, Karen and Jess became increasingly aware of how much time young people spend alone at home and rely on technology for entertainment.

Krafty Kidz offers a wide range of creative activities, including slime making, pottery painting, wooden crafts and other engaging projects.

The business runs dedicated sessions for home-educated children, after-school clubs and weekend workshops, helping young people develop friendships and confidence through creative play. It has also become a popular venue for children’s parties, offering a range of craft-based party activities.

Recognising that creativity isn’t just for children, Krafty Kidz also offers adults-only craft evenings.

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Karen and Jessica run Krafty Kidz alongside their full-time careers. Karen owns a beauty salon and balloon business, while Jessica supports children with Special Educational Needs (SEN). Together, they combined their professional experience and passion for supporting children to create a business centred on creativity, learning and social interaction.

Karen Powell, co-founder of Krafty Kidz, said: "We wanted to bring groups of children together to socialise and learn new skills. It is a great way for them to get out of the house, interact and make new friends."

As they prepared to launch Krafty Kidz, Karen searched online for support and discovered Rotherham Council’s fully funded Launchpad start-up programme. She joined Launchpad in January 2026 and began working with one of the dedicated business advisors.

Through Launchpad, they received business advice on costs, pricing and customer targeting. They also accessed financial assistance to support their marketing activity, helping them to distribute leaflets and advertise in local publications to raise awareness within the local community.

Karen added: “The support has been amazing. The advisors are so knowledgeable and really guided us along the right path.

“Their support has been immense. I would recommend anyone to get in touch. There are so many ways they can help with starting a new business."

Krafty Kidz Facebook page
Rotherham Launchpad website

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News: How Rotherham Council wants to spend £2.95m on local growth, backing business support, High Streets and more events

The cabinet at Rotherham Council is set to approve the use of £2.95m of local growth funding, continuing to fund business and employment support services, high profile events and dedicated financial support for High Street units and market traders.

The allocation for 2026/27 is from the Local Growth Fund (LGF), the government funding pot designed to replace the Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF - itself a successor to the European Structural Funds) and equip mayors in the North and Midlands to boost regional productivity.

Rotherham's allocation represents a reduction of around 10% compared to the previous year so the focus is on the priorities of supporting local business, people and skills, and communities and place. Funding is set to maintain delivery of priority projects, matching council priorities.

Most of the projects are continuations from the current programme.

For example, a further £666,655 is for the Shop Unit Business Grant Project that has been oversubscribed. It means that more businesses could recieve a 100% grant of up to £10,000. The allocation has been increased to reflect the high demand in 2025/26, with the target areas also expanded.

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£60,000 has been allocated for Rotherham Town Centre Markets, which is currently undergoing a revamp as part of a £40m regeneration scheme. The funding is to "support market traders, raise awareness of the markets and increase footfall, particularly during the construction of the new markets and central library. Specific initiatives are being developed, but could include micro grants for traders (new and existing) and themed events."

Funding is also earmarked for sub-regional projects such as Launchpad business support (£263,257) and business grants related to productivity (£483,588) and low carbon (£200,000).

People and skills projects that support young people who are not in employment, education or training; provide community-based core skills (maths, English and digital) courses and: support working people who want to reach their career potential, are set to share a further £450,000.

Building on the success of the Children’s Capital of Culture traineeships and skills programme, a £300,781 project extension will offer alumni roles in local organisations for previous trainees.

Addressing communities and place, £424,219 is being allocated for a further programme of events delivered throughout the year.

The report adds: "As well as established events such as the Rotherham Show, UPLIFT and Christmas lights switch on, the programme will include school holiday events across the borough, new activities piloted in the town centre, and a St George’s Day event in April."

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News: Rotherham physio turns ambition into reality

After years of helping patients restore strength and mobility in both the NHS and private practice, physiotherapist Shannon Wilkinson embarked on an exciting new chapter by opening her own clinic in Rotherham.

With guidance and support from RIDO’s Launchpad programme Wilkinson Physiotherapy in Todwick helps people achieve their rehabilitation goals through personalised care and expert treatment.

Whether recovering from an injury, managing ongoing pain, or aiming to improve performance, the clinic offers a wide range of physiotherapy services designed to help clients move better and feel their best.

When Shannon opened Wilkinson Physiotherapy in September, she wasn’t just starting a business, she was fulfilling a long-held ambition. She said: "“I always knew setting up my own practice was the end game. Working for others never gave me the fulfilment I wanted. Now I can structure things my way, spend more time with people, and really listen to their concerns.”

Services include physiotherapy for aches, pains and musculoskeletal conditions, sports injury management, and tailored one-to-one rehabilitation. Shannon also provides pain management plans and pre- and post-operative support for a safe return to full function.

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Having launched in September, Shannon’s client base is diverse, from teenagers to people in their 80s.

Available to all new, early stage and small businesses in the Rotherham area, completely free of charge, Launchpad offers one-to-one coaching and a comprehensive range of expert workshops to help give your business the best start and support to grow. It is delivered by RiDO, the regeneration arm of Rotherham Council.

Shannon has attended many of Launchpad’s expert workshops on artificial intelligence (AI) and marketing, gaining practical insights to help develop her social media marketing skills and grow her clinic. Her advice to others: "“Sign up straight away and immerse yourself in as many of their courses as you can. You don’t know everything about business, and even if you take one thing away from a session, it’s something new you have discovered. I’ve always learned something useful from each workshop."

Wilkinson Physiotherapy website
RiDO website

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News: Rotherham entrepreneurs raise the bar when it comes to pub snacks

Two Rotherham-based entrepreneurs are hoping to snaffle up a piece of the lucrative pub snacks market after successfully reinventing the humble pork scratching.

John Walker and David Mace launched their pub snacks business, Beerpig, back in November 2019. Despite losing their entire customer base due to the pandemic just four months into their business journey, today, Beerpig’s tasty pork scratchings, which are sold warm directly from the bar, can be found in over 250 pubs and clubs across the UK.

Insurance broker John hit on the idea of producing warm pork scratchings when he decided to conduct an experiment at home. To his surprise, John discovered that the process of heating the pork scratchings improved their flavour, and after sharing his discovery with friends, the Wickersley-based entrepreneur decided to explore building a business around selling warm pork scratchings to the pubs industry.

Central to Beerpig’s growth plans was the creation of a custom-built warming cabinet, enabling pubs to sell heated pork scratchings. At the same time, John embarked upon a quest to design and create the perfect pork crackling which would be suitable for warming, meet the necessary shelf life and comply with all food safety standards. Armed with a few samples of Beerpig Crackling and some business cards, John and David ventured out to several local pubs and secured their first orders.

With each heating unit requiring significant investment, John knew that the key to the success of the business would be securing repeat orders. He also recognised that by serving the pork scratchings in washable, porcelain dishes, it would also help to reduce single-use plastics or cardboard.

However, John and David also knew that to build and grow the business, they would need additional help and called upon Launchpad, a free business support programme aimed at helping new entrepreneurs and SMEs within South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw to realise their potential.

Working with experienced business adviser Darren McDool, John and David realised it was vital to protect the Beerpig name and successfully secured a trademark to protect their unique brand. Together they developed a short term and a long-term business plan setting out the company’s ambitious growth plans over the next six months and over the next three years – the shorter term six month targets they successfully achieved within just six weeks of trading. With Darren’s help, Beerpig relocated from John’s home office to Rotherham’s Fusion Business Centre at Templeborough within their first month.

During this time, John and David also took part in a number of the free workshops provided by Launchpad, giving them the confidence to build and develop their own website from scratch, further protect their brand, as well as learning how to market their products more effectively.

Poised to enjoy a significant period of expansion and growth, disaster struck just four months into Beerpig’s business journey, when the Covid-19 pandemic prevented the pubs industry from opening. Overnight, the company lost its entire customer base and with Beerpig HQ full of pork scratchings, John and David realised they needed to diversify their business model. They quickly redeveloped their plans and began to sell stock online via their website and Amazon, immediately receiving rave reviews from pork scratching fans from across the UK.

Recognising the challenges the hospitality industry faced during lockdown, John and David worked closely with their pub customers, replacing all snacks that had reached their expiry dates completely free of charge. Since the re-opening of the hospitality industry, Beerpig has enjoyed a significant period of growth, with the number of pubs stocking their products rising from just 30 in January 2020 to over 300 today. Beerpig sells one ton Beerpig Pork Crackling to pubs and clubs across the UK every week, and the company is hoping to expand its pub operations to over 1000 outlets by the end of 2023.

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John Walker, co-founder, Beerpig said: “Pork scratchings are the most popular pub snack in the UK, yet despite their popularity, the way they are sold today has hardly changed since they were first developed nearly 200 years ago. I felt selling warm pork crackling would be something that would be popular with drinkers, so after tailoring and perfecting our recipe, we quickly started receiving regular orders; however, when Covid-19 struck, we were forced to completely re-evaluate our business model. Imagine starting a new company selling to pubs and bars for them ALL to be forced to close their doors within a matter of weeks.

"We approached Launchpad for help fairly early on in our business journey and Darren and the team have been incredibly supportive. We knew that for our business to succeed it was important to get everything right from day one. The one-to-one advice we’ve received helped us to get our terms and conditions right, protect our brand, as well as refining our business plans. The workshops we’ve attended have helped us to build our customer base, increase online presence and understand what it takes to run a successful business. Launchpad has provided a constant source of support throughout our business journey, and the help we’ve received has enabled us to not only believe in our ideas but lay the foundations for significant future growth.”

Darren McDool, Launchpad adviser, added: “Beerpig is an exciting company with a bright future ahead of it. Like any true entrepreneur, John and David spotted new opportunities when faced with adversity, and despite being forced to radically transform their original plans, almost overnight, they were able to adapt their business model and tap into new ways of generating revenue for the business.

"Building a strong brand can be an important way of distinguishing your services from those of competitors. John and David knew they would be entering into an incredibly competitive sector and recognised the importance of distinguishing their products from others. Crucially, they also knew it was vital to protect their brand and spent time successfully trademarking their company name, logo, as well as developing custom built equipment to heat their products, as well as getting their terms and conditions right from the first day they started trading. Launchpad was designed to not only help new entrepreneurs to understand what it takes to build and grow a successful business, but also to help them to create solid foundations, paving the way for future growth.”

Beer Pig website
Launchpad website

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News: Rotherham physio helps tackle loneliness in the community

A mobile physiotherapy clinic which specialises in home visits and regular group sessions for the over 65s is on track for further expansion just months after its launch, thanks to demand from clients impacted by mobility and injury issues that have worsened as a result of the pandemic.

Based in Whiston, Rotherham, Village Physio was founded by husband-and-wife entrepreneurs Animesh Sundas (a chartered physiotherapist) and Samantha Logan (the business director).

Animesh has worked within the NHS for many years. The duo said the move was motivated in part by the Covid-19 caused backlog in the number of people waiting to access vital physio services, and a desire to help the local elderly community to build strength and balance and increase mobility.

By offering group sessions, which currently take place at a local village hall, and with plans to expand into care homes and other community settings, they say they are also hoping to help combat loneliness by providing participants with a fun way to stay connected.

Now, just three months after its launch, Village Physio is looking to expand its services.

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To facilitate the expansion Samantha and Animesh received funding from UKSE - a business that invests in steel areas across the UK – which was used to invest in a professional website, logo, and uniforms, as well as to increase its marketing activity.

The business also hopes to expand the area in which they offer appointments.

Animesh Sundas, of Village Physio, said: “Physiotherapy plays a vital role in the recovery of falls related injuries, muscle and joint problems, as well as the ongoing physical health of someone who suffers from a condition such as osteoporosis, or arthritis.

“Regular, timely treatment is therefore really important and so the impact of the backlogs in NHS treatment as a result of the pandemic has been very worrying for many.

“Aging and leading a sedentary lifestyle can affect people's strength, balance and mobility making it more difficult to conduct their everyday activities and make them more likely to fall. Older adults who take part in regular physical activity such as physiotherapy can make significant improvements.

"Village Physio was set up in order to tackle these problems and reintroduce exercise and wellbeing classes to the older members of our community who may have been less active and possibly lonelier due to social distancing and lockdown."

Steve Lyon, Regional Executive at UKSE said: “Village Physio offers something really unique within the local community of Whiston and its surrounding areas. Thanks to the hard work of both Animesh and Samantha the business has got off to a really great start, and their classes are already proving very popular in bringing together the local community and promoting a healthier, more active lifestyle.

Village Physio website
UKSE website

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News: Passion for print helps start-up business enjoy three-fold growth within just six months

A young mum with a passion for print is hoping that when it comes to running a small business, she’s quite literally got the t-shirt, when she decided to leave her family firm to pursue the dream of running her own business.

Rebecca Newrick’s entrepreneurial ambitions were stoked when she spotted an advert on an online marketplace for a specialist type of heating press, used to create T-Shirt designs. Her bid proved to be a winning one and she started selling her designs to friends and family.

Having successfully mastered the equipment, she began advertising her screen printing services online, and she soon found her services in demand from school leavers, stag and hen parties and events. Feeling confident she’d come up with a winning business formula, Rebecca turned to the Launchpad programme, a unique business support scheme, to help her transform her lucrative side-line into a full-time business.

Working with experienced business advisor Julia Millea, Rebecca drafted a thorough business plan and attended a wide range of resources including training workshops to help locate customers, secure appropriate premises and develop professional social network platforms, whilst also benefitting from one-to-one mentoring sessions.

Having been forced to put her business on hold during the Covid-19 pandemic, Rebecca used the time to re-evaluate her business plans and decided to expand into the workwear market, as well as providing clothing for schools. The decision proved to be the right one. Since re-launching her business, the company has expanded into larger premises three times, and the Rotherham-based entrepreneur has also successfully recruited three members of staff through the Kickstart scheme.

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Rebecca Newrick, owner of Stick on it Printing in Swinton, said: “My business started almost by chance. I was working in the family business, balancing my career with looking after my family. I wanted to create a better work-life balance for myself, and when I saw the machine being advertised, I decided to take a gamble and launch my own business.

“Having worked in the family company for a number of years, I knew that it would take more than an idea to make the business a success, but I liked the idea of being able to work at times that suited me, allowing me to spend more time with the family. To my surprise, orders soon started flooding in, and I relocated the company from my front room to new premises. Then the lockdown struck, and I was forced to close the business.

"I used the time to review my business plans and decided to join the Launchpad programme. Working with Julia helped to give my ideas clarity, and when the restrictions were lifted, I felt confident I’d developed a stronger business, which didn’t just rely upon events, but one that was likely to be in demand all year round. Since re-opening, I’ve outgrown three different business premises, and through the help I’ve received from Launchpad, I’ve been able to successfully create three new jobs in the company, giving a number of young people the chance to build careers for themselves.

"At the beginning of lockdown, I began to question whether being an entrepreneur was right for me, but the help and support I received from the Launchpad team gave me the confidence to believe in my ideas. Taking part in the workshops helped me to think about how I wanted to build and grow the business, and by putting those lessons into practice, the business has grown beyond my wildest dreams.”

Julia Millea, business advisor at Launchpad, said: “Starting any new business can be an incredibly exciting time; however, not long after launching her business, Rebecca’s plans were thrown into jeopardy when Covid-19 struck and the business went into lockdown. Like any successful entrepreneur, Rebecca realised that when the hospitality industry closed, her business would be seriously affected. Like any true entrepreneur, she transformed adversity into opportunity and has shown some incredible growth over the past six months.

"Achieving a better work-life balance is a common reason why people consider leaving the rat race and consider self-employment as a career choice; however, without the right plans in place, some often find themselves working longer and harder than they did in the job they left behind. Working with Launchpad not only helped Rebecca to refine her business ideas, but by putting the lessons she learned in the workshops and training sessions into practice, Rebecca has not only needed to expand her business premises three times to meet the rising stock demands, but she is also helping to create new jobs in the local economy, something that is a terrific achievement for any start-up business.”

Launchpad is a business support programme for new businesses. Financially supported by the European Regional Development Fund and delivered by local authorities within South Yorkshire and the Prince’s Trust, the programme provides free help and support to budding entrepreneurs who are thinking of starting their own business or looking for help to achieve business growth.

Stick on it Printing
Launchpad website

Images: Launchpad

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News: Hannah digs deep to launch eco-friendly floristry business

A Rotherham-based entrepreneur is hoping to bring a new meaning to the phrase “say it with flowers” after sowing the seeds of a new eco-friendly floristry business.

Hannah Jackson launched her fledgling business The Garden of Evie earlier this year. Unlike many florists, which typically rely upon importing flowers from overseas, all of Hannah’s displays are created using locally sourced flowers, some of which she even grows herself!

The launch of Hannah’s business earlier this year is the culmination of three years of hard work after deciding to leave her former role as a NHS administrator back in 2017. Drawing upon her lifelong love of flower arranging & gardening for inspiration, Hannah embarked upon a floristry course, balancing her studies with a part-time job before successfully securing a role working as a professional florist.

Despite enjoying the creative challenges of her new role, Hannah became increasingly concerned about the environmental effect of her work. Worried about the impact of the thousands of miles flowers travelled on a daily basis, as well as the high volumes of plastics, toxic chemicals and non-recyclable materials commonly used in the industry, Hannah began exploring more sustainable ways of working.

Keen to embed sustainability into her business, Hannah began developing her own cutting patch, she began delivering bouquets to friends and family to brighten up their homes during the Covid-19 pandemic and after successfully securing her first orders earlier this year Hannah turned to the Sheffield City Region Launchpad programme for help.

Working with experienced business adviser Julia Millea, Hannah began developing her future business plans, as well as taking part in a range of business courses helping her to develop the skills she needed to grow her sustainable floristry business, drawing upon the symbolism and meanings behind different flower varieties, to create stunning floral displays.

Since launching her business Hannah has developed a particular interest in farewell flowers, replacing traditional coffin sprays with living displays using a range of plants, bulbs and personal possessions, as well as advising and guiding the families of the bereaved with her knowledge of seasonal flowers and foliage, resulting in a highly personalised tribute giving those left behind a lasting memory of their loved one, helping them cope with the grieving process.

Despite being no stranger to entrepreneurship, Hannah previously balanced her NHS career alongside running an award-winning home interior business, she believes the support she has received from Launchpad has helped her business ideas to take root, enabling her to not only pursue a career in an industry which she loves, but also helping to play her part in protecting the environment.

As part of her commitment to working more sustainably, Hannah also donates some of her profits to support the Tree Sisters charity, which helps contribute to reforestation efforts in Africa, South America and Asia. To date Hannah’s contributions to the charity have enabled over 600 trees to be replanted.

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Hannah Jackson, Owner of The Garden of Evie, said: “I have always wanted to run a sustainable business that provided an outlet for my creative skills. Throughout much of my adult life I’ve enjoyed flower arranging and gardening. When I changed careers to train as a florist it felt like a dream come true. However, the dream quickly turned into a nightmare when I discovered the enormous environmental impact of the industry. I turned to nature for inspiration, however, I was concerned that trying to earn a living from a hobby I’ve enjoyed for much of my life may not be practical, and so I turned to Launchpad for advice.

“I know from past experience that being self-employed is something which required an enormous amount of drive and dedication and I wasn’t sure if I had what it took to succeed. Julia and the Launchpad team gave me the confidence to believe in myself and find my own voice. For example, I was really nervous about using social media in my business but after putting the training into practice and creating a few posts about my work on social media, I was amazed by the positive reactions I received. But perhaps the best part of working with Launchpad has been the ongoing support and knowing that whatever challenges I’m facing, help is just a phone call away.

Julia Millea, Business Advisor at Launchpad, added: “Hannah was keen to build a business that helped her to embrace creativity, whilst also making a positive contribution to the environment. However, she also knew that success wouldn’t happen overnight, and as she began planting the seeds for her garden, she carefully began laying the foundations for her business and reached out to Launchpad for help.

“Launchpad was created to help new business owners understand what it takes to build and grow a successful business. It’s great to see how Hannah has put the lessons she’s learned through the programme into practice. Today, Hannah is not only producing a range of beautiful seasonal flowers all year round, she is also using her skills and expertise to inspire others to try their hand at flower arranging. The key to any business is being able to generate different sources of income, and with her gardening expertise, her floristry skills and genuine passion, Hannah’s business is already starting to see the green shoots of growth.”

Launchpad is the Sheffield City Region Growth Hub’s key business support programme for new businesses. Financially supported by the European Regional Development Fund and delivered by local authorities within the Sheffield City Region and the Prince’s Trust, the programme provides free help and support to budding entrepreneurs in the Sheffield City Region who are thinking of starting their own business or looking for help to achieve business growth.

The Garden of Evie website
SCR Launchpad website

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News: Rotherham businesses urged to accelerate at start of 2021

Local entrepreneurs have the chance to accelerate their business idea with a new fast-track programme to help get them trading within a month.

The Launchpad programme provides free support to pre-start and new businesses in the Sheffield City Region. Run by Rotherham Council's regeneration arm, RiDO, in conjunction with other public and private sector organisations, the European Regional Development Fund programme is aimed to help transform ideas into sustainable, growing businesses.

In response to the economic downturn, during January 2021 RiDO's core programme of new business workshops is to be condensed into a month, providing the opportunity to learn fast and get ideas moving.

Cllr Denise Lelliott, Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy at Rotherham Council, said: "The pandemic has impacted so many people financially and some residents have unfortunately found themselves out of work. But an economic downturn can create a range of unexpected opportunities for entrepreneurs with an appetite for innovation.

"If you've been thinking about the future after lockdown, now could be the perfect time to become your own boss. If you’re a long-time employee who has suddenly found themselves redundant, or a school leaver trying to find their way in a challenging job market, if you have a new business idea the RiDO team can help it grow."

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The fast-track programme runs throughout January and comprises of five, two-hour long online workshops. The virtual sessions cover a wide range of business aspects including understanding customers, marketing, finance and getting started online.

Amanda Parris, Business Growth Manager ar RiDO, said: "As part of the Launchpad programme, we are here to help Rotherham businesses start, grow and succeed, completely free of charge.

"The fast track sessions have been designed to help validate ideas, develop strong business models and provide people with the tools and skills to launch new businesses.

"No matter the scale of your plans, if it’s your business, it’s a big deal to us and our advisors are on hand to provide one-to-one support at any time."

The fast-track sessions are free and open to any business from 0-36 months. Places must be booked in advance. For more information or to book, email info@rido.org.uk or call 01709 331133 to speak to an advisor.

RiDO website

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News: Aquatics expert scales start up

With a lifelong love of tropical fish, Rotherham-based Carl Goodman is setting his sights on scaling his ethical aquatics business after calling on help from the Sheffield City Region (SCR) Launchpad programme.

Carl's love of all things aquatic began in childhood. One of his earliest memories was leaving his old life behind and meeting his adoptive parents for the very first time, with just the clothes on his back and a goldfish in a bag for company.

Carl first began exploring the idea of earning a living from his long-held hobby in 2019, having spent several years working in unfulfilling customer service roles. When he discovered a pet store he had supported for many years was closing its doors, the 25 year old entrepreneur decided to take the plunge and reached out to Launchpad, a unique programme which provides tailored business support to new and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Working alongside an experienced business adviser, Carl successfully secured the licenses he needed to trade in live animals, and began putting his plans into action. Unsure whether his business idea would sink or swim, Carl decided to base his business at home and set about building a large, insulated summer house which could house a diverse range of fish.

Through his work with the Launchpad programme, Carl learned how to write a business plan, as well as gaining an insight into how to build a website and attract customers via social media. Since diving into self-employment last summer, Sustainable Aquatics has built a loyal customer base, which gave Carl the confidence to expand his business further.

Today, the little boy who found sanctuary in sea life has expanded his fledgling start-up, Sustainable Aquatics, to larger premises, creating three new jobs and a haven for aquarium enthusiasts. The new centre which is based in a converted former industrial unit at Eastwood Trading Estate has enabled Carl to increase his diverse range of freshwater and tropical fish tenfold, all of which are carefully sourced from traceable breeders from across the world.

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Carl Goodman, founder of Sustainable Aquatics, said: "One of the reasons why I wanted to run my own business was to play a small part in protecting wild tropical fish stocks. As a student I was shocked to learn how marine ecosystems are being decimated, due to the practice of harvesting wild fish, which often find themselves in unsuitable aquariums across the world. I called my business Sustainable Aquatics because all the fish I sell are sourced from captivity and can be traced to individual breeders across the world.

"Although I knew a lot about how to build and manage aquariums, I knew that running a business would be a sharp learning curve, particularly when it came to making sure the company complied with current rules and regulations. I knew it was something of a minefield and after contacting my local authority for advice, I was referred to the Launchpad team who not only helped me to understand my legal responsibilities but also helped me to develop the essential business skills needed to build and grow my business.

"Working with a business adviser proved to be an invaluable experience. One of the best parts about the experience was the questions I was asked. The advice I received wasn't prescriptive, but it helped me to draw my own conclusions and it has given me the confidence in my ideas to expand the business into new premises. It's been an invaluable experience and one which has helped me to grow the business beyond my wildest dreams.

"My aim has always been to build a business which helps to support those interested in building their own aquariums, but also to support the broader community.  Watching an aquarium can have a positive effect on mental health and as the business has grown, I've been keen to use my knowledge to help others, including donating an aquarium to Rotherham Hospice, which I maintain on their behalf.

Darren McDool, Business Advisor at Launchpad said: "Carl came to Launchpad with the idea for a business which was built around his knowledge and passion for aquatics. He didn't simply want to sell tropical fish, but to educate and support his customers, so it’s perhaps unsurprising that with such a meticulous approach towards delivering excellent customer service that he quickly built a loyal customer base, giving him the confidence to grow and expand his operations.

"The success Carl has enjoyed illustrates how the support provided by Launchpad can help new entrepreneurs to overcome the potential barriers many face. Despite lockdown forcing Carl to delay the planned relocation of his new business, he has successfully adapted his business model accordingly. One of the unique elements of the Launchpad programme is that we don't just help new entrepreneurs to create their business, but we provide ongoing support as their business grows and evolves. As Carl's business enters a new phase of growth, I’m looking forward to working with him as he continues to develop and grow his business."

As part of Sustainable Aquatics' commitment towards supporting the local community Carl has installed a new aquarium at Rotherham Hospice which he manages and maintains free of charge.

Sustainable Aquatic website
SCR Launchpad website

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News: Former nurse links up with Launchpad

A former nurse who put her life-saving skills to good use after her husband experienced a heart-attack,is now helping new parents and families to master essential life-saving skills after calling on help from Launchpad.

The Sheffield City Region Launchpad programme helps individuals who are thinking of starting their own business as well as providing ongoing support and guidance during their first three years of trading.

Claire Knight's life changed overnight when her husband Thomas suffered a heart attack. With a young family to care for while her husband recuperated, Claire began re-assessing her work-life balance and decided to leave the security of the NHS and make plans to launch her own business.

With a clear idea to help parents learn essential first aid skills,built around her teaching knowledge and nursing experience, Claire began researching the assistance available to help her transform her ideas into a reality. She contacted the Sheffield City Region Launchpad programme and, with some trepidation, attended her first workshop. After several months planning, developing and refining her ideas, the Whiston-based entrepreneur launched Rotherham-based Links Care in June 2019.

Claire realised she needed to build a customer base for her business. Selling her company’s services and charging individuals for the skills and expertise was something which did not come naturally. Working with an experienced Launchpad business adviser, Claire was able to access a range of workshops, training events and one-to-one support, helping to build her business confidence and identify new ways of securing customers for her fledgling business.

As the new entrepreneur began attending networking events, Claire spotted a unique niche in the marketplace. She realised that many new parents turned to A&E simply because they were unsure how to spot the signs of common childhood ailments. She realised by helping parents to master basic first-aid skills, it could not only help to reduce worry, but also avoid unnecessary trips to A&E.

Like many businesses this year, Links Care was affected by COVID19. Claire began re-assessing her business model and moved her training workshops online – something she felt initially would not be practical. She was particularly concerned about teaching skills like Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, however her fears proved to be unfounded. Since launching her live online training sessions, Claire has been able to teach a minimum of two sessions a week and expand the geographical reach of her business.

With COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdown measures beginning to ease, Claire is hoping to grow and develop her business further by providing parents with the flexibility to attend online workshops as well as returning to delivering face-to-face sessions.

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Claire Knight, managing director of Links Care, said: "I had enjoyed my career working with the NHS, but I always liked the idea of working for myself. When a colleague mentioned she was thinking of setting up her own business, I decided to join her at a Launchpad training event to find out more about self-employment.

"I was excited about the prospect, but I knew starting a business would be a huge time commitment. When my husband survived his heart attack, I began to re-evaluate my working life and spending time with my family and being able to work flexibly around the children was the most important thing to me.

"One of the greatest lessons I've learned since working with the Launchpad team has been the flexibility and opportunities which are open to you as an entrepreneur. When Covid-19 forced me to stop delivering my face-to-face sessions, I knew it would have a significant impact upon my business. I been considering moving some elements of my training online, but I felt my business was not quite ready, for example, I was unsure whether resuscitation could be taught remotely. All that changed overnight and since launching our online live training sessions, demand for my services have risen significantly.

"The support I've received from Julia and the Launchpad team has been invaluable to my business. The workshops have helped me to develop a stronger grasp of the reality of running a business and the advice and support has helped me to unlock the potential in my business and as a result I’m now hoping to recruit additional nurses to help me delivery of my training services and grow the business further."

Julia Millea, business adviser at Launchpad, added: "Claire saw an opportunity to build a business around the skills she had developing during her nursing career. Like many people, she was initially apprehensive about leaving the security of employment, but when her circumstances at home changed, she began to realise running her own business could help her to achieve a better work-life balance.

"Through her work with Launchpad, she has successfully laid solid foundations for her business, as well as being quick to spot and respond to changes in the marketplace.  COVID-19 was potentially a huge stumbling block for many businesses, including Links Care. However, Claire successfully changed adversity into opportunity and by moving her training sessions online, she was able to open up new markets to her business. As a result, her business hasn't just survived, but it's been an incredible success story."

Links Care website
Launchpad website

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News: Enterprising former bus driver's route to success

Developing a new business can be a little bit like waiting for a bus. Nothing happens for ages and then two arrive at once. When Conrad Kirk decided to leave his bus driving job last January, little did the Rawmarsh-based entrepreneur realise he would be at the helm of not one, but two successful businesses within just twelve months.

Keen to build a new career which allowed him to balance childcare commitments with his partner, the former area sales manager turned bus driver decided to draw on experiences from his former careers to pioneer a leaflet and distribution business.

Since taking the plunge into self-employment last January, from his initial 1,000 leaflet drops, Conrad and his team have delivered more than a million leaflets throughout Yorkshire during his first year of operations. Today, the company employs six permanent and fifteen casual members of staff after securing help for his business idea from the Launchpad programme, a unique initiative which supports aspiring entrepreneurs and new business owners which have been trading for less than three years.

Conrad hit on the idea of leaflet distribution as he realised the business could provide the flexibility in his working day to balance raising his young family. After trialling the idea and securing a number of small orders, the business moved from a bedroom office at home to a larger site in Barnsley.

As the business grew, Conrad has invested in technology enabling customers to check when their leaflets have been delivered as well as sharing live data from his distributors including the speed they are walking and the areas they have visited in real-time.

Securing additional space wasn't the only challenge faced by Evolution: larger leaflet deliveries meant larger quantities of packaging to dispose of. Sensing a fresh business opportunity, the new entrepreneur wasted no time in launching a second business aimed at recycling waste paper which is shredded and transformed into decomposable horse bedding.

Although Conrad's focus remains firmly on growing and developing his distribution company, Ecolution currently processes over 20 tonnes of waste paper each month after securing partnerships with several schools within the Dearne Valley.

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Conrad Kirk, founder of Evolution and Ecolution said: "Working as a bus driver gave me lots of time to reflect on my future. I had enjoyed a successful career working as an area sales manager previously, but felt guilty that I was unable to play a greater role in supporting my partner and our young family. We have four children under the age of four, including twins and I just felt there was a better way to earn a living. When I saw the advert for Launchpad, I realised it was a now or never moment and my ideas began to fall into place.

"At that time I had no real idea as to what my business would look like, but I wanted to realise a better work-life balance, and reduce our enormous outlay on childcare costs. I felt self-employment offered a golden opportunity to shape my future and since starting my own business I haven't looked back.

"The biggest challenge I faced was securing new customers. I realised that whilst a small run of leaflet distribution would help me to test the idea, if the company was to grow to a point where I could earn a living from the business, it needed to be scalable. I took part in a number of workshops hosted by Launchpad which helped me to understand what's involved with running a business, particularly when it came to understanding what’s involved when securing premises and especially when employing other people, which can be a legal minefield."

Recommended reading: 4 Taxes Small Businesses Should Be Aware Of

Julie Millea, Launchpad Business Advisor, added: "Conrad is a natural entrepreneur who is always brimming with lots of different business ideas, but ultimately he wanted to achieve a better work-life balance, but to do this he knew he needed to secure larger orders but wasn't sure how to access these.

"Through our one-to-one sessions, as well as taking part in a series of workshops, Conrad has successfully developed a robust business model which isn’t just helping to achieve a better lifestyle for himself and his partner, but after realising he was not alone in facing problems balancing childcare responsibilities with earning a living, he's also helped others to return to the workforce."

SCR Launchpad website

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News: Success for Rotherham entrepreneurs at Launchpad Awards

A Rotherham-based videographer who began his business by capturing rock legends Def Leppard perform live in the Albert Hall has been named as one of the Sheffield city region's (SCR's) most promising new businesses at a special event which celebrated and showcased the achievements of start-up businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs throughout the SCR.

LensGo Visual Media was crowned the 2019 Launchpad Champion after being chosen by fellow entrepreneurs during a live vote on the evening of the awards. It proved to be a night to remember for company founder Stuart Turner, who saw the company he founded lift the title of "Growth Business of Year" as well as being named as a finalist in two other categories.

Financially supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and delivered by local authorities and the Prince's Trust, Launchpad is a business support programme which provides free advice to those exploring self-employment for the first time

In a remarkable first year of trading, LensGo Visual Media has secured more than 50 new clients including Gulliver's Theme Parks, Sheffield Wednesday FC and Rotherham United as well as a range of businesses and not-for-profit organisations.

Despite enjoying a highly successful first year, Stuart has been keen not to sit on his laurels and the ambitious entrepreneur is already setting his sights on growing his business further by expanding his core videography service to introduce complimenting social media and marketing support services, enabling his clients to harness digital marketing channels effectively.

The Launchpad Awards proved to be a memorable night for Rotherham's growing start-up community, with fellow start-up online furniture retailer and interior design specialist No18 Interiors winning the Start Up Business of the Year title, whilst Rockingham Media, Utility Source, Yugen Explore, Evolution and Vamaya were all named as finalists on an evening which celebrated the do-ers and achievers from across the city region.

Now in its second year, The Launchpad Awards saw nearly 100 new and aspiring entrepreneurs take part in the competition, with the finalists in each category being recognised on the evening.

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Stuart Turner, founder of LensGo Visual Media said: "It feels like we've achieved a huge amount in such a short space of time and for LensGo to be chosen as the Launchpad Champion is an amazing feeling. The growth in video has resulted in a new wave of digital marketing channels that are easily accessible and we’re on track to double our customer base in our current financial year.

"Our first year was very much about developing a business model that works, we've proved this and now we're firmly setting our sights on further growth. We've built up some great client relationships and many of them recommend our services to others.

"Launchpad has helped my business in so many different ways. There's a world of difference between working for someone else and running your own business. I didn't really know what to expect, but the support I have received in laying the foundations to the business has been invaluable and I feel incredibly honoured that LensGo was chosen by other entrepreneurs as being this year's Launchpad Champion and I'm looking forward to seeing what the next twelve months will bring!"

Anna Smith, programme manager of Launchpad, added: "Securing the title of Growth business of the year, as well as being named as a finalist in the Start Up of the Year and Inspiring Achiever categories was no mean feat and the success achieved by Stuart during his first year in business made him a very worthy winner.

"I'd like to wish Stuart and his team every success in the future. The Sheffield city region is filled with some truly amazing entrepreneurs and the Launchpad programme was developed to help equip them with the vital skills and knowhow to build successful companies."

Since the Launchpad programme began in 2016, it has helped more than 5,400 aspiring entrepreneurs to take the first steps towards self-employment by providing access to a range of business support including workshops and one-to-one business support.

LensGo website
Launchpad website

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News: Enterprising Rotherham-based videographer on a roll

A Rotherham-based videographer is setting his sights on a record-breaking first year after his business was given an unexpected boost by one of the best-known names in the rock industry.

Stuart Turner launched LensGo in the spring after deciding to turn down the chance to build a lucrative career working for a large media agency in favour of using his skills to support South Yorkshire's business community, with the long-term aim of creating new skilled jobs within Rotherham's growing creative industries sector.

Just a week after opening the doors of his new business, Stuart's services were snapped up by Def Leppard who commissioned his business to capture a special concert at the Royal Albert Hall, organised to raise funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Working closely with business advisor Julia Millea from the Sheffield City Region (SCR) Launchpad programme, Stuart began formulating his business ideas and putting his plans into practice. At the same time, Stuart attended workshops exploring how to market his business, as well as learning how he could harness new business opportunities through social media.

With the help and support Stuart received from the Launchpad programme he has successfully secured work with a growing number of businesses throughout the UK, as well as supporting a number of organisations in the SCR including, Sheffield City Council, Rotherham United Community Trust, Gulliver's, Rotherham Hospice, the Doncaster Knights and has even worked with actor Brian Blessed.

Stuart was also on hand to capture Def Leppard's latest homecoming gig at the FlyDSA Arena in Sheffield this past week.

Having spent more than a decade working as a professional videographer, Stuart is no stranger to capturing life through a lens, and after building a workforce of camera operators, editors and designers and securing new contracts throughout the UK, LensGo was named as one of South Yorkshire's most promising new business start-ups at the Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber Business Awards.

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Stuart Turner, Founder of LensGo (pictured), said: "Video is fast becoming one of the best tools to help businesses engage with their customers and audiences and I felt there was a clear gap in the market for our services. I was keen to base my business in Rotherham to help create new skilled jobs within the creative industries sector and since launching the business we've successfully built a local, regional and national client base, resulting in new jobs being created within the local economy.

"Having spent most of my career working as a professional videographer, I knew my industry well and working with the Launchpad programme helped to give my business direction – I was conscious that when it comes to video there's quite a large market for the services but I didn't want to be all things to all people.

"The workshops provided an invaluable opportunity to learn the latest business tools and techniques whilst the one-to-one sessions enabled me to focus on developing my business model and strategy. Since completing the training, I've put the lessons into practice, helping me to attract new clients as well as developing the company's social media profile."

Julia Millea, business advisor at SCR Launchpad, added: "Stuart has come a very long way in a short space of time. Working as a freelancer for a number of years, Stuart benefitted from an insight into what is needed to run a business, but there can be very different challenges associated with running your own company.

"A key element of the Launchpad programme is encouraging entrepreneurs to understand the importance of business planning, enabling the business to grow and develop. Stuart has gained a lot from the workshops and one-to-one planning sessions and although he is perhaps more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it, gaining recognition as a finalist at the Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber Business Awards is a well-deserved reward for his efforts over the past few months."

LensGo website
SCR Launchpad website

Images: Launchpad

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News: Finance broker aims to support SCR's SMEs

A South Yorkshire based finance specialist with 13 years' corporate banking experience has launched his own commercial finance business to deliver a range of business finance services to SMEs across the Sheffield city region.

Jamie Baggaley, based at Waverley in Rotherham, has set up J&J Commercial Finance, with support from the council backed Launchpad project, to help local businesses find the right lending solutions to match their growth objectives.

By advising on financial products such as commercial mortgages, development finance, bridging finance, business loans, and asset and invoice finance, J&J Commercial Finance work with SMEs ranging from start-ups through to established businesses to find them the right lending solutions tailored to their individual requirements.

Jamie Baggaley founder of J&J Commercial Finance, said: "Having worked in banking all my life I've seen how the banks have changed, from the 2008 "credit crunch", through to the ever changing branch network. Through my experience of working with major banks, such as Halifax and Lloyds. I've seen how both sides of the bank works from managing a brand to working in central functions, supporting specialist divisions.

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"This has enabled me to set out our value proposition to managing directors and finance teams who are responsible for performance and insight, as I have seen first hand the challenges they face, and how important it is for them to be able to access the services of a knowledgeable and straight talking commercial finance broker.

"Focusing on the personal interaction with customers holds the key when helping deliver long-term success for our customers, as all parties will have a complete understanding of both the short and long-term objectives they are working to."

The independent commercial finance broker has access to over 250 lenders and offers advice on accessing all types of business funding and also provides support on how to secure funds via the Government Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme (EFGS).

With long-term growth plans of their own, J&J Commercial Finance aim to grow with their client base. Jamie added: "Looking into the future I hope to expand the business and employ more people, meaning that we can continue to support SME business across the Sheffield City Region and continue to provide them with our personal and professional service."

J&J Commercial Finance website

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News: Dearne Valley Business Centre open day

New start and growing enterprises are being invited to the Dearne Valley Business Centre next week where a number of local organisations will be on hand to highlight the business support available in the area.

The former Wesleyan Reform Church on Coronation Road in Wath was sold by trustees and has opened as Dearne Valley Business Centre under the brand of "My Head Office" earlier this year.

Ten office "pods" ranging in size have been created in the 7,000 sq ft building, which has undergone a redesign and restoration to offer unique space complete with high ceilings, parquet floors and large windows. Suitable for one, two or three people, the units are aimed at growing small businesses from the local area that are taking the next step, moving out of the home office or up the premises ladder.

The open day on November 7 will showcase the centre and will bring together organisations that have supported the development including Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, The Federation of Small Businesses, RiDO, the SCR Launchpad, Novus Marketing Solutions and Unimax Solutions.

Two sessions will operate during the day from 11.00am – 1.00pm and 4.00 – 6.00pm and four "zones" will operate to offer help and guidance to visitors. The zones will focus on: growing your customer base; start up support; finance and insurance; internet and CRM.

Places for the open day can be reserved here for the morning and here for the afternoon.

Julia and Stephen Hollings, the pair that has created the Dearne Valley Business Centre were recently delighted and proud to be presented with an award in the category of "Product" by Legacy Education Alliance, the world's most successful property training company.

The award was presented at a glamourous event held at The Savoy Hotel in London with 300 other guests. Hosted by Roger Black and Steve Backley, the evening was attended by Robbie Fowler and Martin Roberts from TV's Homes Under the Hammer.

The judges were very impressed with the concept of the business centre that offers coaching and support to its tenant's successful transition from their home office to "Head Office."

The Dearne Valley Business Centre is the first business centre under the brand and has been well received by all who have been round it. Julia and Stephen commented that the award was in recognition of all the demanding work put into the building converting a church to a business centre. They praised all the local craftsmen and suppliers who made everything possible.

My Head Office website

Images: My Head Office

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News: Rotherham fashion designer opens Boneyard & Co

A serial fashion entrepreneur whose clothing and accessories can be found in leading high street retailers and boutiques across the globe has opened her own boutique in her hometown of Rotherham.

For over ten years, Claire Middleton has been providing alternative style clothing to the fashion savvy, with her unique alternative fashion designs being found on the rails of the UK's leading clothing retailers including Topshop, New Look and ASOS.

Claire, from Brinsworth, launched her first clothing brand Alice Takes A Trip in 2006 with her fellow fashion design graduate sister, Lauren.

Following the birth of her second child, Claire embarked upon a second venture, pioneering Skeletots, an alternative baby wear range. As demand for the range began to grow, business savvy Claire decided to seize the opportunity and bring her designs back to her home town where her career in fashion began, launching a boutique to showcase her own clothing range as well as using her knowledge of the industry to support other local designers.

Claire contacted Rotherham Council to enquire about business rates in the town and the support available to new businesses and she was introduced to Launchpad; a free-to-access programme which is backed by European funding and helps entrepreneurs to transform business ideas into a commercial reality. Over the past three months, Claire has been working with a business advisor to formulate a business plan, pitch for funding and market her business further both online and in store.

Working with Launchpad, Claire opened her boutique Boneyard & Co just three months ago in Parkgate, and inspired by Rotherham's creative sector, decided to transform areas of the store into an art gallery and workshop, combining the world of retail whilst delivering workshops on technical fashion design skills such as pattern cutting and sewing.

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Claire Middleton, owner of Boneyard & Co, said: "I've always had an interest in alternative fashion and spent my spare time drawing up designs in my bedroom. After completing my degree I landed a job in an alterations shop and continued to design in my spare time but when I turned 30 I decided it was now or never.

"The success my sister and I had with Alice Takes A Trip was beyond our wildest imaginations and seeing our designs in the Oxford Circus Topshop store was a truly amazing experience. I decided to draw on the success we achieved with our designs to open my own store in Rotherham where I could sell our clothing whilst also providing a platform and hub to support other local designers.

"Running a retail business is very different to producing new clothing designs and I realised that to succeed I needed help. The council referred me to Launchpad and they have supported me from the very early stages of my business: from developing the plans to launching and opening my store. Like many new business owners, it's been a roller-coaster ride but the help and support I've received has been invaluable and it's reassuring to know that I can continue to call upon the service for advice and assistance as the boutique begins to grow and evolve."

Julia Millea, business advisor from SCR Launchpad, added: "Launchpad was developed to provide advice and support for entrepreneurs and start-up business owners when they need it the most and the free-to-access programme is available throughout the Sheffield City Region.

"When I started working with Claire she had already achieved significant success with her first clothing brand and knew exactly the kind of unique service and experience she wanted to offer to her customers. The challenge she faced was transforming the original concept into a reality, developing the Boneyard & Co brand as well as understanding how to attract new customers in a retail environment."

Boneyard & Co Facebook page
SCR Launchpad website

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News: Rotherham racer gets to grips with starting a business

Self-confessed petrol head, Gary Wilson, is experiencing the twists and turns of business having kick-started one of Rotherham's first dedicated bike training schools.

A lift into Rotherham on the back of his neighbour's motorbike as a youngster fuelled his love of two wheels, inspiring him to pass his bike test and go one step further to encourage others to share his love of bikes, becoming a qualified motorbike instructor by the time he was aged just 24.

Struggling to fund his increasingly expensive hobby, which now included racing in the Thundersport GB series, Gary worked in various jobs centred on the one area he felt confidence in; driving, with stints as a HGV and taxi driver whilst pursuing his passion behind the handlebars working as bike instructor in Sheffield.

Earlier this year, just weeks before he celebrated his 40th birthday, Gary decided to use his knowledge and expertise to turn his dream of building his own riding school into a reality – launching the first of its kind in Rotherham.

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With an extensive knowledge of motorbikes but no prior experience of owning his own business, Gary contacted Launchpad; a business support programme which provides free advice to those exploring self-employment for the first time. Working with an experienced business advisor, Gary learnt essential business skills such as bookkeeping, marketing and social media whilst also being advised on securing the funding needed to finally launch the business he had always dreamed of.

Since launching "Wilson's Rother Ride", Gary has chosen to reject the standard group training sessions commonly used when teaching first time bikers in favour of a more personalised service, which he believes helps riders to build confidence much more quickly as well as helping to encourage more women to take-up the hobby.

Wilson also works as a trackday instructor for No Limits trackdays and is now hoping to expand his business across South Yorkshire.

Gary Wilson, founder of Wilson's Rother Ride, said: "I have been a qualified instructor for over 15 years and I felt I was at a crossroads in my career and wanted to use my skills to teach people not only how to ride safely, but confidently. Many motorbike schools use group teaching which I felt didn’t necessarily act in the interests of a learner.

"I'd always liked the idea of working for myself, but I wasn’t really sure where to start, so I decided to contact Launchpad, who gave me confidence in my business idea and also offered specialist support, helping me to understand what it’s like running a business and becoming self-employed for the first time. Since I launched the business I've never looked back, and I think the way in which my lessons are delivered has encouraged more people, my own wife included, to learn how to ride a motorbike."

Julia Millea, business advisor at Launchpad, added: "The best business ideas are born from a passion or interest and Gary spotted a new way of delivering lessons, built around sharing his love of motorbikes, but when it came to running a business, it was clear that he needed the L plates!

"The Launchpad programme was developed to offer practical support, advice and guidance to individuals like Gary who have never run a business before. The programme is available to anyone in Rotherham who is thinking of starting their own company and provides access to a comprehensive range of workshops throughout the Sheffield City Region, as well as one-to-one support and advice."

Wilson's Rother Ride website
SCR Launchpad website

Images: SCR Launchpad

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News: Find the Google bus in Rotherham town centre

Free digital training for start-ups will be on offer at a unique location tomorrow as the Google Digital Garage bus tour visits Rotherham town centre.

As part of its Google's Digital Garage initiative, the bus is stopping at over 30 locations to offer free workshops and face-to-face coaching on anything from websites to online marketing and beyond.

The mobile exhibition centre will be based in Effingham Square on Friday from 10am to 5pm, providing an opportunity for new and recently launched businesses to meet with Google staff and find out about the Google Garage based in Sheffield, plus other valuable support services.

Google's Digital Garage is temporarily based in the former Early Learning Centre building in Pinstone Street in Sheffield city centre. The tech giant's first high street store is the venue for a range of digital skills courses. Attendees can learn the vital skills needed to succeed in the digital age, from how to develop their web presence, grow their business or charities online, improve their career prospects or just build their confidence by using online tools for the first time.

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Alina Dimofte, digital skills policy lead at Google, said: "Following our ongoing success in getting people engaged and learning via our high street Digital Garages in Sheffield and Birmingham, we wanted to make our training even more accessible, so have started the bus tour to take training right to people's doorsteps."

In last year's Tech City report, Sheffield and Rotherham were identified as one of 27 digital tech clusters in the UK, and used as a case study evidencing growth in the UKs digital tech economy. In the report, there were 14,313 digital tech jobs in Rotherham and Sheffield pumping £273m Gross Value Added (GVA) into the local economy.

On Saturday, RiDO, the regeneration arm of Rotherham Council, will be offering free start-up advice at Parkgate Shopping from 10am to 4pm through its business support project - "Mighty."

RiDO is a partner in the Launchpad business support programme that forms part of the Sheffield City Region Growth Hub. Funded by the European Regional Development Fund, it provides free help and support to budding entrepreneurs who are thinking of starting their own business, or have started trading within the last two years.

Google Garage Sheffield website
Mighty website

Images: Sheffield City Council / twitter

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News: International footballer to talk on tackling business

An international footballer turned entrepreneur will be in the region next month to kick off a free event highlighting the importance of mentoring in business.

In his fourteen year career, Danny Mills won the League Cup with Middlesbrough, earned 19 caps for his country and played for four Premier League clubs including Leeds United and Manchester City.

Outside of football, the former right back has built and maintained a commercial and residential property portfolio and following his retirement from the game, Danny has continued to develop his business interests, successfully turning around the West Cornwall Pasty Co and sold Deeside print from Excelsior Technologies for £33m earlier this year.

Mills will speak at a special event hosted by Launchpad Mentoring; a Sheffield city region wide programme which matches new entrepreneurs with experienced business owners. The event is designed to encourage business owners to pledge their support and sign up to become a Launchpad mentor, to pass their skills and knowledge to new entrepreneurs to help them achieve their full potential.

Now an investor and member of the advisory board at Enact, a turnaround business fund which is part of Endless LLP in Leeds, Danny will share the story of his dramatic change of direction from football to business as well as providing tips and tools to promote business growth and explaining how the role of mentors has helped to shape his own business journey.

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The Launchpad programme is a £4m, three year, part-ERDF funded programme and the event on October 25 forms part of Launchpad Mentoring Month and is just one of a series of workshops and activities.

Irshad Akbar, business mentoring manager at Launchpad, said: "Many individuals who start a business need support from someone who has been there and done it and working with a mentor can offer insight and experience along the way. The Launchpad Mentoring programme was established to connect new entrepreneurs with existing business owners who are keen to see others in the Sheffield City Region succeed.

"We are looking forward to welcoming Danny Mills as our guest of honour. Although he is perhaps best known for his exploits and success on the pitch, since retiring from the beautiful game Danny has established himself as a highly successful business owner and during the event he will be sharing anecdotes from his playing days, as well as offering tips on how to succeed in business.

"This special event, which forms part of a month dedicated to mentoring, highlights and celebrates the work undertaken as a result of mentoring whilst encouraging new entrepreneurs and business owners to take advantage of the free support available through the Launchpad programme."

Danny Mills, investor at Enact (pictured), added: "I have always had an interest in business and alongside my football career I created a successful commercial and residential property portfolio. After retiring from professional football I wanted to put my business skills and knowledge to further use and joined forces with the partners at private equity turnaround specialist Endless LLP to form Enact, creating an investment fund aimed at helping distressed SME businesses get back to success.

"I am honoured to be speaking at the Launchpad Mentoring event, which I hope will help aspiring and existing business owners within the Sheffield city region to find out more about the help and support which is readily available on their doorstep."

The event, at The Hide in Sheffield, is free for entrepreneurs and business owners within the city region who will need to register here.

SCR Launchpad mentoring website

Images: Launchpad

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News: Rotherham entrepreneur exports boutique bridal designs

A Rotherham-based textiles teacher is using her experience from the classroom, and the catwalk, to set up in business selling handcrafted bridal accessories.

Chelsey Peart (née Crossland) studied Fashion Design at University and has built a career for herself as an art and textiles teacher.

The talented 26 year-old from Rawmarsh also produces intricately beaded bridal accessories including garters, head pieces and chokers, all of which are individually made and tailored to the needs of her growing international clientele.

Over the past eight months Chelsey has been working alongside a dedicated business advisor from the Launchpad programme, helping her to develop and refine her business plans as well as spending time developing a digital marketing strategy to drive sales and build her newly developed brand.

Since Chelsey started working with Launchpad, her unique hand-made products have attracted global interest. She has secured orders from brides across the world including America and New Zealand. Her business, Chelsey Crossland Bespoke, has also secured deals with a number of retail outlets across South Yorkshire and she is setting her sights on launching her own boutique in the future.

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The success of Chelsey's bridal range has given her the confidence to add new lines to her first collection and she is currently working on a new diffusion line which includes gothic-inspired alternative pieces. In addition to her custom made bridal accessories, self-confessed magpie Chelsey is drawing inspiration from the roaring twenties, Latin and ballroom costumes and even chandeliers and ornate gilded window frames to add glitz and glamour to her new range, adding occasional dresses, loungewear and beachwear to her luxury lifestyle brand.

Chelsey Peart, founder of Chelsey Crossland Bespoke, which is based in Wentworth, said: "If someone had told me this time last year I would be receiving orders for my designs from the four corners of the world I would have laughed at them, but since I started working with Launchpad, that's exactly what's happened!

"I liked the idea of running a business, but working full-time meant I couldn't always attend the training workshops due to my classroom commitments. I wanted to find a way of sharing my two passions in life, creating beautiful products and inspiring others in the classroom.

"Fashion has always been an important part of my life and began with my love of the eclectic. Seeing my collection on the catwalk at London Fashion Week gave me a much needed confidence boost. It made me realise people liked my work and were genuinely interested in the designs I produced. It planted a seed in my mind and I'd find myself waking up at 3am and reaching for the nearest thing I could find to jot down new design ideas.

"I decided that 2017 was my now or never moment: Until this year I was designing with no real outlet to exhibit my work. Making beautiful things makes me feel excited about life. There have been ups and downs along the way, but the support and recommendations I've received from the Launchpad team has been beyond my wildest dreams. It's not only helped me to develop my business ideas, but encouraged me to believe in myself."

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Julia Millea, business advisor, SCR Launchpad, added: "Chelsey is an immensely talented designer, but as she was employed full-time she felt unable to develop her business ideas further. From the outset she had a very clear idea as to what she wanted to achieve, but like many people, wasn't sure where to start when it came to running a business.

"It is always rewarding to help individuals who are clearly passionate and dedicated about a subject to see them achieve their goals. Launchpad was set up to help people who are thinking of running a business, enabling them to access the right advice at the right time. We've been working with Chelsey from a very early stage in her business journey, helping her to develop a robust business plan which is already attracting attention from fashion-savvy brides to be from across the world who are looking for something truly special and unique for their big day."

Chelsey Crossland Bespoke website
SCR Launchpad website

Images: SCR Launchpad

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