News: Rotherham's Spangles UK at Start-up Stars final

Spangles UK Ltd, the Rotherham based fashion jewellery company, was named as a runner-up in the HSBC "Start-up Stars" business competition final in London last week.



The company, based in RiDO's Century Business Centre in Manvers, was named as a regional winner in September after impressing a national judging panel that included Lord Digby Jones, Chairman of the International Business Advisory Board and Huw Morgan, Head of Business Banking, HSBC Bank plc.

Now in their 10th year, the awards celebrate the achievements of the best new entrepreneurial talent in the UK. Business Secretary Vince Cable praised the 16 finalists competing for the top honours, saying: "The very best of British enterprise is represented at the HSBC Start-Up Stars Awards.

"The dynamism, innovation and hard work of these SMEs will help drive Britain's economic recovery now and for the future and will demonstrate yet again that the UK is open for business."

After the awards at the Dorchester Hotel, company founder, Joanne Coulson said: "It was great to be recognised as one of the country's "Start-up Stars" and to attend the awards at the Dorchester. Whilst we didn't win the overall award, we were proud to represent the region and to show the spirit of entrepreneurship that abounds in this area."

Spangles imports fashion jewellery and sells it via agents and the Internet plus on a wholesale basis to boutiques and gift shops.

Joanne started the business in 2008, initially working from home, but as it grew quickly she took up the business incubation support package offered by RiDO and moved into a business centre unit in January 2009.

Since then the company has grown from strength to strength, and has developed from having one small unit, to operating from an office and a warehouse unit with five administration staff, a local self-employed worker and 60 agents.

The company has expanded from the UK into Ireland, and is considering entering the European market and also selling other fashion products. It has been a successful and exciting time in 2010 for Joanne and her team and there will undoubtedly be more developments to follow.

Martyn Benson, the RiDO Business Adviser who has worked with Joanne since October 2008 said: "With sales and importantly profits that have doubled over the last year Spangles performance so far means that it is definitely a "Start-up Star" and an excellent example of the successful businesses we have in Rotherham and in particular within our business centres."

RiDO operates four highly-successful business centres across the Rotherham area including Fusion @ Magna, Matrix @ Dinnington, Moorgate Crofts and Century Business Centre. The survival rates of companies in the Centres are well above average, with the one year survival rate at 97 per cent and the three year survival rate is 84.5 per, compared to the national average of around 60 per cent.

Brampton's Integral Network Solutions also made it to the regional finals this year after being named as a regional winner in the same competition in 2008.

Spangles UK website
RiDO business centres website

Images: spanglesjewellery.comk

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News: Rotherham companies are start-up stars

Two Rotherham enterprises have been named as regional finalists in the 2010 HSBC Start-Up Stars Awards.

Spangles UK Ltd and Integral Network Solutions are amongst the eight North East Regional Finalists having convinced regional judging panels that they have the vital X-factor for future success and growth.

The companies will now go in front of the national judging panel, that includes Lord Digby Jones, Chairman of the International Business Advisory Board and Huw Morgan, Head of Business Banking, HSBC Bank plc, hoping to go forward and represent the region at the national awards in October.

Established by entrepreneur, Paul Taylor after learning his skills in the telecommunications section in the Army, Integral Network Solutions provide telecommunication networking solutions to customers all over the North of England. The Brampton company was named as a regional winner in the same competition in 2008.

Based in RiDO's Century Business Centre in Manvers, Spangles was founded by Joanne Coulson in 2008. The company brings beautiful and innovative costume jewellery designs to people in their place of work, at home and through fun filled parties.

Joanne said: "We're delighted to have been selected as regional finalists for the HSBC Start Up Stars Awards.

"It's great to get recognition for all of our hard work and we hope that our success in a difficult economic climate will encourage other potential entrepreneurs."

Now in their 10th year, the awards celebrate the achievements of the best new entrepreneurial talent in the UK. Richard Lambert, Director-General of the CBI said: "Britain has long been known and admired for its enterprise and entrepreneurial behaviour - and the economy is going to need even more of this as we recover from the recession.

"The sort of talent, innovation and commitment displayed by those entering the Start-Up Stars Awards is testimony to what can be achieved."

Spangles website
Integral Network Solutions website
HSBC website

Images: hsbc.co.uk

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News: Business Link launch online business directory

The operators of Business Link in the region have launched The Yorkshire Business Directory. The free online directory allows businesses in the region to provide contact details and an overview of the services they provide. The regional Business Link model that was launched on April 1 2008 and offers a single point of access to publicly funded support in the region through a Business Link branded Gateway. Part of the national Business Support Simplification Programme Business Link now focuses on supporting six core programmes of activity that aid the overall start up and growth of a business. The regional start up offer includes tailored programmes for Lifestyle, Growth, High Growth and Social Enterprise businesses.

Yorkshire Business Directory
Business Link Yorkshire website
Rotherham

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News: Success for the ITC

Just two years after opening its doors to businesses, the Innovation and Technology Centre (ITC) in Rotherham is more than 65% full, home to 15 companies and has created 45 new jobs. Based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park, the ITC is owned by Yorkshire Forward and managed by Oxford Innovation. It provides serviced accommodation for new and growing small engineering related businesses. Over the last two years, five companies have expanded since moving into the ITC, and one company has been so successful it has moved out to larger premises. Jim Farmery, Head of Competitiveness for Yorkshire Forward said: "The ITC has proved to be a real success, attracting some excellent engineering companies that are already growing and achieving their own successes. The creation of 45 new jobs and an investment of £7 million from the private sector in such a short space of time endorses the decision by Yorkshire Forward to invest in the ITC." Ross Banerjee, Project and Incubation Director at the ITC said: "The ITC is bringing knowledge based manufacturing businesses into South Yorkshire and promoting the vision for the internationally acclaimed Advanced Manufacturing Park. Oxford Innovation is delighted to be associated with the ITC, managing the centre on behalf of Yorkshire Forward." The ITC will be hosting an open day on Thursday September 11.
ITC website

AMP website
Rotherham

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News: Rotherham start-up looking to make an impact

Rotherham based designers, UK Logo Design have created a new logo and website for Rotherham start-up, Impact Training. As a new company, Impact Training needed a solution to get them on their feet very fast and, with keeping costs within their budget, UK Logo Design were able to offer them a suitable branding solution at a very reasonable price. The initial project was completed in just over two weeks and straight after completing the brand, including logo design, colour scheme and corporate font set, the team swiftly moved on to producing their stationery designs and also Impact Training's website. The most important thing about the site is that it had to be found by clients searching for business courses locally and all over the UK and that staff at Impact Traning could login and update it easily. UK Logo Design works with Taylors Print & Design in Rotherham, a diverse group of companies that have access to the finest technology and print-manufacturing facilities currently available.
UK Logo Design website
Taylors Print & Design website
Rotherham

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News: Rotherham student provides the Midas touch

The Sheffield Telegraph reports on Rotherham student Gavin Edley, who has established his own business at the same time as being in his final year of a BA Business Studies course at the Open University. Edley told the paper: "After my A-levels I was in no doubt as to what I wanted to do, I wanted to run my own business". Edley has set up his marketing company Midas Copy Ltd in Brinsworth with two graduate friends. The company specialise in copy writing, graphic design and web design. "Studying and running a company simultaneously can be rather demanding at times but getting to apply what I have learnt at the weekend from my studies to my business during the week and working alongside other entrepreneurs on their marketing campaigns is such an unbelievable experience, I wouldn't have it any other way. Studying also helps me to stay ahead of the competition and maintain awareness of how things can be done differently to improve my business," he said.

Midas Copy website
Sheffield Telegraph article

Rotherham

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News: Executive forum for Rotherham businesses

Rotherham Investment and Development Office (RiDO), the council's regeneration arm, has launched an executive forum that encourages company owners in its centres to network and do business with one another. The forum meets for around two hours every month at Wath Golf Club and includes short management workshops and the opportunity to talk to like-minded entrepreneurs, sharing best practice and good ideas. RiDO's Geoff Link said: "One of the greatest challenges for small businesses is taking time out to network, yet in this tough economic climate, the company literally next door may provide a great business opportunity. "Our centres' survival rate for the crucial first three years is virtually 90 per cent, which is well ahead of the national 71 per cent average. The executive forum is just another way that we can help firms grow and succeed." Steve Hartley, publishing director of My Favourite Publications, based at RiDO’s Moorgate Crofts Business Centre, said: "The meetings give you an excellent opportunity to meet others and learn from their experiences, which I found really worthwhile." He discovered another Moorgate company – Voice Telemarketing – could provide exactly the service he was looking for.
RiDO website

The Star article
Rotherham

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News: Rotherham entrepreneur finds her Voice

When Jacqui Eginton decided to set up her Rotherham-based telemarketing business, she promised herself she would only do it if the name ‘Voice’ was available to register. It was – and Voice Telemarketing was born, and has never looked back. Jacqui is one of a growing new breed of female entrepreneur. She set up as a solo operator initially in a small unit at Rotherham Borough Council’s Moorgate Crofts Business Centre in 2006, but has now taken on a bigger office there, with five staff working the phones. Her company provides bespoke services to business telemarketing campaigns for companies in the South Yorkshire area. Now, thanks to help and support from business advisers at Rotherham Investment and Development Office (RiDO) – the council’s regeneration arm – and the Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, Jacqui’s looking to cast her net wider. “My dream is to set up a franchise – but that is some way off yet,” she said. Being in the modern business centre has also had a positive impact on Voice: “I can’t tell people how brilliant it has been for my business being based at Moorgate Crofts. It’s town centre-located, there are no fixed contracts and I’ve got open access to free business advice. “One excellent thing that has helped is the RiDO Executive Club – a series of networking events for RiDO business centre occupants that has lead to a number of new contracts for Voice. Jacqui set up Voice Academy, providing beginner, intermediate and advanced courses in telemarketing for companies who want to take the function in-house. She’s even passed on her skills to Rotherham teenagers at enterprise days in schools.

Voice website
RiDO website

Rotherham

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News: Tim steps up in Rotherham

Tim O’Connell has taken up the post of business development manager at Rotherham Investment & Development Office (RiDO), the regeneration arm of the council, following from Paul Woodcock, the new director of Planning & Regeneration. Tim's focus is to take the expertise and success of the borough’s strong track record in business incubation a stage further and increase the number of high calibre companies in the region. Tim said: “Rotherham’s increasingly proving itself to be a centre for high-quality and high-tech businesses that in many cases are world leaders in their fields. “What we aim to do is to capitalise on that - and utilise our expertise and success in supporting and nurturing start-up businesses - to attract further, new and established companies into the area, which can tap into the existing infrastructure and skill base to prosper. “Rotherham has a strong economy despite the downturn being experienced by other regions. Whilst there will be challenges ahead, with a continually modernising town which is currently undergoing an enormous and exciting period of change, we have good reason to be positive and are well placed to compete on a national and international level for inward investment.” In his nine years with RiDO, Tim O’Connell has already played a key role in raising the borough’s profile as a strong business location and one that is both nationally and internationally recognised as a leader in start-up business and incubation.
RiDO website

Rotherham

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News: Bridging the North/South technology divide

An excellent article on The Business Desk reports on the growing technology sector in Yorkshire. Hubs in Leeds, Harrogate, Wetherby, and York have been joined by Sheffield and Rotherham as they have become popular destinations in which to set up technology businesses. The article discusses the rise in the number of start up technology businesses with funders such as the South Yorkshire Investment Fund (SYIF), recognising that South Yorkshire's towns and cities are proving attractive to both resident IT entrepreneurs and outside talent. SYIF's Jonathan Dixon told the site: "We're also attracting companies from outside the region as seedcorn funding is rare in the UK. But that South Yorkshire has such a good reputation for skills and infrastructure is equally as important in their decision to relocate." Andrew Burton, managing director of the Viking Fund added: "Most of the companies we've invested in have been started here in Yorkshire. "It's true that an increasing number are based in South Yorkshire, but I think that's because technology firms need to be based in a metropolitan environment to attract staff."
SYIF website
The Business Desk article
Rotherham

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News: Rotherham start-up in running for national award

The South Yorkshire Times reports on network cabling company, Integral Network Solutions being named as regional finalists in the Start up Stars Awards sponsored by HSBC Bank, Google and Sky News. The Brampton company provide telecommunication networking solutions to customers all over the North of England. Established 15 months ago by entrepreneur, Paul Taylor after learning his skills in the telecommunications section in the Army, the company has grown to 4 employees and supplies Wigan Council, all Northern Magistrates and Crown Courts and large companies such as Akzo Nobel and Games Workshop.
Integral Network Solutions website
SY Times article

Rotherham

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News: Boost for local start-ups

The BCC in conjunction with Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce have announced a long-term commitment to help local start-up firms become significantly more successful. The first service is a custom-built Business Start-Up Pack. The package includes three years free business banking from RBS Group as well as instant tender alerts, exclusive telecommunications and mobility offers, free software trials, unbeatable discounts on products, half price Chamber membership and free legal advice. John Lewis Chief Executive said: “Encouraging entrepreneurship is high on everyone’s agenda but that is not enough – you have to match that commitment with practical support for start-up businesses in their critical first few years." Following the launch of the Business Start-Up Pack Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber will add to its services in the coming months. Future services will include an online business networking and advice portal and a nationwide programme of Chamber Business Growth Clubs.
Business Start-Up Pack website
Chamber website

Rotherham

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News: Rotherham entrepreneurs strive through downturn

Latest figures show that occupancy rates at business centres run by Rotherham Investment & Development Office (RiDO), the Borough Council’s regeneration arm, are at an all-time high and there’s been an unprecedented number of enquiries from people interested in renting an office at the new £5m start-up centre, Fusion@Magna, the fourth created by the council. RiDO’s business centres manager, Amanda Parris, said: “Although Rotherham has developed a reputation as a great place to launch and grow a business, we’ve been surprised by the level of interest in Fusion@Magna. In the current climate we had assumed there would be a slow down, but it confirms that we have a real entrepreneurial spirit here and that people are not being discouraged from following their dreams." For companies setting up in a RiDO business centre, the survival rate for the crucial first three years is virtually 90 per cent – well ahead of the national 71 per cent average. Fusion@Magna recently received excellent coverage in the Yorkshire Post.
RiDO website
Yorkshire Post article
The Star article

Black Enterprise article

Rotherham

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News: Call to support region's young start-ups

As The Prince's Trust celebrate their 25th anniversary, a report from the youth charity states that a lack of support for Yorkshire's budding entrepreneurs is putting the region's economy at risk. The survey of 1,000 young people shows 59% would like to start a business, but less than 6% have actually done it. Forty per cent cited high start-up costs as the biggest barrier to starting a business, while almost three-quarters (73%) believe that schools and colleges encourage safe, conventional careers rather than supporting aspiring entrepreneurs. Eighty per cent of young people also claim careers advisors do not mention starting a business as a career option. Peter Branson, Yorkshire's regional director of the Prince's Trust, told the Yorkshire Post: "Young people are the spark plugs of the economy. This region has produced some of the country's most talented business people, but it risks falling behind when it comes to investing in young talent. "The Prince's Trust is calling on businesses across Yorkshire to support more young start-ups." The Prince's Trust has helped 1,544 disadvantaged young people set up in business in Yorkshire and the Humber over the last five years. This year alone it hopes to support a further 206 young people into business.

Read the full survey results

Prince's Trust website
Yorkshire Post article
The Star article
Rotherham

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News: Rotherham in the spotlight at national conference

Rotherham again takes centre stage at an annual high-profile conference that promotes and supports the growth of start-up businesses across the UK. Delegates from Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council have been invited to share their expertise at a conference organised by UK Business Incubation in Birmingham on May 14. UKBI is one of the country’s leading business organisations and an authority on business incubation – playing a key role in helping start-ups grow during the early stages of development and change. The Rotherham team includes Tim O’Connell, business development manager with Rotherham Investment & Development Office (RiDO) and RiDO business centres’ manager Amanda Parris. Tim O’Connell said: “It’s a real honour for us to be addressing the annual conference again this year. It’s a high profile event that will put Rotherham firmly on the map as a borough with an excellent track record of supporting start-ups. We are proud of our success rate for new businesses, which bucks the national trends – 90% survive the crucial first three years, against the 71.3% national average. “The conference gives us the chance to promote the borough outside the immediate area and talk about how successful we are in nurturing start-ups and entrepreneurs.”
RiDO website
UKBI website

Rotherham

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News: Rotherham company starts a discount revolution

With fears of a credit crunch hitting people in the pocket, a Rotherham entrepreneur has started a national discount revolution. And he reckons it has already saved the public £30m. Mark Pearson started MarkCo Media a year ago and set up the UK’s biggest discount codes website, http://www.myvouchercodes.co.uk/ and http://www.couponcodes4u.com/. MarkCo has deals with hundreds of companies who provide it with discount codes in return for the extra business the Rotherham company supplies for them. “The companies are happy for us to have the codes because we generate so much more business for them,” said Tom Packer, head of web development. The company has around 2,500 codes for discounts on different sites – with a massive range of products on offer. From GAP to baby-care to DIY, the websites will have a code for it. MarkCo Media has been working out of Moorgate Crofts, one of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council’s specialist business centres for start-up and growing companies, for the past month. The company has been gradually increasing its internet-based trade with the help of business advisers from the council’s regeneration arm, Rotherham Investment and Development Office (RiDO). “We’ve had some great advice from RiDO,” said Tom Packer. “They’ve helped us recruit five new members of staff so far and are always on hand to give advice and tips about the business. “And Moorgate Crofts has been a really good venue for us – it’s given us the opportunity to grow without adding in the costs that that would otherwise incur.”

My Voucher Codes website

Coupon Codes 4 U website

Moorgate Crofts website

RiDO website

Rotherham

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News: Rotherham leads the way with entrepreneurial women

Women in Rotherham are pushing against the national trend, demonstrating that they have entrepreneurial flair. According to the Annual Survey of Small Businesses, carried out by BERR only 14% of businesses across the UK are women-led with no obvious sign of any uplift. But statistics from RiDO, the council’s regeneration arm, highlight that 16% of companies operating from RiDO-run business centres have females at the helm and during the last eight weeks there has been an increasing number of enquiries from women. The manager of the centres, Amanda Parris, said: "We have a wealth of talented entrepreneurs in Rotherham across a broad spectrum of business disciplines from accountancy and law practices to design, IT and consumer product companies, for example. It’s rewarding to see that the percentage of women-led operations is above the national average.” Julie Kenny set up Pyronix in Rotherham, now one of the world’s top suppliers of electronic security equipment, and is also an adviser to the Government. She said: “If you have a strong business idea, then there should be nothing stopping you driving it forward. There certainly are more talented women out there with the necessary skills; they just need to get the right advice and give it a go.”
RiDO website
Working Woman article

Rotherham

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News: Seedcorn success a sign of strength in South Yorkshire

South Yorkshire Investment Fund (SYIF) is on target to fully invest a £4.65m Seedcorn Fund in local businesses. The pilot scheme was launched by SYIF in April 2007 to test ways of financing innovative early stage businesses to help take new technologies to market and at present £2.15m of the Fund has been paid out, with the remaining £2.5m scheduled for follow-on investment until 31 December 2008. Jonathan Dixon, Deputy Chief Executive at SYIF, said: "The demand for the Seedcorn Fund, which was much greater than anyone expected, does provide the strongest possible evidence that technology businesses are alive and kicking in South Yorkshire. "The lessons learned from the management of the pilot will be used to guide the design of a bigger, regional Seedcorn Fund that is expected to go live from 2009." SYIF's Spring 2008 newsletter, Profile, is out now.

SYIF Spring 08 Newsletter

Rotherham

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News: Network Space plan for phase 2

Developers Network Space are set to build on the success of their commercial developments in Rotherham by submitting plans for phase 2 of Century Park Network Centre. Network Space Ltd, a joint venture between property developer Langtree Group plc and English Partnerships provides quality accommodation for new and expanding small businesses to grow and be successful. The park offers grow on space for RiDO's Century Business Centre in Manvers and phase 2 will include nine high spec units in two terraced buildings with units ranging in size from 69 sq m to 184 sq m. The plans were put together by DLA Architecure and mirror phase 1 of the centre which secured tenants including Technical Print, Eco Redwood Windows and Wren Turbines.
Network Space website

Century Business Centre website

Rotherham

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News: Business Link sites chosen

Following initial rumours that Rotherham was set to miss out on a regional office, Business Link have now confirmed that Rotherham will have its own "key location centre." Y&H IDB, who secured the £29m contract to deliver business support schemes in Yorkshire & Humber from Yorkshire Forward from April 1, announced the 11 locations along with the location of their headquarters, at Capitol Park in Barnsley.
Yorkshire Post article
The Business Desk article
Rotherham

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