News: How a Rotherham balloon business stayed afloat during the pandemic

Positivity, flexibility and hard work have ensured that a Rotherham balloon specialist has not been too deflated during an extremely tough time for the events industry.

The Covid pandemic meant that successful Rotherham events business, The Ultimate Balloon Company UK ltd, and its owner of 29 years Jacqui Saxon, had to radically change how she did business.

The company is based at Fusion Business Centre at Templeborough and Jacqui went from decorating events for a 1,000 people to quickly changing lane and creating "insta worthy" designs for individual birthdays and new babies in order to survive.

With staff shielding, and to comply with social distance rules, Jacqui completed many online seminars to increase her skills and create designs that would cheer up the public. Every week during the pandemic she created a design to say thank you to our NHS Heroes with Rainbows on roofs and Hearts in her garden.

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She also managed to acquire some new blue chip clients such as Amazon, Doncaster Robin Hood Airport and even Harrods.

Jacqui is now gearing up for when events can take place again from June 2021 and intends to recruit new staff members from people who have lost their jobs in retail such as Debenhams and John Lewis to help with expansion.

Jacqui said: "It will have been a rollercoaster 18 months but Rotherham people are resilient and always find a way to succeed."

Ultimate Balloon Company website

Images: Ultimate Balloon Company

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News: Jacqui's decorations help to lift spirits

Local businesswoman Jacqui Saxon decked the halls at the world famous Great Ormond St Children's Hospital this week for its annual Christmas party.

Jacqui is one of Europe's leading balloon artists and runs The Ultimate Balloon Company at RIDO's Fusion @ Magna business centre in Rotherham, providing décor for weddings, parties and corporate events.

Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) is an international centre of excellence in child healthcare with over 220,000 patient visits every year. Its Christmas parties provide festive cheer for ill children, many of whom will be unable to spend Christmas at home. Held this year at the Royal National Hotel in London, the "Snow Ball" was attended by the big man himself, Father Christmas plus X Factor finalists, TV stars and musicians.

Jacqui's expertise was called upon as the hospital required no ordinary party décor. Due to allergy concerns for some of the youngsters, only non-latex balloons could be used and the décor had to survive four separate parties over two days. As some children cannot leave the hospital they would not have been able to attend the parties, so experts made the décor moveable so the staff and volunteers could "take the party to the children" afterwards.

Jacqui Saxon, owner of The Ultimate Balloon Company was delighted that she had been chosen for the event. She said: "This ranks alongside providing décor for the Rolling Stones and Tina Turner. As the mother of two sons I can empathise with the parents of the sick children, and it's a privilege to bring some happiness to the children at an anxious time."

After 20 years working in the Inland Revenue, Jacqui opted for a complete change of career and set up her own business with the aim of creating special events for special people at special times in their life and career.

It hasn't always been party time though, it took Jacqui two years and seven exams (theoretical and practical) to achieve The Certificate in Balloon Artistry, but it has paid off, with the high profile contracts to decorate events for companies such as Vodafone, Boots, Mercedes, The Royal Armouries.

The Ultimate Balloon Company website

Images: GOSH / Ultimate Balloon Company / Facebook

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News: Royal praise for Fusion @ Magna in Rotherham

There was royal praise this week for a Rotherham enterprise centre helping entrepreneurs on the road to success.

HRH The Princess Royal officially opened Fusion @ Magna, one of Britain's most striking developments of its kind, and praised the people behind its development and progress and the companies based there.

After touring the building, she said: "After opening in a year that most people would have found depressing, you have created a very good reputation here – congratulations!"

She had the opportunity to meet with a number of Rotherham companies including Electrik Creative, Develop-U, Comocri and The Ultimate Balloon Company.

Jackie Frost, the council's Enterprise Projects manager, also introduced four young entrepreneurs – Liam Winder, of communications specialist RipWire, Ben Naylor, of Long Reach Cleaning, and high-tech innovators Michelle Bluck and Mark Constantine, of Qurotech.

Fusion is the third of four purpose-built centres created by Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council and operated by their regeneration arm, RiDO, whose business incubation project has helped 697 companies over the years.

The council's strategic director of Environment & Development Services, Karl Battersby, said: "Her Royal Highness seemed genuinely impressed by the centre and the companies she met – as we hoped she would be."

She had some perceptive questions for the business people and council teams – "She was genuinely interested and well informed," said RiDO business development manager Tim O'Connell.

Rotherham Investment and Development Office

Rotherham

Images: RiDO / Colborn

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News: Students build hope having made £5 Blossom in Rotherham

In the current economic climate, students from six local schools have created hope for the future through highly successful enterprise projects.

As part of the Rotherham Ready "Make £5 Blossom" initiative students from Wath Central Primary, Brinsworth Whitehill Primary, Hilltop Special School, Catcliffe Primary, Aston Hall J&I and St Thomas CofE in Kilnhurst have worked with local business representatives to develop their business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit by starting up small enterprise projects with a loan of £150 from the business.

Support came from In Touch Care, The Ultimate Balloon Company, Inside Out Schools, SYPTE, Sigma IT and Barnsley Rotherham Chamber's Enterprise Division.

Jacqui Saxon of The Ultimate Balloon Company said: "This is the second time I have supported a local primary school through the Make £5 Blossom initiative and I can honestly say that I have thoroughly enjoyed the experiences I have had.

"The children are both motivated and offer innovative ideas - it's always a pleasure to work in such a positive environment. I've even recommended the project to other colleagues so that they can experience the impact enterprise is having in Rotherham schools"

Keeley Worthington of Brinsworth Whitehill Primary said: "This has been my first experience of getting involved with the Rotherham Ready project. As a teacher I've seen the children more excited and engaged than ever. In addition, having the support of a business partner who is keen to help at every opportunity has been fantastic for the school and helped to raise aspirations with our students.

"I'm really keen to keep the enterprise buzz going next year as part of our full time curriculum."

The Ultimate Balloon Company website
Rotherham Ready website
Rotherham

Images: rotherhamready.org.uk

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News: Rotherham business women flies high in the balloon world

A Rotherham based enterprise is one of just ten in Europe selected to attend a balloon master class. Jacqui Saxon of the Ultimate Balloon Company will be learning new techniques at the master class with the balloon World Designer of the Year, Alberto Falcone of Italy. Jacqui, who started life as a tax inspector, before becoming involved in balloons, said: "It’s a great honour to be chosen to take part in this event and I hope to bring even more creative flair back to South Yorkshire, to help customers and individuals experience the Ultimate ‘wow’ factor at their special event." The Ultimate Balloon Company is based at RiDO's futuristic business centre Fusion@Magna and creates bespoke balloon décor for parties, weddings and corporate events. The event is designed to enhance balloon artists skills and will cover many of the latest techniques and designs invented by this 3 times world champion. Jacqui estimates she has inflated more than 5 million balloons in her balloon career and is one of the original certified balloon artists in Europe. A prestigious award involving taking 5 exams and recognises the individuals skills in design and technique.
The Ultimate Balloon Co website
RiDO website
Rotherham

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