News: Support adds to recipe for success for Rotherham-based Sri Lankan food business

A family-run food business bringing authentic Sri Lankan flavours to communities across South Yorkshire and beyond is expanding its offering thanks to support from a UKSE Kickstart Grant, delivered through RiDO.

Based in Rotherham, Curry Leafs was established by a local entrepreneur with a passion for traditional Sri Lankan cooking and baking. Originally launched as a small home-based venture alongside part-time work, the business has grown steadily through word-of-mouth recommendations, community support and increasing demand for authentic homemade Sri Lankan food.

Drawing on recipes and cooking techniques passed down through her family, particularly from her mother and grandmother, Hasitha established Curry Leafs to provide authentic homemade Sri Lankan food to people longing for the flavours and memories of home.

Since formally launching, Curry Leafs has expanded from a simple pick-and-mix meal offering into a broader food business serving customers across Rotherham, Sheffield, Birmingham, Coventry, Nottingham, London and Manchester.

To support the business, Hasitha applied for the UKSE Kickstart grant, delivered in partnership with Rotherham Investment & Development Office (RiDO) – UKSE provides finance of up to £1.5m to growing companies, as well as providing support for start-ups – which enabled Curry Leafs to purchase essential catering equipment and a professional gazebo, significantly improving its presence at outdoor events and enhancing its ability to cater for larger functions. The investment has strengthened the business’s presentation, operational capacity and overall customer experience.

Looking ahead, Curry Leafs plans to continue expanding its catering and events offering, with long-term ambitions to launch a food truck and eventually open a Sri Lankan-inspired restaurant serving both traditional and fusion dishes. The business also hopes to create flexible employment opportunities for women, particularly those balancing family commitments, helping them build financial independence and stability.

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Hasitha Priyadarshani, founder of Curry Leafs, said: “Curry Leafs started from a passion for cooking and sharing authentic Sri Lankan food with others.

“I would like to acknowledge the support of my husband and brother, who, without their support throughout this journey, Curry Leafs would not be where it is today.

“The support from UKSE has allowed us to invest in equipment that will help us grow, improve our presence at events and take on larger opportunities.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support we have received throughout our journey.”

Pete Newton, Regional Executive at UKSE said: “Curry Leafs is a fantastic example of how a small business can grow through passion, determination and a commitment to quality.

“We are delighted that the Kickstart Grant has helped support the next stage of the business’s development. We wish Hasitha every success as the business continues to expand.”

Darren McDool, New Business Developer at RiDO. Said: “Their passion for the business is clear to all to see and it’s been a pleasure working with them on UKSE Kickstart application.

“We look forward to supporting them further as they take the next steps in growing from a promising start.”

UKSE provides loans and equity finance of up to £1.5m to existing growing businesses, particularly those creating jobs.

Curry Leafs website
UKSE website
RiDO website

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News: Rotherham specialist precision engineering company secures investment in 50th year

Alpenbury Precision Engineering Limited, a specialist precision engineering business based in Rotherham, has secured an equity investment from UKSE.

Based at Parkgate, the firm was established in 1974, specialising in providing bespoke engineering solutions to a broad range of customers across a variety of sectors. It prides itself on its precision engineering expertise and commitment to quality, with a primary focus on the production of critical machined components and gears.

The comprehensive range of products is widely used in rolling mills, foundries, forges, rubber mills, cranes, agriculture and in the preservation of vintage and historical equipment.

The investment has facilitated the buy-out of a joint shareholder and provides the foundations for the next stage in the company’s continued evolution and growth, with Managing Director, Chris Robinson, becoming the majority owner and UKSE acquiring a minority stake.

Chris has worked at the company for 17 years, starting as a Works Manager, and originally became joint owner following the unfortunate loss of his former colleague and previous owner at Alpenbury.

2024 marks Alpenbury’s 50th anniversary, a significant milestone that underscores the company’s longstanding presence and contribution to the engineering sector across the region.

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The equity investment from UKSE - an organisation which focuses on helping businesses in former steel areas with investments, loans and premises - was initiated through an introduction by accountant Mike Smith who produced the financial forecasts. The company’s accountant, Mark Smallman at Brearley & Co Accountants, provided business planning and advisory services, whilst Alex Ross at Bell and Buxton completed the legal work.

Chris Robinson commented on the transaction: "We are excited about the future of Alpenbury and grateful for the support from UKSE.

“This investment not only secures our future aspirations but also strengthens our commitment to our valued customers and the local community by creating new opportunities and continuing Alpenbury’s legacy.”

Pete Newton, Regional Executive at UKSE, said: “We are delighted to be able to support Alpenbury at a pivotal moment in its history.

“For UKSE, the opportunity to assist in the preservation of the tacit knowledge and skills embedded within local industry through the creation of highly-skilled jobs encapsulates the key motivation behind our investments.

“Chris’ passion for the Company and his craft is clear to see and I look forward to working with him and the team moving forward.”

Alpenbury Precision Engineering website

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News: MBO completed at Rotherham industrial pumps group

An equity buy-out has completed at Rotherham-based Industrial Pumps Group (IPG) Ltd with company Managing Director, Dave Carley, and Sales Director, David Stacey, taking full control of the business for the first time since they completed on a management buyout (MBO) in 2016.

The announcement follows a period of sustained growth and profitability for the company, which continued to perform well throughout the pandemic under the watch of its new owners, adapting its product offering and building its market share through the early adoption of change in practice and procedure.

The ambitious duo initially took over the business from its previous owner in 2016 as part of a management buyout deal facilitated by a £500k investment from UKSE – an organisation which focusses on helping businesses in former steel areas with investments, loans and premises.

Since then, Dave and David have led the team on the Barbot Hall Industrial Estate, and have implemented changes which has taken it from a steady local business, to one that is capable of capitalising on growth opportunities. Moving from a reseller of pumps to a business that is an added value designer, servicer and supplier.

They now have framework agreements with a number of the major water companies which shows their importance within the industry and have approached UKSE once again for a further loan to help the company grow further.

With a clear vision for growth, they initially joined the business as trainees in the 1990s. Their agile and ambitious approach has seen the business increase its turnover by £5m, and its headcount by 23.

This would not have been possible without the UKSE investment, which secured the company’s growing presence amongst water utility companies and original equipment manufacturers, while this latest deal enables the duo to acquire 100% of the shares in the business.

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Industrial Pumps Group (IPG) was bought by the duo from its previous owner in 2016, where the pair had worked since trainee level in the 1990s.

The company continued to perform well throughout the pandemic, where the Directors showed a cool business head, pivoting the product offering and build IPG’s market share through the early adoption of change in practice and procedure.

UKSE said this was the right time to let Dave and David take full control in order to have autonomy to realise their ambitions.

Commenting on the equity buy-out deal Managing Director David Carley said the business will continue to grow organically and bring more job creation within the Rotherham area.

He went on to say that thanks to the structure of the 2016 equity investment from UKSE – an organisation which focusses on helping businesses in former steel areas with investments, loans and premises – the management team had now secured a 100% shareholding without incurring costs or penalties.

David said: “We are extremely grateful for the success and growth we have experienced over the past year and especially thankful for Steve and the UKSE team for the support we have received over the years.

“The initial investment helped to facilitate the expansion of Industrial Pumps across our customer base and create new jobs which meant we were able to secure the company’s future here in Rotherham.

“Furthermore, exit discussions were fair and straightforward over two rounds to suit our cashflow, with no penalties.”

“We believe we are a stronger and more valuable company for having worked with UKSE, and we remain committed to our original vision of continuing to grow, and to create further job opportunities in the local area.”

Steve Lyon, Area Manager at UKSE, said: “Working with Industrial Pumps Group has been an absolute pleasure over the last six years. The sustained growth of the business is a testament to the hard work and commitment the Directors have shown, we wish them the best of luck with their future growth ambitions.

“As ever we are delighted to have positively contributed to a business which is creating job opportunities and to have helped a local business retain its strong presence within the region.”

“Despite the team exiting us as an equity partner, they have recently approached us for further loan investment to help them expand further and we have been happy to support them again. As with all of the returns we make from our investments we will seek to invest this money in other local companies.”

Industrial Pumps website
UKSE website

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News: Rotherham family karate club gets kickstart from UKSE

Family and volunteer-run Rotherham Shukokai Karate has its sights set on the WUKF World Championships in Switzerland, with the help of founder and WUKF 2023 World double silver medallist Lynette Whitehouse.

Established in December 2020, the club was founded by Lynette and Sam Whitehouse, Lynette had trained in Shotokan Karate as a child and through her teenage years where she gained her 1st Dan.

Lynette and Sam met in the army, and upon settling back in Rotherham, Lynette wanted to get their children into Karate to help with their confidence along with other values that come with karate, like self-defence, respect, self-discipline, fitness, mental health and making friends to name a few.

Lynette later joined the army reserves and trialled for the army karate team, where she succeeded in gaining six years of competing and training with them at an International and World level.

Earlier this year, the pair applied for a Kickstart grant from UKSE – a local investment company that provides finance of up to £1.5 million to growing businesses and supports start-up ventures – which was used to purchase Tatami (mats) , which are used in competitions to prepare students who wish to compete.

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Commenting on their journey so far, Lynette said: “We are so grateful for the support from our parents along with UKSE to enable us to reach our goals.

“Our intentions are to train and prepare our students who wish to compete for the WUKF World Championships in Switzerland in 2025 by getting on the competition circuit a lot more.

“We hope that the future for RSK is long and bright to enable our students to be the best version of themselves and to keep pushing those comfort zones in order to grow and be better than they were the day before.”

Amber Winfield, Administrator and Receptionist at UKSE, said: “It is great to see the ambition at Rotherham Shukokai Karate, we wish them all the best moving forward and hope to see them compete up to the world championships!”

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News: Rotherham entrepreneurs secure grant for production company

Two Rotherham entrepreneurs have turned their passion for producing, writing and acting into a successful celebrity backed production company – with passion project ‘Simply Ken’ already being pitched to top TV channels.

Gratso Productions was founded by Craig Shepherd, a Rotherham College drama teacher and local actor who has featured in When Saturday Comes amongst other titles, alongside his childhood friend, Robert Sadler.

Launched in 2023, Gratso Productions secured a kickstart grant from UKSE to allow for the editing and pitching of the pilot episode of its first production, ‘Simply Ken’ a modern sitcom about successful businessman Ken Codd who suddenly loses his job, house and wife all on the same day, to programme directors at some of the country’s leading broadcasters.

The duo have also received invaluable support from Acting legends Hi-de-Hi’s Jeffrey Holland and General Hospital’s Judy Buxton, who both star in Simply Ken.

Moving forward, the company already has plans for the production of a one-man touring play, Laurel & Hardy inspired ’The Fiddle and The Bow’.

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Speaking on the successful start to the business, Robert said: “We are incredibly grateful for the support and advice we have received right out the gate for Gratso Productions.

“Our main goal is to cultivate local talent out of South Yorkshire, with Craig also teaching drama at Rotherham College, we have been able to offer some amazing experience for the students.

“We are incredibly grateful for the grant from UKSE which has allowed us to speed along the process of our very first production.”

Steve Lyon, Area Manager at UKSE - a local investment company that provides finance of up to £1.5m to growing companies, but which also provides support to start-ups – said: “We’re thrilled to be supporting such an exciting business within the South Yorkshire region, Robert and Craig’s passion for bringing the arts back to the region is truly exciting.

“We wish them all the best moving forward and can’t wait to see Gratso Productions make it to the big screen.”

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News: Rotherham-based entrepreneur to revolutionise visual communication

A former headteacher who spent more than 26 years in education has turned her passion for visual communication into a successful business venture.

Rotherham-based Visual Futures was founded by entrepreneur and PhD student Liz Churton after she spotted a gap in the market to use her skills and expertise to help companies to better communicate with their audiences using a visual representation of their product or service.

Working with a range of businesses spanning a myriad of sectors, the business allows clients to combine words with pictures that can then be used in presentations, pitch documents, and sales and marketing literature. As well as for use in business strategy documents, customer workshops, and even training sessions.

Established in September 2022, with the help of funding from UKSE – a business that invests in steel areas across the UK – just two months after its launch, Liz enlisted the help of freelance animator Tasha Poland to help her cater for the increasing demand for her services.

The business also hopes to expand and employ more scribers in the near future to keep up with growing demand, and to accommodate more clients from across the region and further afield.

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Commenting on the success of the business to date, Liz, who also works as an educator with Affinity – a local community interest company that believes every care experienced young person deserves equality of opportunity and is also studying for her PhD in visual communication, said: “I’m delighted that the concept of using visual means to help businesses better communicate with their audiences has been so well received.

“It is important to remember that 90% of information transmitted to the brain is visual, and images are processed 60,000X faster in the brain than text.

“After spending a lot of my time meeting with business owners in the region, I have learnt a great deal about the need for communication support within the community.

“I am excited to embark on this new career journey and show people that gone are the days of presentations led by dialogue.

“The funding from UKSE was essential for establishing our logo, name and website. In the future I aim to use the rest of the funding for publicity and joining the Rotherham Pioneers Group.”

Steve Lyon, Regional Manager at UKSE, said: “Visual Futures offers something completely unique to the region, thanks to the hard work and expertise of Liz, the company has hit the ground running.

“We are delighted to have helped her with the funding that has allowed her that head start, and we wish her the best of luck moving forward.”

Visual Futures website
UKSE website

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News: Launch of eco-friendly flower farm a blooming success for Rotherham entrepreneur

A Rotherham entrepreneur who faced months of financial uncertainty after she was furloughed during the pandemic has turned her gardening hobby into a blooming business with the launch of an eco-friendly flower farm.

Like many people, Liz Baxter was worried about what the future had in store when she was unable to carry out her usual work as an Executive Assistant due to the restrictions put in place during the Covid-19 crisis.

Instead of waiting to see what would happen, she was inspired to launch Side Farm Flowers which produces sustainable British flowers using environmentally friendly solutions including a cold greenhouse, and water sourced from a borehole.

The farm also houses some beehives nearby which pollinate the flowers and the honey is then also sold at the farm.

Based in Thurcroft, the business is already on track for expansion just four months after its launch, with Liz partnering with eco-florist, Hannah Jackson from The Garden of Evie, to accommodate more orders from event planners and venues that stage occasions such as weddings, baby showers and hen dos.

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To meet with the growing demand Liz has now invested in further materials and equipment to allow her to increase production, having secured a Kickstart grant from UKSE - a local investment company that provides finance of up to £1.5m to growing companies, but which also provides support to start-ups.

Looking to the future, Liz has ambitions to run workshops on the farm, to open a ‘pick your own flowers’ field for customers, to open a farm shop, and to purchase a small tractor.

Speaking on the success of the business so far Liz said: “It has been a real dream come true to start up the flower farm.

“The support from the local community has been tremendous, and I have been overwhelmed by how popular the produce is proving to be with customers at markets, country shows and at the farm itself.

“Thanks to the UKSE Kickstart grant I have also now been able to invest in additional equipment and materials which will allow me to increase production, facilitating the farm’s further expansion in the coming months.”

Steve Lyon, Area Manager at UKSE, said: “We’re so glad to see Liz’s passion for sustainable flower farming shine through and become a successful business model.

“We wish her all the best for the future and can’t wait to see what direction she takes the business in.”

Side Farm Flowers Facebook page
UKSE website

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News: Return of business events behind success of new promotional products company

A South Yorkshire entrepreneur who established his own business after he was made redundant during the pandemic is celebrating a very strong first quarter, fuelled by the surge in events taking place for the first time since restrictions lifted.

MAX Merchandise, a Rotherham-based promotional gift distribution business which specialises in branded products, was established by Andrew Swan in January 2022.

With more than 14 years in the commercial gift industry, Andrew was inspired to launch his own company after he was furloughed in March 2020, before he eventually left his job as a National Account Manager during lockdown.

The ambitious entrepreneur applied for a kickstart grant from UKSE – a local investment company that provides finance of up to £1.5m to growing companies, as well as providing support for start-ups - which allowed him to invest in stock and marketing activity.

Named in honour of Andrew’s lockdown dog, Max, MAX Merchandise has already established a loyal and rapidly growing client base, and has increased its turnover by 344% in comparison to its first month trading.

While Andrew is currently getting help from family to help keep up with demand, he is now on the hunt for official business premises, and is on track to recruit in the coming months.

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Speaking on the successful start to the business, Andrew said: “The launch of MAX Merchandise coincided with the relaunch of a lot of events which had been put on hold as a result of the uncertainty caused by lockdown and the pandemic.

“Demand for promotional products soared as a result, and I am absolutely delighted to say that we have since established a very loyal and rapidly growing client base. There is particular demand from customers with a product or service to sell, and those who exhibit at major business events.

“There’s also been real demand from companies who are welcoming staff back into the office on a more formal basis, so lots of travel mugs with business branding, pens and notebooks.

“The grant from UKSE gave me the financial boost I needed to go after premium prospects by proving the true value of my products. My goal is to run a business that is well respected, so that support early on was pivotal to our success to date.

“Looking to the future I am looking forward to finding more permanent premises where I can grow the product line, as well as my team.”

Steve Lyon, Area Manager at UKSE, added: “Andrew is a great example of the entrepreneurial spirit we have seen prevailing as we emerged from the pandemic. Andrew’s industry knowledge and established contacts has already set him off to a flying start.

“We wish him the best of luck moving forward.”

Max Merchandise website
UKSE website

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News: UKSE support helps set Sarah's salon off in style

A South Yorkshire entrepreneur who established a salon that specialises in beauty and nail treatments during the pandemic has expanded the business after just six months after, with the appointment of an apprentice.

Sarah Jayne’s was founded in August 2021 by its namesake who has 15 years’ experience working in beauty salons. She went on to pursue a career as a college lecturer before deciding to go it alone.

Sarah applied for a Kickstart grant from UKSE – a local investment company that provides finance of up to £1m to growing companies, but which also provides support to start-ups such as Sarah’s. The grant enabled her to invest in licencing, marketing and uniform costs to facilitate the launch.

She has since established a loyal and growing customer base, and has already set about creating job opportunities for young people in the region, having recently welcomed on board an apprentice who assists Sarah day to day to help keep up with demand.

Having been fully booked for the last six months, she also hosts a self-employed nail technician, as well as a make-up artist and aesthetic nurse now using Sarah Jayne’s to host monthly sessions at her salon in Wath upon Dearne, Rotherham.

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Speaking on the success of the business, Sarah said: “I am incredibly happy with how the business has grown over the past few months.

“The grant from UKSE was gave me the financial boost I needed to take on an apprentice, as well as helping to fund some equipment we needed in the salon, this has ultimately allowed me to offer more jobs to people in the surrounding area.”

Keith Williams, Regional Manager at UKSE commented: “We are pleased to see the tremendous success of Sarah Jayne’s and the support to which the grant has given her to get the business up and running.

“The business growth is testament to her hard work, and we are delighted that Sarah has already taken on an apprentice, as well as providing space for other beauty providers to work from and build a bigger client base.

“We wish her all the luck moving forward, and are very much looking forward to seeing where she takes the business next.”

Sarah Jayne's Facebook page
UKSE website

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News: Unleashing the inner entrepreneur

A Rotherham entrepreneur with a passion for pets has launched a new dog walking and training business having spotted a gap in the market as more people returned to office working in line with the easing of lockdown restrictions.

Nutty Mutts was founded by Gemma Mason in October of last year, offering the newest style of modern dog training using non-harsh methods, as well as a walking service which has proved particularly popular for those who are unable to work from home.

The former Account Manager, who was made redundant from her job during the pandemic, launched the business after rescuing her own dog, Jax, who had behavioural issues.

Gemma went on to secure her Diploma in Dog Training and secured a UKSE Kickstart Grant - a business that invests in start-ups and SMEs in steel towns across the UK, to help businesses expand and create job opportunities – which she invested in training gear, dog trackers, a dog crash tested car crate and branded clothing.

Having got off to a great start, Nutty Mutts is now on track for expansion, having established a steady client base with Monday-Friday walking services for set clients, as well as regular 1-1 training sessions.

Gemma is also planning to take on additional staff and acquire premises to host sessions.

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Commenting on the successful start to the business, Gemma said: “It feels great to start a business that I am truly passionate about, and I am absolutely delighted to have turned a difficult redundancy situation into a positive.

“Dog training is something I was always doing on the side as a bit of a hobby for friends and family, but with the surge in pet ownership during the pandemic, and the subsequent easing of restrictions which meant that many people returned to office working, it seemed like the right time to make things official.

“The grant from UKSE meant I was able to get all of the equipment I needed to get this business off the ground and running, and with such demand for my services already I can’t wait to see wat the future holds for Nutty Mutts.”

Steve Lyon, Regional Executive at UKSE, said: “Nutty Mutts is a fantastic example of someone turning a hobby into a business and reaping the benefits of doing so. Gemma has already secured a strong client base, and it’s great to see she is already planning for further growth with a view to creating job opportunities in the local area.

“We wish her the best of luck moving forward.”

Nutty Mutts website
UKSE 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: Transform SY - a new accelerator for South Yorkshire

An exciting new programme that is designed to support tech entrepreneurs to accelerate their business growth has launched in South Yorkshire.

Transform SY will form part of the ambitious TEAM SY project – a joint initiative between Capital Enterprise (a non-profit organisation striving to make the UK the best place to start a business) and Barnsley Council.

Part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through TEAM SY in partnership with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) and UKSE, TEAM SY will accelerate the development and market-making of a regional tech ecosystem.

The Transform SY programme, which will run throughout 2022 and aims to support 60 businesses, will be delivered by Entrepreneurial Spark, one of the first accelerators established in the United Kingdom back in 2012. This will be Entrepreneurial Spark’s 22nd accelerator, and their first opportunity for entrepreneurs in South Yorkshire. Other programmes have included a UK-wide network of hubs, programmes in Asia and Central America, and most recently the national Space Accelerator in partnership with the UK Space Agency.

Transform SY is open for applications and will recruit a first cohort of 20 entrepreneurs. The aim is to build a cohort of startups that represents South Yorkshire as a whole, with the diversity of skills, ages, ethnicity, and socio-economic background from across the region.

Founders that join the programme will be immersed in an intensive 6-month experience, using techniques honed from 40,000 hours of deep interaction with entrepreneurs globally. The accelerator is free of charge and no equity will be taken, to remove any financial barriers to participation. Participants will improve their ability and performance based on 4 outcomes:

- Mindset – Developing the way they think to create ambitious leaders
- Business – Creating a sustainable growth engine
- Funding – Exploring opportunities within, but also beyond private investment
- Community – Nurturing a network that transcends geography and is formative for future success and collaboration

Transform SY was born from the necessity to improve South Yorkshire’s entrepreneurial landscape, creating a critical mass of credible, visible, and diverse entrepreneurs to serve as leaders and role models in the community. In turn these founders will inspire others to start businesses and create opportunities by drawing funding and talent to the region. The programme aims to offer the opportunity for more people from all walks of life to become entrepreneurs, and to reduce the gaps between startups and funding bodies.

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Transform SY is a result of a collaboration between public and private sectors. The programme is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund through TEAM SY in partnership with the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and UKSE. All partners share a vision to deliver inclusive economic growth by driving up the success rate for entrepreneurs and contributing to a cultural shift that will lead to a more sustainable business ecosystem.

Mike Stephens, CEO of Entrepreneurial Spark, said: “South Yorkshire has been my home for many years, so I am delighted to be able to bring Entrepreneurial Spark to the region. Having worked with SMEs here for over ten years I have met some fantastic entrepreneurs, and this is a great opportunity to unearth more of them from communities throughout South Yorkshire. Entrepreneurs have a massive role to play in generating an inclusive economic recovery from the pandemic and mobilising them here has the potential to deliver this across the whole region.”

Darren Balcombe, deputy CEO of Capital Enterprise, added: “We are very excited to see Transform SY be announced. We want to see South Yorkshire's startup founders gain access to a programme that develops entrepreneurial leadership, whilst developing businesses and a lasting community.

TEAM SY is a key project that demonstrates how South Yorkshire is working to further grow its high value digital and tech cluster. As a region we are behind others in our startup rates and TEAM SY is responding to this by introducing fantastic accelerator programmes like Transform SY to create a strong, sustainable, and competitive entrepreneurial ecosystem."

Steve Lyon, Regional Executive for UKSE, said: “This is an exciting initiative that will further cement South Yorkshire as the place to be for tech enabled businesses spanning a whole range of sectors.

“The accelerator will provide participants with invaluable access to support and advice from a wealth of experts in their individual fields, helping to fuel sustainable growth and create further job opportunities in the region.

“UKSE is delighted to be involved and very much looking forward to meeting with the applicants in due course.”

Dan Jarvis, Mayor of South Yorkshire, added: “We are delighted to be partners of Transform South Yorkshire. Through our own plan for economic recovery and renewal, my MCA is working towards a stronger, greener, and fairer South Yorkshire. Transform South Yorkshire’s programme of support is an exciting opportunity for local founders to play their part too in our region’s recovery. This specific scheme will not only act as an accelerator for local entrepreneurs but puts inclusivity and sustainability at the heart of a broader programme of our local eco-business system. I am very pleased to see it launched.”

Businesses registered or economically active in South Yorkshire, founded less than three years ago and using technology in some way, are eligible to apply for Transform SY. Preference will be given to founders who are working on their business full-time and are post-proof of concept stage. Applications will be accepted until December 17 and the programme will commence on January 10 2022.

Transform SY website
TEAM SY website

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News: Sweet smell of success for Rotherham home fragrance business

A Rotherham entrepreneur who was made redundant during the pandemic has expanded his luxury home fragrance business with a brand-new workspace just six months after its launch.

Tom Justice started producing handmade bespoke candles as gifts for friends and family as a money saving exercise while he was furloughed from his job as a retail manager.

However, when news of his products started to spread and official orders started to pour in the 24-year-old quit his job and officially set up the Just Wicks online shop in order to keep up with demand. His Facebook page already boasts almost 3k followers.

Selling everything from wax melts & burners, candles, decorative candles, reed diffusers, home cologne, hand & body wash and bath bombs, to shower steamers, car air fresheners, carpet freshener and electric burners, the business has gone from strength to strength since its launch in April this year.

When restrictions lifted over the summer the ambitious entrepreneur also secured a Kickstart grant from UKSE – a business that invests in steel areas across the UK - which allowed him to invest in additional products and display equipment so thar he could also attend artisan markets across the region.

Now, in order to keep up with a surge in sales to coincide with the countdown to Christmas, Tom has just signed for Just Wicks’ very first unit in Dinnington to store more stock and facilitate the expansion of the business. The firm has teken space in RiDO's Matrix business centre.

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Tom said: “It has truly been a whirlwind over the last six months.

“What started as a hobby to keep myself occupied and to save a few pennies during the pandemic has turned into a rather demanding business, with sales rocketing from just a couple hundred pounds a month to thousands.

“I am incredibly grateful to my friends and family who waxed lyrical about my products and gave me the confidence to take the next steps, and to UKSE for the Kickstart grant which allowed me to scale up and take advantage of the sales opportunities at the artisan markets.”

Despite a growing national online client base, Tom says his diary is currently full of events local to his South Yorkshire base having had pop-up stalls at Meadowhall Shopping Centre, Elsecar Heritage Centre and St Margaret’s Parish Church in Swinton over the past month alone.

He added: “We’ve been overwhelmed with the support that we have received from our customers both online, and at the various events that we have attended.

“It got to a point now where we really needed to expand in order to keep up with the demand and so we are on the lookout for a warehouse to store more products. At the moment we are operating solely from home and it’s not really sustainable.

“Currently I have some help from my partner, but I expect we will need to recruit in the near future if we are going to be able to deal with the influx of orders.”

Steve Lyon, Regional Executive at UKSE commented: “Just Wicks is another great example of the sort of entrepreneurial spirit that we have here in South Yorkshire, and the success of the business today is a real testament to Tom’s drive and perseverance.

“As we enter the Christmas period, I have no doubt that he will continue to build on his success and we wish him every success for the future – especially as he looks to expand with the acquisition of new businesses premises and new team members.”

Just Wicks website
UKSE website

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News: Rotherham boardgame creator launches first product at UK Games Expo

Rotherham-based boardgame creator Teleporthole Games has launched its first boardgame ‘Attack of the Intergalactic Gherkins’ at the popular UK Games Expo in Birmingham.

Entrepreneur and former business advisor Andrew Klinkenberg launched the business during the pandemic amidst a surge in demand for at-home entertainment solutions fuelled by the lockdown restrictions.

The boardgame industry as a whole has seen an upward trajectory of growth with the latest statistics from Businesswire predicting a growth of 13% between 2021-2026.

Teleporthole Games’ attendance at the popular UK Games Expo was made possible by a Kickstart scheme from UKSE – a business that invests in steel areas across the UK – which allowed Andrew to secure a stand, as well as pay for marketing materials for the expo. Using a local manufacturer and working with UK distributors, Andrew is hoping to put South Yorkshire on the map in terms of boardgame production.

Their debuting family game ‘Attack of the Intergalactic Gherkins’ is a self-described space-vegetable-enraged adventure card game for ages 7+ and 2-6 players. Players must assist the hapless astronauts rebuild their ships having been set-upon by intergalactic gherkins.

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Andrew Klinkenberg said: “The last year has been a real rollercoaster in terms of establishing the business and bringing our first product to market, but it has been a dream of mine to establish a South-Yorkshire boardgame business for so long and I am excited to be gaining traction.

“The UK Games Expo is the largest Hobby Games Convention in the UK, and it appeals to families as well as enthusiasts, so it made sense for me to launch my first project there.

“The funding from UKSE was vital in facilitating that and in accelerating the manufacture of the stock that I will be selling, so I am hugely grateful.

“Longer term I really want to expand internationally and I already have three further boardgames in the pipeline. Meanwhile I am committed to using local manufacturing and distributors to help create jobs in and around South Yorkshire.”

Steve Lyon, Regional executive at UKSE said: “The figures show that the games industry is booming at the moment, and we’re pleased to have supported Andrew to Kickstart his ambition of putting Rotherham and South Yorkshire on the game manufacturing map.

“It is exciting to see the vision for bringing Teleporthole Games to a wider market, and potentially even internationally, and I wish Andrew the best of luck moving the business to the next stage.”

Teleporthole Games website
UKSE website

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News: Rotherham start-up empowers care-experienced young people

A Rotherham-based organisation working with care-experienced young people is continuing its mission of empowering individuals and facilitating independence after receiving a grant from UKSE.

Established by Charlotte Elliott at the beginning of last year, Affinity 2020 provides individualised support services for those aged 0-25, equipping care-experienced young people with employability skills, arts and leadership experiences and knowledge about their health and wellbeing.

As the recipients of a UKSE kickstart grant, Affinity 2020 has been able to develop their website, drastically improving their key communication platform.

Centred around the goal of empowering individuals and instilling independence, Affinity 2020 is on track to create £1000 worth of cultural leadership opportunities for every care-given young person in Rotherham by 2030.

Through helping to secure equality of opportunity across five key areas – employment, health, education, culture and leadership – Affinity 2020 is playing a crucial role in breaking down barriers faced by care-experienced young people.

Having taken on the role of foster sister in her late teens and early 20s, Charlotte gained first-hand insight into the world of care and, upon approaching 40, decided to take the leap and establish Affinity 2020.

Currently, the organisation is developing a parental pedagogy programme over five Local Authorities, helping ex-care children who are facing problems as new parents by imparting knowledge, skills and understanding, encouraging them to develop of their own parenting styles in a safe space.

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Reflecting on the success of Affinity 2020, Charlotte said: “It’s been a great year for us and we’re already seeing the impact of our work, reflected in the personal development and achievements of young people in Rotherham.

“Thanks to the UKSE funding, we’ve been able to build our website, enabling quick and easy communication with those who we help.”

Charlotte added: “Having spent the past decade working in education leadership, I’ve seen first-hand the discrepancies in attainment which affect care-given children. For example, only 7% passed their GCSEs in English and Maths at Level 5 in comparison to 40% nationally.

“Now more so than ever, care-experienced people require support to make sure that they are not further disadvantaged following the pandemic. Creating equality of opportunity is therefore at the centre of everything we do.”

Keith Williams at UKSE commented: “It’s great to see Charlotte’s passion for this incredibly important initiative and I admire the work Affinity 2020 are doing to provide a range of skills and opportunities to those who have been disadvantaged in their early years.”

Affinity 2020 Facebook page
UKSE website

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News: Enterprising craftsman at the sharp end of self-employment

A specialist cutler is forging a new career path by establishing a new knife retail business in Rotherham called Dearne Forge.

Selling unique one-of-a-kind knives, the business provides bespoke products that are made to customers exact requirements from its workshop in Wath upon Dearne.

Having a background in the Royal Marines and as a scout leader, Kevin Sandham-Mulholland began his metalwork career as a hobby three years ago, he now specialises in the production of bush craft knives, forging the blade from Sheffield steel and hand-crafting the handle and leather scabbard.

Receiving kickstart grant funding from UKSE, Dearne Forge has been able to purchase a professional grinder and hand-tools that will mean it can better refine products.

The service currently includes the delivery of products in a personalised wooden box to match the knife and add to the high-quality feel of the items.

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UKSE was launched in 1975 to support the economic development of steel industry areas. It operates a Kickstart Fund for new start businesses and  also provides loan and equity finance of up to £1m to existing companies which are growing, particularly those creating jobs.

Kevin Sandham-Mulholland, founder of Dearne Forge (pictured), said: "Since setting-up the business I have had numerous requests from customers from throughout the Yorkshire region, I even got asked to produce a hand-crafted meat cleaver for a wedding present. – Don't worry they are both chefs!

"I would like to thank UKSE for providing me with valuable equipment that will allow the business to produce products more efficiently and which will hopefully aid me in my ambitions to start stocking the products in independent shops in the local area."

Alan Stanley at UKSE, added: "It's great to see the launch of Dearne Forge, a business that has locally sourced steel at the heart of its business and providing top-quality items that have a personal touch

"I hope the venture continues in its recent success and continues to grow in the next few years."

Dearne Forge Facebook page
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News: Life is sweet for enterprising Rotherham teacher

A business providing bespoke and tailored event hire services for weddings as well as special occasions has been "overwhelmed" by orders for its mobile sweet cart following its launch.

Little Miss Sweetie Hire was started at the end of last year by Jodie Hodkin after she left her position as Assistant Head Teacher at a local school, to allow her to spend more time with her seven-year-old daughter and make her hobby of making delicious snacks her new vocation.

Using a Kickstart Grant from UKSE, Jodie purchased event hire equipment and covered set up costs associated with the business.

UKSE is a subsidiary of Tata Steel tasked with assisting the economic regeneration of communities affected by changes in the steel industry

After receiving an influx of orders over the festive period for clients such as Wetherspoons and Rotherham Parent/Carers Forum, Little Miss Sweetie Hire is looking forward to helping couples make their special day memorable.

Alongside her sweet cart, filled with locally sourced sweets and homemade treats, Jodie also offers four-foot LED lights that spell out ‘LOVE’ which can be hired to display on a wedding dance floor.

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Jodie Hodkin, founder of Little Miss Sweetie Hire, said: "The positive reception I have received since launching the business is really promising and over the last month, I have taken a lot of bookings for Spring weddings which I can't wait to tackle.

"As my father worked for Rotherham Engineering Steel for 20 years the work that UKSE does is something that really resonates with me. I would like to thank them and the Rotherham Investment Development Office (RIDO) for helping me set up this business and I hope it will expand both in services and personnel over the coming years."

Alan Stanley, regional executive at UKSE, added: "It's great to see Jodie provide event hire services that were not already available in the local area. Her sweet cart is charming, and I wish her all the best moving forward."

Little Miss Sweetie Hire Facebook page
UKSE website



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News: Enterprising Rotherham family create Little Town of Play

An exciting new child's play centre, providing unique and tailor-made role-playing facilities, has opened its doors to families in Swinton, Rotherham.

The Little Town of Play is a family run business launched by Steve and Sophie Siddle, providing a safe place for children to play, learn, and develop their cognitive, social, emotional, and physical skills.

Converting a commercial unit at Rowms Lane, the "town" consists of 11 play areas where children can dress up and be anything from a teacher, vet or a fire fighter. It also boasts a café for parents to relax in as their children make new friends.

After running a wholesale business for several years, the couple decided to start a new venture that their three-year-old son could enjoy and provide an alternative to the standard soft play centre.

Kickstart funding from UKSE – a business that invests in steel areas in the UK – has supported the launch of the business and has covered the set-up costs associated with it.

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Sophie Siddle, founder of The Little Town of Play, said: "At Little Town of Play children of all ages have the opportunity to dress up and enter the role of any character they would like for the day.

"So far we've had a fantastic reception to the facilities and there are a number of families who we hope will become long term customers, thank you UKSE for helping us make this dream a reality."

Alan Stanley, regional executive at UKSE (pictured, right), added: "It is great to see The Little Town of Play open in Swinton providing something new which wasn't already on offer in the area.

"Having already employed a manager to help with the day to day running of the business, and with Steve and Sophie's drive and commitment, I'm sure the venture will be a great success."

The Little Town of Play website
UKSE website

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News: UKSE grant for Rotherham’s VSE

A specialist Rotherham-based personalised vehicle security business has invested in new diagnostic equipment and purchased new premises thanks to a funding grant from UKSE.

Vehicle Security & Electrical (VSE) was established in February of this year by experienced auto electrician Ben Hampshire who wanted to launch a "one-stop-shop" for vehicle tracking systems, immobilisers, deadbolts, fleet tracking and car alarm systems.

Following a successful launch, and having established a strong customer base across Yorkshire, the business is now on track to expand – with the new site providing open plan warehouse facilities and office space to accommodate a growing workforce and more equipment.

UKSE – a company that works in steel areas across the UK to help businesses grow and create jobs – approved the £500 grant as part of its Kickstart Fund, which was used to launch the new VSE website, produce branded uniforms for the company's team and purchase new diagnostic equipment.

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Ben commented that the increased brand awareness, the new premises and the state-of-the-art tools would allow them to offer a more "comprehensive and professional" service to its growing client base of engineering and logistics firms across the region.

He said: "Since launching VSE earlier this year we have seen a great demand for the services we provide from a range of one-off jobs to longer term working relationships with businesses across Yorkshire.

"Our new workshop, which is ideally located in Swinton puts us at the heart of South Yorkshire, giving us a permanent site where we can service clients' vehicles and accommodate the team which we anticipate will expand over the next 12 to 24 months."

After being made redundant at the end of 2018, Ben launched the business to provide a range of services that would support a wide range of businesses no matter what their size or budget.

Alan Stanley, regional executive at UKSE, said: "Ben is a true entrepreneur, and the driving force behind VSE which has experienced considerable success since it launched just over nine months ago.

"We're delighted to have been able to support him with our Kickstart Fund which will help to secure the company's premises and raise awareness of his services which, in turn, will fuel further growth and create new job opportunities in the local area.

"We look forward to following his success in the months to come and wish him the best of luck with his ambitions."

VSE website
UKSE website

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News: Rotherham aquatics store nets UKSE funding

A pioneering pet store, which offers customers 100% sustainably sourced tropical and pond fish has launched in Rotherham following kickstart funding received from UK Steel Enterprise.

Sustainable Aquatics, based in Herringthorpe Rotherham, provides customers with personalised and bespoke packages designed based on their needs, ensuring they have the right selection of fish, plants and dry goods to suit the needs of their home, office or business.

In July 2019, founder Carl Goodman formed the business and he has used the £500 grant from UKSE – an organisation tasked with supporting growing businesses in communities affected by changes in the steel industry – to help him with initial set up costs and licensing requirements.

The funds also went towards advertising and the purchase of new stock from Carl’s trusted base of national wholesalers who share his like-minded vision of only selling fish which have been ethically sourced.

With a background of working with livestock since the age of 15, Carl previously worked as a Fisheries Officer for the Environmental Agency for 2 years, meaning he understands what sourcing methods are sustainable and ethical and can provide customers with best practice method on looking after fish.

He launched the business to ensure that those seeking to buy fish in the local area had the option to purchase responsibly sourced fish on their doorstep. 

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Carl said: “The UKSE funding has been so integral to helping me launch Sustainable Aquatics.

“I’m so pleased to have been able to set up a sustainable and environmentally friendly business at my home in Rotherham, it has been a venture I have wanted to start for a number of years as the local community can really benefit from the products we sell.

“The whole ethos of the business is to ensure that we can contribute to the well-being of the community and the animals we sell. As part of our initiatives we are planning to donate some fish to a local hospice as research shows that those with long-term health conditions can respond positively to wildlife.

“I’m hoping that in the near future I can expand the business and open a high street store with the view of bringing on new staff members to help me.”

Regional Executive at UKSE, Alan Stanley added: “Carl’s offering is unique and is something that wasn’t on offer in Rotherham, I’m so pleased that our kickstart grant has helped launch Sustainable Aquatics.

“It will be great to see how Carl’s business grows in the next few years and I hope he will be able to expand his business and serve not only Rotherham but the wider South Yorkshire region.”

Sustainable Aquatics website
UKSE website

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