News: Sweet success for Rotherham retail apprentice at national awards

An apprentice who went from Saturday girl to managing her own store in little over a year has won a prestigious award from People 1st, the skills and workforce development charity.

Jenna, who lives in Rotherham, won the Retail Intermediate Apprentice Award at an awards ceremony held in The House of Commons after being nominated by her tutor Jayne Wills at The Source Skills Academy.

Jenna started her apprenticeship in September 2013 at the Whistle Stop Sweet Shop in the Imperial Buildings in Rotherham town centre.

Opened in 2010 selling sweets and sweet gifts, the sweet boutique expanded to larger neighbouring premises in 2013 to allow for the development of its Temperance Bar - selling traditional non-alcoholic sarsaparilla and cordials along with other fruit and sweet-based drinks.

Halfway through 17-year-old Jenna's training in Level 2 Retail Skills Diploma; Kara and Tony Chapman, the owners of the Whistle Stop Sweet Shop, were so impressed that they began to discuss the possibility of her managing her own store. In June 2014, they began to plan the new store and found the ideal location in the entrance to Orchard Square in Sheffield City Centre with Jenna involved every step of the way.

The new store opened in October when Jenna was promoted to store manager. And now she manages her own apprentice.

The People 1st charity is for employers in the hospitality, tourism, leisure, travel, passenger transport and retail industries. The judges were representatives from across the industries and included Lloyd Thomas from The Co-operative. The judges said: "Jenna has had great success within a small shop environment. She has been promoted and has grown as an exceptional professional and is a worthy winner of this award."

Jenna said "It was so exciting to receive my award at the House of Commons. I hadn't been to London before so it made a great day out and we enjoyed seeing the sights. I was so surprised to hear my name called out and I can’t wait to put the trophy somewhere where all our customers can see."

Kara Chapman, owner of the Whistle Stop Sweet Shop, added: "We're so proud of Jenna and she thoroughly deserves this award. Jenna is a valued member of the team - if Jenna sets her mind on achieving something; there is no stopping her. I'm sure she has a great career ahead of her and this award is a fantastic accolade for her."

Based at Meadowhall, The Source Skills Academy is a flagship centre providing state of the art training and development facilities with a focus on the retail and service sector. A Rotherham base opened on the High Street in 2011 with support from Rotherham Council and the Skills Funding Agency.

Keen to continue expanding on her knowledge, Jenna is hoping to study for a Level 3 Retail Management qualification with The Source to improve her strength as a manager.

Whistle Stop Sweet Shop website
The Source website

Images: The Source

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News: Rotherham retail apprentice shortlisted for national award

An apprentice who went from Saturday girl to managing her own store in little over a year is at the House of Commons this week, nominated for a national award.

Jenna Unwin, who lives in Rotherham, started her apprenticeship in September 2013 at the Whistle Stop Sweet Shop in the Imperial Buildings in Rotherham town centre.

Opened in 2010 selling sweets and sweet gifts, the sweet boutique expanded to larger neighbouring premises in 2013 to allow for the development of its Temperance Bar - selling traditional non-alcoholic sarsaparilla and cordials along with other fruit and sweet-based drinks.

Halfway through 17-year-old Jenna's training in Level 2 Retail Skills Diploma; Kara and Tony Chapman, the owners of the Whistle Stop Sweet Shop, were so impressed that they began to discuss the possibility of her managing her own store. In June 2014, they began to plan the new store and found the ideal location in the entrance to Orchard Square in Sheffield City Centre with Jenna involved every step of the way.

The new store opened in October when Jenna was promoted to store manager. And now she manages her own apprentice.

Jenna has now been shortlisted for a prestigious award from People 1st; the skills and workforce development charity for employers in the hospitality, tourism, leisure, travel, passenger transport and retail industries after being nominated by her tutor Jayne Wills at The Source Skills Academy.

Based at Meadowhall, The Source Skills Academy is a flagship centre providing state of the art training and development facilities with a focus on the retail and service sector. A Rotherham base opened on the High Street in 2011 with support from Rotherham Council and the Skills Funding Agency.

Keen to continue expanding on her knowledge, Jenna is hoping to study for a Level 3 Retail Management qualification with The Source to improve her strength as a manager.

Jayne Wills, tutor at The Source Skills Academy, said: "Jenna continuously astounds me with her knowledge and enthusiasm for retail. Jenna's maturity is so refreshing; she is a very caring person and she really looks after her staff. She is a very bright young woman and I look forward to following her career as I know she will go far."

Jenna Unwin, manager of the Whistle Stop Sweet Shop in Sheffield, said: "I was so excited when I received the email saying I'd been nominated and was invited to The House of Commons. I'm really enjoying my role at the new store and this news is the icing on the cake."

Kara Chapman, owner of the Whistle Stop Sweet Shop, added: "We're so proud of Jenna and she thoroughly deserves this award. Jenna is such a valuable member of the team - if Jenna sets her mind on achieving something; there is no stopping her. I'm sure she has a great career ahead of her and this award would be a fantastic accolade."

Whistle Stop Sweet Shop website
The Source website

Images: The Source

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News: Portas highlights Rotherham town centre turnaround

Mary Portas has followed up the 2011 review into the nation's high streets by publishing a think piece on why they still matter, and again the retail guru has referenced the work taking place in Rotherham as a "beacon many should follow."

With many of the original recommendations, such as a national markets day and the Future High Street Forum, taken on board by the government, some, like wholesale changes to business rates and planning, have just been just tinkered with. The latest essay highlights the successes of towns which have followed her guidance.

Rotherham is a Portas Pilot, having secured £100,000 in government funding to use innovative local ideas to revitalise the town centre. The borough also secured extra funding from British Land and The High Street Renewal Fund.

Having last visited Rotherham town centre in 2011 as part of her Government-commissioned review, Mary Portas was back in the borough earlier this year. After seeing the success of heritage-led regeneration on the High Street, the support of entrepreneurial retailers in Pop-Up shops and the newly opened, Makers Emporium, Portas described the turnaround as fantastic and was bursting with pride at was has been achieved.

In the latest essay, entitled, "Why our High Streets Still Matter", Rotherham is used as a case study of how a local council has taken a very active role in the regeneration of a once desolate town centre.

The report picks out key statistics such as the 86 new businesses that have opened in the last three years and the reduction in vacant units on key shopping streets from over 20% to 14%, as well as the improvements in shopper satisfaction.

Also picked out for praise are a number of encouraging projects such as the popular Whistle Stop Sweet Shop & Temperance Bar, that has expanded with the backing of the council through the Portas Pilot funding.

Chris Hamby's ambitious plans to bring listed buildings on the High Street back to life is also praised, as is the way his vision was backed with an affordable loan by the council when the banks wouldn't.

The Makers Emporium, home to 30 local artisans and crafters, is also highlighted for the way in which a number of groups have come together to create an innovative retail space. It is described as an example of a very clever way to differentiate the High Street offer and become a destination.

In the report, Mary Portas, said: "The turnaround achieved in Rotherham is one of the best case studies I know.

"Collaboration at its finest; an inspired and talented Town Team, an enlightened and committed Local Authority, a busy and ambitious local college and a very supportive British Land.

"The results they've started to see are impressive to say the least. If you have an interest in High Streets, go and visit Rotherham and get the story first hand."

Rotherham town centre website
Portas Agency website

Images: RMBC

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News: Rotherham's Retail Matters

The latest in a series of retail conferences and networking events at The Source heard from a number of Rotherham retailers, large and small, on why retail matters.

Based at Meadowhall, The Source Skills Academy is a flagship centre providing state of the art training and development facilities with a focus on the retail and service sector.

A Rotherham base opened on the High Street in 2011 with support from Rotherham Council and the Skills Funding Agency.

James Wilson, the Rotherham-born founder of retail business, We Love Sleep, shared his experience of online retail at his company that revolves around solving sleep problems rather than just selling beds and other products.

After a fire at its Sheffield showroom earlier this year, We Love Sleep is currently trading from RiDO's Fusion @ Magna business centre in Templeborough. James discussed how being online had saved the business, enabling it to continue to trade at home and internationally and gave useful tips to fellow retailers about trading online. He said: "If you are good at retail, you will be good online."

David Hanney, chief executive of Planet X bikes in Rotherham discussed the rapid growth of the company that was established by keen triathlete, Dave Loughran in the 1990s to produce dirt, jump and trials bikes. It specialises in internet sales and making bikes to order.

Previously of Sheffield retailer, Go Outdoors, Hanney joined Planet X last year. He said: "I saw a business with huge potential asking itself some serious questions about its future."

In the past year, Planet X secured a finance package from Barclays Bank, increased the number of employees from 50 to 100, brought back assembly from Taiwan to Rotherham and established NVQ training programmes with the help of The Source for its staff. It has also recently opened a new store in Barnsley to complement its showroom at its Templeborough HQ.

Kara Chapman described the journey her business, The Whistle Stop Sweet Shop, has gone on since it was opened in the Rotherham's Imperial Buildings in 2010. She told the audience: "The first year was our hardest ever where we were learning at our own cost. We moved forward in our second year whilst our third year saw the biggest move forward with new premises and expansion. I expect our fourth year to be a year of consolidation."

Doubling in size, the sweet shop opened the very first 21st Century temperance bar offering sarsparilla and cordials along with other fruit and sweet based drinks. Earlier this year it began offering sweet-making workshops and parties.

Tim O'Connell of Rotherham Investment & Development Office (RiDO), the regeneration arm of Rotherham Council, gave an update on the measures to improve the retail offer in Rotherham town centre. This includes the involvement in the government's Portas pilot scheme and the support to new independent retailers and the pop-up shop concept which is expected to expand down the High Street.

Tim said: "It is happening and it is delivering change. Footfall continues to increase, vacancies are down and we have seen a net increase of 44 businesses since 2010."

We Love Sleep website
Planet X website
The Whistle Stop Sweet Shop website
Rotherham town centre website
The Source website

Images: The Source

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News: New workshops keeping Rotherham sweet

Budding confectioners are being invited to suck it and see in Rotherham town centre as the Whistle Stop Sweet Shop begins offering sweet-making workshops in the Imperial Buildings.

Opened in 2010, the sweet shop expanded to larger neighbouring premises in February this year to allow for the development of its Temperance Bar - selling traditional non-alcoholic sarsaparilla and cordials along with other fruit and sweet-based drinks.

The extra space also enabled enterprising couple, Tony and Kara Chapman, to begin making their own sweets on the premises, and now sweet-toothed members of the public can have a go too.

Kara Chapman, owner of The Whistle Stop Sweet Shop (pictured above with one of the first sweet-making parties), said: "The shop and the Temperance Bar have both been a great success, with a fantastic response from the public. Customers seem to love the idea of traditional sweets, so we thought we would start making them on the premises - with particular focus on the "Made in Rotherham" lines. The obvious step from that was to offer sweet-making workshops, which will be great for parties as well as offering a new experience for both children and adults alike.

"The workshops are aimed at anyone who would like to have a go at making sweets. The youngest confectioner we can teach is aged seven right through to 107! We can provide sweet-making parties for all occasions, and can also provide one-on-one tutoring to pass on the art of sugar crafting and sweet making.

"Aspiring young chefs can make a variety of sweets including fondant mice and bumble bees right through to sherbet and coconut ice. The adult trainee confectioner can make any sweet they can think of from the "sweet and suckable" hardboiled, through to the "soft and squishy" marshmallow. And the serious confectioner can gain practical experience through a series of demonstrations followed by hands-on sweet making, or sugar blowing."

The retailer's expansion was supported by a grant from Rotherham Council's Business Vitality Grants Scheme and through funding from the high profile "Portas Pilot" initiative which offers support to new businesses and those looking to expand their business in the town.

Councillor Gerald Smith, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Development for Rotherham Borough Council, said: "Traders like this do not rest on their laurels - they are always looking to expand and bring something new and different to the town centre, which is absolutely great for the people coming into Rotherham, It makes for a truly different shopping experience."

Whistle Stop Sweet Shop website

Images: Whistle Stop Sweet Shop / Facebook

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News: Sweet source of support for Rotherham retailers

The Source Skills Academy Rotherham continues to offer advice, guidance and training services to Rotherham businesses to increase skills levels, create apprenticeship opportunities and to support trade in the town centre.

Based at Meadowhall, The Source Skills Academy is a flagship centre providing state of the art training and development facilities with a focus on the retail and service sector.

A Rotherham base opened on the High Street in 2011 with support from Rotherham Council and the Skills Funding Agency.

As a new business, Whistle Stop Sweet Shop needed specialist support to point them in the right direction for training, recruitment and business development. Having previously worked for retailer Toys'R'Us, owners Kara and Tony Chapman were taking a leap into running their own business and called on The Source to offer the much needed guidance.

George Elliott, business account manager at The Source Skills Academy Rotherham, met Kara and Tony in 2011 and suggested a range of new ideas to help grow their business. From visual merchandising observations and recommendations, to marketing and promotional plans and training assessments, Kara and Tony have accessed a range of business development ideas.

One of Kara and Tony's main focuses was encouraging customers through the door of their Imperial Buildings shop, and after a professional visual merchandiser from The Source made a visit to the store to illustrate new store layouts and creative designs, Kara and Tony felt comfortable to use their creativity to develop exciting displays, witnessing an increase in sales and a brand new customer base.

Following an increase in sales, the retailers have recruited additional members of staff, including apprentices through The Source. Kara Chapman, owner of the Whistle Stop Sweet Shop, said: "I wasn't familiar with apprenticeships before, but after The Source explained the benefits of recruiting an apprentice, we realised that it wouldn't put a strain on our business and instead we would be developing our staff base whilst bringing fresh ideas to our store.

"The Source has encouraged us to evaluative our business progress and consider our store from a customer's perspective. The team have offered an honest approach which was refreshing - they actually listened to what we wanted and came up with solutions.

"The Source's support has taught us valuable businesses lessons which have opened up a wealth of opportunities for us, including moving into new premises and opening a temperance bar which will generate additional business for us in the future. The Source Skills Academy has made a huge impact on our business."

Whistle Stop Sweet Shop website
The Source website

Images: The Source

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News: New temperance bar gets a cordial welcome in Rotherham

The very first 21st Century temperance bar opened in Rotherham town centre recently offering sarsparilla and cordials along with other fruit and sweet based drinks.

The Whistle Stop Sweet Shop has been a major success since it was opened by Tony and Kara Chapman in the town's Imperial Buildings in 2010. They have now moved next door to take over a unit twice the size of its exiting one. The new space will be used to house an expanded sweet shop, a sweet manufacturing area and a Temperance Bar.

Tony Chapman, owner of the Whistle Stop Sweet Shop, said: "We want to give our customers an experience they cannot get anywhere else. The bar is designed to give an authentic feel but it won't be a theme park/museum; it will be place to enjoy really nice drinks in a unique setting. People are becoming more health conscious and are looking for something new, well we have something new but with nearly 200 years of history behind it."

The project is being supported by a grant from Rotherham Borough Council's Business Vitality Grants Scheme which offers support to new businesses and those looking to expand their business in the town.

So far 17 grant awards have been made with a further four made through the Street Cafe Grant scheme.

Kara Chapman said they were excited about the new venture and delighted to be expanding their business in Rotherham: "We started selling bottles of sasaparilla and other soft drinks alongside our sweets a while ago and the response from people was fantastic.

"We've had lots of people asking us about whether we can get other types of drinks in and then a few older customers who remember the sarsparilla bars of years gone by were saying wouldn't it be great if we could get one back in the town.

"We thought it was a great idea and combining it with our plans to expand the sweet business we decided to give it a go."

In addition to the "bar" the shop will continue to sell a wide range of sweets and gifts, and the next stage will be to introduce sweet making on the premises with the chance to watch the sweet makers at work and develop a range of "made in Rotherham" sweets for sale.

John Guest, of the Guest & Chrimes foundry was a leading figure in The Rotherham and Masbrough Temperance Society in Rotherham, funding new institutes for learning and lecturing in the town. He had an ambition to bring together 1,000 confirmed teetotallers in Rotherham at a time when the local miners and navies working on the railways were renowned for heavy drinking.

Kara Chapman, added: "Rotherham owes a lot to John Guest and his legacy can be seen in many places in the town. He worked tirelessly for the good of the working people. We are hoping to have a drink named after him and available in the bar – which we think would be a fitting tribute to Mr Guest."

Whistle Stop Sweet Shop website

Images: RMBC

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News: Temperance Bar set to be added to Rotherham's retail mix

A retro Temperance Bar where customers can enjoy Sarsaparilla and other special cordials could open soon in Rotherham town centre.

The plans have been outlined by the enterprising owners of The Whistle Stop Sweet Shop in the Imperial Buildings as part of the next stage of growth for the company.


Plans include moving next door to take over a unit twice the size of its exiting one. The new space will be used to house an expanded sweet shop, a sweet manufacturing area and a Temperance Bar.

Popular in the North of England in the 19th century, the bars were established in conjunction with the Temperance Society who advocated a moderate approach to life and warned against excessive alcohol consumption.

Kara Chapman, owner of The Whistle Stop Sweet Shop, said: "Over the past two years we have constantly been asked by our customers to find and stock Sarsaparilla, as they remembered Rotherham's three Sarsaparilla Bars. We sourced the Sarsaparilla cordial from the only Temperance Bar left in England. We have been stocking this cordial range in our shop for the last six months, and the response has been fantastic."

The store opened in October 2010 offering a huge range of quality traditional, retro and modern sweets. It is hoping to access new financial support through the "Portas pilot" scheme operated by the council to help current retailers undertake significant business development projects.

Funding from UK Steel Enterprise's Kickstart Fund has also allowed the shop to launch an e-commerce website which has proved a springboard for growth.

The Kickstart Fund is a business finance scheme that provides grants of up to £500 to start-up businesses to purchase essential equipment and or services that can get them trading.

UK Steel Enterprise is a subsidiary of Tata Steel with a main investment fund that provides business finance in amounts from £25,000 up to £750,000 to companies in South Yorkshire and other areas affected by changes in the steel industry.

Kara added: "I think the website has given people confidence in us as a business. They find us on-line and then come down to see the shop. We have over 600 individual jars of sweets but it is our special gift packs that people look for on-line. We specialise in unusual gifts and when people come in the shop their faces glow at what they see on offer."

Allan Wood, regional executive for UK Steel Enterprise says the business has built itself a great platform for growth; "It is very customer focussed and with the combination of retail and manufacturing I can see this truly niche business going places in the future."

The Whistle Stop Sweet Shop website

UK Steel Enterprise website

Images: Whistle Stop Sweet Shop / UKSE

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News: Rotherham businesses celebrate Being Better

The BeingBetter business support project is drawing to a close after two and a half years.

Created by Rotherham Council and funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Yorkshire Forward, the project was introduced to help local employers to enhance their economic performance and staff retention, by improving the health and financial well-being of their employees.

Over the past two years, the BeingBetter project, managed by Nicholas Associates (part of Stafforce in Rotherham) has helped 151 retail businesses, 68 in the health and social care sector, 26 in hospitality, 13 in engineering and manufacturing, plus five construction companies. Overall it has seen huge success, in creating 32 new jobs, safeguarded over 162 job roles and supporting 262 local businesses.

One company in particular which has seen financial growth, thanks to the project, is The Whistle Stop Sweet Shop based in the Imperial buildings in Rotherham town centre, which is run by Kara and Tony Chapman. Kara Chapman said: "The BeingBetter team has been fantastic, with the contacts they have helped us make – our weekly turnover has increased and our business is going from strength to strength!"

The project has also assisted employers in removing barriers to employment, such as transport issues, lack of skills to a specific job role and unhealthy lifestyles, as well as helping to make employees feel more valued within their job.

Tim Yates, manager at Whiston Hall Residential Care Home, said: "I wanted to give my staff something to make them feel valued but couldn't do it in monetary terms.

"Support delivered through BeingBetter has made my staff feel more appreciated as well as helping me find some excellent additional resources."

The project has involved a network of local partners and specialists, including HMRC, NHS Health Trainers, The Source, Rotherham Barnsley Chamber of Commerce and local gyms, to help businesses to make small changes that can make a big difference.

Although the project itself has drawn to a close, Rotherham businesses can still gain support through Stafforce, as well as the partner organisations involved in the project, in order to support health and wellbeing.

Paul Brammer, director of services for Stafforce said: "As a business, we will be building on what we have learned in order to benefit our wider client portfolio beyond the local area. This has been a hugely influential and worthwhile project, with impressive results delivered in terms of jobs created and safeguarded."

BeingBetter website

Stafforce website

Images: Stafforce

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News: Urban Pianos in Rotherham town centre

Retailers in Rotherham are taking note of an artistic initiative aimed at increasing the number of visitors in the town centre.

Taking their inspiration from Ben Kealey, the keyboardist for rock band Kasabian, Rotherham residents are getting involved in a project to turn old pianos into a work of arts.

Ben's "Sapheye Rae" was the first of Rotherham's urban pianos and is now installed in the new Gallery at Riverside House as part of the innovative "Gallery Town" project in Rotherham town centre.

Further pianos have been donated by members of the public and they will now be transformed at free arts and crafts workshops across the borough, funded by the Arts Council England.

There will also be free music workshops with composer Barry Russell to create a short tune that can be played on the pianos at events in the town centre with Get Sorted Academy of Music offering tuition.

Town centre businesses are already looking to take advantage of this unique art project as a way to boost trade. The Whistle Stop Sweet Shop has taken in a beautiful Brasted piano from a kind donor in Clifton, which has a permanent home in their shop. They will be decorating the piano themselves.

Kara Chapman, owner of Whistle Stop Sweet Shop, said: "We are looking forward to decorating the piano and we are really happy for local people to come and have their tuition actually in the shop."

Textile artist, Gemma Nemer will also host a piano at The Button Tin inside the Imperial Buildings.

If anyone would like to book a place on any workshop, join in writing of the tune, or would like more details, please call Lizzy Alageswaran of the Gallery Town Project on 01709 823636 or email community.arts@rotherham.gov.uk.

Lizzy said: "This project shows that Rotherham people have not lost their sense of fun - it's a wonderful idea to make unwanted instruments into works of art and it will create a fun and unusual event that will being more people into the town centre."

Gallery Town is an open air gallery consisting of over 90 pieces of artwork from local artists and schoolchildren and famous masterpieces from the National Gallery.

Gallery Town website

Images: RMBC

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News: Sweet taste of success at Rotherham's Dragon's Den

Kara and Tony Chapman, owners of The Whistle Stop Sweet Shop in Rotherham, claimed the top prize of £1,500 after impressing a panel of local "dragons" with their sweet dreams of business growth.

Rotherham Enterprise Board hosted a Dragons' Den-type event, inspired by the BBC show of the same name, at the Park Inn Rotherham in Manvers last week.

It is the second successful event funded by UK Steel Enterprise and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and aimed at recognising Rotherham companies with the potential for business growth. A panel of local business experts and mentors had the difficult task of selecting the best pitch on the night.

The successful couple from Swinton, opened their sweet shop last year in the refurbished Imperial Buildings in Rotherham town centre. It has become a popular hotspot for those longing for the sweets they enjoyed in their childhood.

After the event Kara said: "We were really surprised, but really happy to have won. George Elliott at The Source and Peter Robinson at the Chamber helped us prepare our pitch, but it was still nerve-wracking going in front of the dragons.

"The other businesses were very strong and gave great presentations. I think we won because we were very clear with our business plan and outlined exactly what we would spend the money on.

"It was a good opportunity for us to take a step back from actually running the shop and put our ideas for growing the business down on paper. And even if we hadn't have won, the event was a great opportunity for us to network with business people and meet potential business mentors."

Kara is no stranger to sweet shops as her parents and grandparents ran similar shops as she was growing up. She received business help and support from the Rotherham Enterprise Project, whose business coaches helped her with a business plan and marketing.

The business plan played a key part in convincing the panel of judges of their realistic future expansion plans which involve tapping into the wedding market with sweet favours, buffets and even bouquets.

The judges also saw Kara and Tony’s genuine passion for their business come through in their "brilliant" pitch but may have been swayed by the samples brought along from their shop, including a cake made entirely of sweets. It was a tactic that worked for last year's winner, Fiona Morgan who used her cheesecakes from the Alexandra Buffet Company to impress the panel. Fiona was back this time as a judge.

The other finalists entering the den were commended for their enormous enthusiasm and excellent pitches. They were Enviro Thaw, Pizzatainment, Renton Productions, Sports Media Advertising and City Deal of the Day Ltd.

For these entrepreneurs it is hoped that relationships will develop between the budding business brains and members of the board's mentor bank, where local people who have run their own businesses or have specialist expertise, will pass on their knowledge and give them a better chance of success.

Keith Williams, Regional Manager of Tata Steel subsidiary, UK Steel Enterprise said: "We are delighted to support these events. It was extremely successful and the businesses pitches were impressive. I'm sure it was a great experience for the enterprises and has helped them identify new potential opportunities and given them the confidence to progress their ideas further.

"There is a wide range of business support available in Rotherham. The Enterprise Board events are designed to help early stage and smaller businesses, whilst loan and equity finance of up to £750,000 is available from our own investment fund for more established businesses in Rotherham and throughout South Yorkshire."

The Enterprise Board is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and is led by successful business men and women from a wide range of different backgrounds and business sectors. They are using their experience to change the way business support is provided and make it more helpful to Rotherham entrepreneurs.

Whistle Stop Sweet Shop Facebook page
Rotherham Enterprise Board website

Images: Rotherham Enterprise Board

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News: Life is sweet in Rotherham town centre

The Whistle Stop Sweet Shop has become a popular hotspot in Rotherham town centre for those longing for the sweets they enjoyed in their childhood.

Based in the renovated Imperial Buildings, the shop has a huge range of quality traditional, retro and modern sweets.

The shop was opened by Kara Chapman from Swinton after she received business help and support from the Rotherham Enterprise Project, whose business coaches helped her with a business plan and marketing.

Kara said: "Originally the plan was to open up a shop at Doncaster station, hence the name The Whistle Stop Sweet Shop, but we soon realised that the help and support available to new businesses in Rotherham was outstanding.

"We felt so supported every step of the way. Thanks to the success to date and the help from the Rotherham Enterprise Project we hope to be open up our second store soon."

Kara is no stranger to sweet shops as her parents and grandparents ran similar shops as she was growing up but she never considered doing this herself until she had her son, Lewis.

"Having time off on maternity leave made me realise that I wanted to change directions and the thought of working for myself just grew and grew." Kara added.

"We've put everything into this business and my husband Tony has now joined me in the shop so it really is a family concern."

Brij Chaggar, from Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce, one of the delivery partners of the Rotherham Enterprise Project, said: "Everyone has a favourite sweet or memories of grandparents buying them a quarter of something at the weekend and that is why The Whistle Stop Sweet Shop is already proving to be a Rotherham favourite.

"Kara had this fantastic idea and our coaches have been able to help her to turn her dream into a reality. We are always on the lookout for people with business ideas who need support and guidance."

The Rotherham Enterprise Project offers professional support for businesses and is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Rotherham Chamber website

Images: Rotherham Enterprise Project

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