Page 8 - Survey 2020: The Star Business

8 THESTAR www.thestar.co.uk Wednesday,January22,2020
START-UP SPECIAL
In association with
Virginia Lowes.
Capturing memories before speech is lost
When Steve and Sophie Siddle opened the Little Town of Play in Swinton last September they hoped their new business would be flooded with new orders. Instead they were forced to battle against the elements to keep their fledgling busi- ness afloat as the floods struck just weeks after opening their doors.
Inspired by the inter- active play areas first developed in the US. The Little Town of Play offers toddlers and young chil- dren the chance to explore 11 different areas including a toddler-sized café, super- market, farm and even its own theatre.
Children are given the chance to dress up and make their own adventures during the 80-minute play sessions, whilst parents can relax in the purpose-built café or share the adventure!
The centre is used by primary schools and nurs- eries as part of the future years curriculum, but is keen to target parents.
The husband and wife team signed up to the Launchpad programme where they learned how to harness the power of social media to engage with parents.
Sophie Siddle, co-founder, The Little Town of Play, said: “We began explor- ing the idea about twelve months ago after visiting a similar centre during the Christmas holidays.
“Our little boy James has never liked noisy soft play areas, but loves interactive play. After researching the idea further, we decided to create our own toddler- sized world and bring the popular concept to South Yorkshire.” www.little- townofplay.co.uk
Little Town of Play battled against elements
A Sheffield specialist has set up a social enterprise to record the thoughts of people who are losing their powers of communication after a close friend developed early onset Parkinson’s disease.
Virginia Lowes established My Own Words to make recordings that can be used
as memoirs and memory aids when communication becomes more difficult, either physically or, for example, due to dementia.
The firm has clients of all ages but is especially keen to work with younger people who have progressive illnesses such as Huntington’s, Motor
Neurone Disease, Parkinson’s and dementia. Recordings can bewritten up and printed.
Virginia was on a training scheme for Social Entrepre- neurs when a friend developed Parkinson’s.
She said: “The enterprise was very much a collection of ideas when a close friend was
diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s, it drew attention to the need for this kind of support. Many people think they have nothing to say but this service puts people at ease and ensures that it is an experience that can be: thera- peutic, emotional and reward- ing.” www.myownwords.co.uk
Steve, Sophie and James Siddle.
New chapter for books
Driver pioneers start-up
Ivy Doherty was so upset to learn of the closure of the last bookseller in Barnsley town centre that she ap- proached Waterstones to consider opening a branch.
When her pleas fell on deaf ears she took matters into her own hands, teaming up with son Keith to launch The Book Vault.
Based on Market Street, the store opened in Decem- ber after calling on help from the Launchpad programme.
Home to thousands of books, including independ- ent publications and litera- ture to suit even the most
Ivy and Keith Doherty.
dedicated bookworm, the Book Vault plans to host book clubs, launches for local authors, educational workshops and a space for
community activities.
The pair signed up to the Launchpad programme for start-up advice from busi-
ness advisors.
Keith Doherty, manager,
The Book Vault said: “After waiting many years for a bookshop to arrive, we de- cided we were the people to bring books back to Barns- ley.
“The Launchpad team provided helpful support. Since opening we’ve re- ceived a terrific response and we’re looking forward to 2020”. www.facebook.com/ thebookvault07/
Developing a new business can be a bit like waiting for a bus - nothing happens for ages and then two arrive at once.
When Conrad Kirk decid- ed to leave his bus driving job, little did he realise he would be at the helm of not one, but two businesses within 12 months.
Keen to build a new career which allowed him to balance childcare with his partner, Nicole McCarthy, he pioneer ed Evolution, a leaflet and dis- tribution business.
Since taking the plunge last January, Conrad and
Conrad Kirk and partner Nicole McCarthy.
team have delivered more than a 1m leaflets through- out Yorkshire.
Today, the company em- ploys six permanent and 15 casual members of staff after securing help for his busi-
ness idea from the Launch- pad programme.
After starting in a bed- room at home in Rawmarsh it has moved to a larger site in Mapplewell, Barnsley.
Larger leaflet deliveries meant more packaging to dis- pose of. Sensing a fresh op- portunity, Conrad launched a second business shredding waste paper which is trans- formed into decomposable horse bedding.
Ecolution processes more than 20 tonnes of waste pa- per a month after securing partnerships with several schools in the Dearne Valley.