18th July 2003
BARNLEY GENESIS

Barnsley Business Innovation Centre (BBIC) has recently welcomed some of its new business start-ups onto the second year of the Genesis programme.

The programme proved to be very successful in its first year with 8 out of 10 individuals successfully developing their businesses; five of which have now moved into separate larger units within BBIC.

This year’s business start-ups include: James Sefton of wasteofinc-net, a web hosting service provider; John Roebuck of North Tek Services, who repair and service electronic equipment; Janine Ellis, who is designing a fashion brand focusing on menswear soft casuals; Lisa Morris of Lee Morris Design Ltd, designing and manufacturing her own glass and ceramic product range, and Adrian Flute, who is setting up a marketing and design agency. BBIC’s special projects manager John Hall says, “In seeking to attract and support the growth of innovative technology and knowledge based businesses, BBIC recognises the barriers to start up faced by potential entrepreneurs and early stage businesses. We recognise that each business is unique and deserving of sustained and customised support, which we make available.”


The Genesis project is part of a portfolio of projects underpinning business incubation and new sector development in Barnsley. The project provides participants with a sheltered environment comprising of free office accommodation, free access to IT, the Internet and other equipment, advice and guidance from a dedicated mentor and management and technical support by a number of BBIC staff. To support the establishment of their businesses, modest financial assistance is provided in the early months. The programme is funded by SRB 6 and aims to generate ten new business starts each year over a three-year period.

One of last year’s great success stories was Matthew Tully of Single Use Surgical Ltd, who makes single use surgical instruments. He has now got his product into a tenth of the UK’s hospitals. Another success is Chris Coggins from DokterStudio, who has set up a creative and marketing agency specialising in film and TV, print design, strategic marketing and interactive media. Chris adds, “The Genesis project played an integral part in the growth of DokterStudio. The programme has been designed specifically to cover the real issues of business planning and how this translates into the effective running of a small enterprise. The fundamental difference, and one that would make the programme fail if not present, is that of the business mentorship offered through BBIC.”

Following the success of last year Barnsley Development Agency is actively supporting the new individuals in promoting and accessing outside markets. They provide the funding for them to attend national and international exhibitions and to carry out feasibility studies for the development of their products.



www.barnsleydevelopmentagency.co.uk

Press Contact: Sarah Hopwood
Marketing & Communications Assistant
Barnsley Development Agency
Telephone: 01226 640 086
Facsimile: 01226 286 606
Email: shopwood@barnsleydevelopmentagency.co.uk


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