Business growth is child’s play for local company

A new Blackburn company is brightening up school playgrounds – thanks to a new business support programme.

Uni-play Ltd, based in Blackburn, supplies and installs thermoplastic playground markings to schools and nurseries.

The company has re-positioned itself in the marketplace and is now targeting new customers including global playground equipment manufacturers such as Kompan UK, the Lego distributor for the UK. Uni-play has already outgrown its old premises and has moved to new offices and is now recruiting staff.

It has benefited from business expert help and advice on how to grow its two-year-old business from the Pennine LEAP programme, which is supported by the European Regional Development Fund.

Regenerate Pennine Lancashire and a network of enterprise partners including Enterprise4All, Winning Pitch, East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Community and Business Partners and Selnet provide one-to-one coaching, start up seminars, business mentoring and access to finance for individuals planning to start a new business in Lancashire.

Regenerate has a number of free start up support programmes specifically designed to help new businesses like Uni-play Ltd to grow. Managing director, Paul Riley, said: “I would not hesitate to recommend the Pennine LEAP programme. It will give you the tools, support and expertise to start and grow your new business. It has boosted our ambitions and revenues considerably. As a business owner for two years, I did not know this level of support was available for new businesses.”