The SCR Chambers: Doncaster
Kitchen specialist targets growth after securing Launchpad support
A Bawtry-based husband and wife team who sought to inspire property owners by making the most of their homes have expanded their company operations after calling on help from Launchpad, a unique business support programme which aims to help entrepreneurs in the Sheffield City Region to unlock their business potential. Leon Roden first began thinking about
working for himself back in 2017. Having spent more than a decade working with major kitchen and bathroom suppliers, Leon became increasingly frustrated with the generic, often off-the-shelf designs, frequently preventing customers from maximising the space available to them. When an opportunity arose to team up with
two ex-work colleagues, Leon jumped at the chance. However, when the prospective partners couldn’t agree about the future direction of the business, Leon and his wife Kelly Roden decided to acquire the fledgling business in its entirety, placing an emphasis upon creating unique, one- off rooms. Having never run a business before, former
legal secretary Kelly decided to attend a meeting at Doncaster Chamber and it was there that she learned about the practical help and support available through the Sheffield City Region Launchpad programme. Launchpad is a unique business programme
which provides free help and support to new entrepreneurs during their all-important first three years of trading. Conscious that they needed to build and develop a customer base, they turned to Launchpad to help them generate new customers by harnessing online and social media opportunities. Kelly spent time learning
‘A meeting with Doncaster
about how to maximise Meliora’s online presence, taking part in a range of courses which explored the business potential of social media channels such as Facebook and Instagram, using the latter to showcase their unique, creative and visually appealing solutions to maximise space in the home. Such has been the success enjoyed by Meliora
since engaging with the Launchpad programme that the business has recently relocated to larger premises, choosing a historic seventeenth century Grade II listed former stable block in the heart of Bawtry as a base for their business, and the husband and wife duo are now aiming to develop their business further. Kelly said: “The construction sector is quite a male-dominated industry and having seen Leon’s passion and the many hours of hard work and determination he put in to get his business off the ground, I could see that he was becoming increasingly disillusioned and frustrated. We had a number of heart-to-hearts and decided to use our life savings to buy out his business partners and take Meliora in a different direction. “I don’t have a business background and I was very conscious that there was a lot to learn.
Chamber gave me confidence that I was doing the right thing’
A meeting with Doncaster Chamber gave me confidence that I was doing the right thing,
and after signing up to the Launchpad programme I was
introduced to Caroline Bond, who helped
us to identify our strengths and weaknesses and gain a better understanding of the steps we needed to take to build and grow our business. “Leon’s previous customers always seemed to
be impressed with the quality and standard of his work, but we weren’t sure how to spread the word. Caroline suggested that we turned to social media and after spending time learning about the different channels open to our business, the power of influencers building a brand, and harnessing the possibilities different routes offered, we’ve never looked back. “Joining the business was one of the biggest
gambles of my life, but with the help we’ve received from Launchpad we’ve gained a much greater understanding of the many different roles business owners undertake, as well as helping us to develop a future growth plan for the company. It’s great knowing that even if we’ve got a relatively simple query, Caroline and her team are only a phone call away.”
Leon and Kelly Roden Caroline Bond, Launchpad Business Advisor
at Doncaster Chamber, said: “Entrepreneurs can often find their business rapidly changes and evolves. Kelly and Leon came to Launchpad Launchpad unsure how to unlock the potential in their stunning designs. “Through our one-on-one sessions and taking
part in the Launchpad workshops, we were able to help them to overcome the barriers they were
facing.Securing new premises is a real statement of intent and we are delighted by their progress.” Launchpad is the Sheffield City Region’s key
business support programme for new business. Financially supported by the European Regional Development Fund and delivered by local providers within the Sheffield City Region and the Prince’s Trust, the programme provides free help and support to budding entrepreneurs in the City Region. Entrepreneurs who access Launchpad are those who are thinking of starting their own business or have started trading within the last three years.
For further information about how Doncaster Chamber supports new businesses visit the Launchpad section of their website:
www.doncaster-chamber.co.uk/launchpad
Spring 2020 CHAMBERconnect 35
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