MEMBER NEWS
Derby Swap Shop named rising star
Derby Swap Shop has been recognised as a “rising star” by the organisation where it all began. It was during a Talking
Business Live webinar by Marketing Derby where the concept for a free service- swapping online platform was conceived during the first national lockdown in April. Now the inward investment
agency has recognised the social enterprise as the winner of its Rising Star 2021 competition, which aims to give entrepreneurs and businesses a helping hand by promoting their successes. Co-founder Rachel Hayward
said: “We are totally bowled over to be this year’s Rising Star. To think that we now have over 450 members clearly shows how a business born through community and collaboration is just what we need moving forward and nothing represents this more than Swap Shop.” The original idea for the
venture was borrowed from the much-loved Multi- Coloured Swap Shop children’s TV programme, broadcast between 1976 and 1982, in which children would exchange toys and collectors’ items. Tracy Harrison, CEO of the charity Safe and Sound, suggested the idea of creating a platform where businesses and organisations could “swap” goods and services. The idea was subsequently
developed by bid-writing consultancy Ask the Chameleon, triathlon kit specialist HUUB and creative design agency think3. Hundreds of swaps have
since taken place for services ranging from PR support and intellectual property services to help in developing a business plan and video testimonials. As the Marketing Derby
Rising Star, the business will receive a complimentary year of bondholder membership, along with local publicity and invitations to key events.
4 business networkMarch 2021 Rachel Hayward
Derby entrepreneur recognised for success
A businesswoman who helped spearhead the Derby Swap Shop initiative has been named as one of the UK’s 100 most inspirational female entrepreneurs by Small Business Britain. Rachel Hayward, who founded bid-writing
consultancy service Ask the Chameleon, is being showcased alongside 100 female entrepreneurs as part of Small Business Britain’s f:Entrepreneur “#ialso100” campaign.
‘I’d like to share this award with all the women who have supported me in my own business’
The f:Entrepreneur campaign was launched in 2017 to highlight female role models and showcase trailblazing entrepreneurs that lead small businesses alongside a roster of other responsibilities, such as volunteering, mentoring and community support activities. Rachel said: “I am so proud and honoured to be part
of an amazing group of female national entrepreneurs, who always go above and beyond for their teams,
clients and business communities. I’d like to share this award with all the women who have supported me in my own business. Without them in this year in particular, life would have been very challenging.” Through a series of reports, events and campaigns,
Small Business Britain champions SMEs across the UK. Rachel was recognised for securing £12m in funding
to date for her clients, helping small businesses gain exposure by applying for accolades including business awards such as the Queen's Award for Enterprise and and Small Business 100 recognition. With two fellow Derby-based businesses – triathlon
kit specialist HUUB, and creative and design agency think3 – Rachel also launched the Swap Shop initiative, starting with the Derby Swap Shop in May 2020. Michelle Ovens CBE, founder of Small Business Britain
and the f:Entrepreneur campaign, said: “We have seen so many women embracing change, generating and exploring new ideas, rallying around their communities and supporting their peers. “This resilience is hugely valuable and will set them up
for success as they will be at the very heart of the UK’s recovery.”
Swap Shop ready for national roll-out
The Notts and Leics Swap Shops are being integrated to form a UK- wide swapping service. Born out of the Derby Swap
Shop idea last year, they had collectively brought on board hundreds of businesses that have been trading free services in Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire. But now they have been
integrated into The Swap Shop, which aims to roll out the concept nationally. Derby Swap Shop will continue operating independently. Co-founder Lee Marples
(pictured), a partner at design agency think3, said: "When we launched the regional versions of the Swap Shop, we did so as quickly as we could to make sure that people could stay in touch,
develop new relationships and give each other some much-needed support during the pandemic. “We were inundated with
requests from across the country for other regional versions and the only way we could make it work was to launch a UK site.
"One of the things that we have
realised is that running four individual platforms to try and support all of the individual areas is hard work, so we have made the decision to redirect some of the regional Swap Shops to the UK- wide version.”
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