At Rotherham Launchpad, we understand that business is personal. It is your time, energy, hard work, passion, livelihood, and so much more. That’s why we believe in supporting you in any way we can help ensure your business is successful.
The end of last year was just the start for Calindy Ballantyne as she launched her business, noons studio, an eco-friendly screen printing business.
Calindy has always had a passion for art and design, graduating from Sheffield Hallam university with a degree in Creative Art Practices, before going on to work with artists, host art exhibitions, and become a workshops leader teaching screen printing. After living abroad in Peru, South America and taking a sabbatical while raising her young daughter, Calindy began to develop her business idea.
Calindy’s vision was to combine her passion for conservation into the business by using materials that have a low impact on the environment to bring something new onto the market. After learning about Rotherham Launchpad online, she then went on to meet with her mentor, Julia, which led to the launch of a new service – mobile screen printing workshops.
Rotherham Launchpad has helped Calindy to launch this new service which aims to engage with the local community. Working closely with her mentor and by attending workshops, Calindy was able to update her business framework and develop the studio’s social media platforms and content. Rotherham Launchpad also provided a business grant so that she could purchase equipment and materials for the mobile workshops.
Calindy enjoys attending the workshops and is continuing to do so, as they provide a perfect opportunity for networking, meeting likeminded people, learning new skills, and more.
Calindy said: “When I started working on my business model it was pre-lockdown, but since the pandemic the market has changed, and I had to re-adjust my business model to suit a post-lockdown industry. Recognising the need for community engagement post lockdown was a big motivator to develop a framework that meant I could offer mobile screen printing workshops, which has provided freedom to travel across South Yorkshire to teach groups the wonderful and versatile medium of screen printing. Knowing that Rotherham Launchpad was there to help guide me and provide support made this process a lot less of an isolating experience. They have helped me to gain confidence to be able to launch and market my new business.”
If you would like to find out more about how we can help, contact us today.
