When a Mansfield Woodhouse couple decided to live their dream of setting up their own business and open a new nursery, they never imagined the support it would receive.
Teacher Gemma Skeavington and property developer Gavin Bull combined their knowhow to make the goal a reality by taking on the renovation of an old barn to turn it into the early year’s business Gemma had dreamt about.
After approaching leading East Midlands finance provider First Enterprise for funding and being granted a £120,000 loan, the project quickly snowballed into a community effort with local students creating logos for the venture to make Sunnydale Nursery a reality.
On Saturday (2 July), it was opened by Mansfield mayor, Kate Allsop, and has initially created three new jobs with plans to recruit a further seven. Gemma said it was a dream come true after deciding to start her own business last year.
“As a teacher and being on maternity leave for the past year after having my daughter, who is now 19-months-old, I decided I wanted to start my own business so I could care for her and still do what I love. I also wanted to get back to early years teaching and put something back into the community, it had been building up inside me for some time,” Gemma said.
“We did approach the mainstream banks who did not want to know or support us which is why we approached First Enterprise. We started the process of applying for loan funding through them in summer last year and they were so helpful. The whole process was quick and easy and as well as the funding they provided us with invaluable advice and support which has been key to going it alone and setting up a business for the first time.”
The new nursery will cater for children aged six weeks to 12-years-old and will be OFSTED certificated. First Enterprise supported Sunnydale Nursery with an initial £20,000 loan through its Start-Up Loan scheme and a further £100,000 through its Regional Growth Fund as a secured loan.
Gemma and partner Gavin renovated the old barn, in Northfield Lane, to transform it into the nursery and have fitted it with all the latest eco-friendly appliances. The building now has a biomass boiler and solar panels to reduce its carbon footprint and keep running costs low. The renovations were made using recycled materials and Gavin has carried out the works so that the barns existing features are enhanced.
Gemma added: “Although there are three other nurseries in the Mansfield Woodhouse area, there was a clear need for another to cover such a large area as they are running at capacity. Already I have had 10 bookings with a further 50 enquiries and I hope more will follow now we are open.
“I cannot thank the local community enough including students from West Notts College and Mansfield District Council and Mansfield Fire Safety for all their help.”
Sukhveer Chirrimar, loan fund advisor at First Enterprise, added: “It is great to see Gemma and Gavin following their dream and opening the doors of Sunnydale Nursery. This is not only great news for Gemma and Gavin on the first leg of their entrepreneurial journey but also for the local community creating new jobs. The funding borrowed was used to make renovations to the barn as well as buying resources like toys and equipment.
“We have funded lots of businesses already in the Nottinghamshire area and helping businesses to establish themselves and flourish is at the heart of what we do at First Enterprise.
“We would encourage entrepreneurs and business owners to get in touch and see how we could help them take their business plan to the next level.”
As well as providing loan funding First Enterprise also offers free and impartial business advice. For more details visit: www.first-enterprise.co.uk or call 0115 942 3772.
