Member Article

Mothers know best for business success

Two Fulwell mothers have joined forces and started their own business aimed to make lives with children easier by keeping them up to date with events happening all over the North East.

Sunderland Parents was set up by friends, Laura Middleton and Kelly Belmont after they became so frustrated taking their children to events only to find them postponed or cancelled that they decided to set up an informative website advising others on updated information on what’s happening around the region.

Together they visited The North East Business and Innovation Centre (BIC) and were appointed business adviser, Debbie Simpson and since then have been supported by Sunderland City Council. Laura said: “We were always the ones who would turn up to an event which was just finishing or had been postponed so that’s where the idea came from, we originally started the website because it was information that we, as parents, wanted to know ourselves. Although it is not just for parents it is used by grandparents, aunties and uncles, godparents and basically anyone who wants to enjoy what the North East has to offer.

“We visited the BIC and we discussed with Debbie about different options and how we could make our idea into a viable business. Debbie was great she really got behind our idea and continues to support us. We launched Sunderland Parents in October last year and have never looked back since.”

Kelly adds: “Sunderland City Council has been very supportive along the way and although many organisations have well developed event sites we are unique in that we look at the information differently. We, as parents, need to know about parking, is it free, do you need money for rides, will there be food and drink. All of these factors are taken into consideration when advertising events on our website which makes Sunderland Parents stand out from the crowd.

“We want to be confident that what we are telling people is valuable information. For all the events are not ours we have become a trusted voice.

“The fact that the website has spread through word of mouth alone makes us incredibly proud and during half term we were receiving over 1000 unique visitors to the site. We are unbelievably busy but luckily we live just around the corner from each other and most nights can be found together making plans, thinking of new ideas and contacting people.”

Councillor John Kelly, Portfolio Holder for Safer City and Culture at Sunderland City Council added: “Sunderland is well known for its events so we welcome anything that helps to promote some of the fantastic events the city has to offer. The Sunderland Parents site supplements established sites like our own Sunderland Live website and it all adds to an increased offer for the city.”

To book an appointment with a business adviser and start your own business call 0191 516 6149 or email businesssupport@ne-bic.co.uk

For more information on Sunderland Parents visit www.sunderlandparents.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sarah Spence .