Member Article

Former Sunderland footballer goes into business

A former Sunderland AFC footballer has gone into business with a new company specialising in the transfer of logos on to clothing.

Neil Simpson, who was signed to SAFC as a school boy, has launched Element Transfer, having spent the last 16 years working in operations for large manufacturing firms.

The Seaham-based 36 year-old, who was most recently in a management at a well-known sports graphics firm, has already scooped contracts with premiership football clubs and English cricket clubs to create and print logos on shirts.

Neil currently employs six members of staff during his busy summer period but has plans to expand his workforce in line with his growing order book and expects to employ three permanent staff members together with seasonal workers by the turn of the year.

The Sunderland born businessman turned to the Ready for Business programme, an investment readiness programme delivered in the North East by enterprise agency TEDCO Business Support, for support and advice in getting his business off the ground.

Ready for Business is supported by the Government’s Regional Growth Fund and Barclays, and is delivered nationwide by the Cavendish Consortium, a partnership between some of England’s leading enterprise agencies together with the National Enterprise Network.

So far the programme has created more than 3,500 new jobs across the UK, 500 across the north east, and provides individuals with concentrated support in the pre-start and early stages of their new business.

Neil said: “I had first-hand experience of the market and therefore had confidence in my business plan and knew that my manufacturing background would enable me to set up a lean, efficient operation that would allow me to compete on price as well as quality.

“I wanted to set up an one stop shop which would give me greater control and more space to manoeuvre in terms of margins – savings I can pass on to my customers.

“That said, I was keen to discuss my plans with an experienced business advisor who could pick fault and offer advice. I met James the Ready for Business adviser from TEDCO and he was fantastic, offering me sound advice and sharing useful contacts to ensure that the business framework was in place from the very beginning.

“No matter how much experience you have and how much you know your market, having someone to support and advise you and act as a sounding board in the early stages is hugely beneficial.”

To find out more about upcoming business seminars and events for the Ready for Business programme please visit www.tedco.org. Alternatively, please visit the national programme website www.startupedge.co.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .