Member Article

Taking care of business

An entrepreneurial caretaker from South Tyneside is celebrating after gaining business support from a local enterprise scheme. Steve Sheriff, 56, from South Shields established Sheriff’s Schools and Public Buildings Caretaking Service almost a year ago. Now, after securing a start-up grant from South Tyneside Means Business in January, Steve is seeing the business begin to flourish.

Having worked as a school caretaker in South Tyneside for 19 years, Steve left the school he was working for in 2006 so he could set up his own freelance caretaking service.

Steve said: “I always thought a freelance caretaking business would be successful. When people are off work sick, there’s always a need for someone to step in and even when I was employed by the schools I felt that someone should make the idea into reality - as it turns out that person is me.

“I originally popped into the Business Matters Outlet in South Shields, just to get some costs for printing a few flyers. But after discussing my case with one of the specialist South Tyneside Means Business advisors we got on to speaking about grants, which led to me receiving £4,795 in funding.”

Councillor Eddie McAtominey, lead member for jobs, enterprise and regeneration, said on behalf of South Tyneside Means Business: “Steve is another fantastic example of somebody really driving to succeed in business. There’s a gap in the market for people over 50 to start businesses, yet Steve has shown that with the right drive and ambition, as well as support from South Tyneside Means Business it can be done successfully.”

Sheriff’s Schools and Public Buildings Caretaking Service is one of a number of businesses given support and assistance through the South Tyneside Means Business campaign.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .