Member Article

Cullercoats bike and kayak entrepreneur nets funding

A 29-year-old who has set up a biking and kayaking business in North Tyneside has secured £12k funding to pursue his business.

Simon Laing has set up Cullercoats Bike & Kayak, which offers people the chance to rent equipment for anything from one hour up to several days and explore the dramatic coastline of the area.

Funding has now come from Virgin StartUp and follows Simon’s involvement in an investment readniness programme from regional business support agency TEDCO.

Simon is no stranger to the sea having worked as a marine scientist and enjoyed a spell in Canada working at the Vancouver Aquarium.

Upon returning to the UK he took up a research position with Newcastle University and decided the time was right to turn his passion for an outdoor lifestyle into a viable commercial business.

Simon said: “I did plenty of research into the various start-up programmes which were available but as soon as I spoke to Bill Hartshorne, Ready for Business advisor at TEDCO Business Support, I knew I had found exactly what I was looking for.

“Bill helped me strengthen and tighten up my ideas into a robust business plan and remained a positive voice throughout – his enthusiasm, interest and in depth knowledge of what was needed gave me the confidence that I needed to push on, secure the vital funding through Virgin StartUp and turn my dreams into reality.”

A keen cyclist and kayaker himself, Simon immediately saw the potential in helping people who live in the area as well as visitors to the region, take a new look at the stunning coastline that the North East has to offer.

He added: “We have some of the most beautiful scenery in this area but unfortunately a lot of it goes unnoticed. Cycling and kayaking along the coast will give people a very different perspective on what the region has to offer and hopefully it will not only allow those living here to take a second look at what is on their doorstep but will help bring new visitors in and continue to rejuvenate this once vibrant area.”

Simon has ambitious plans for the business and hopes to diversity into more leisure based activities in the future as well as setting up more Bike & Kayak premises in other locations such as North Shields Fish Quay and South Shields to expand his offering into one-way rental.

Bill Hartshorne, Ready for Business advisor at TEDCO Business Support said: “Simon has everything that we are looking for in a young entrepreneur; he is passionate about his business and has a genuine love of what he is about to embark upon.

“Starting your own venture requires a huge amount of commitment and dedication and Simon has displayed these qualities through the start-up process which I am confident will equip him well for the challenge that lies ahead. He has also given considerable thought as to how his business can grow and this will no doubt create further employment opportunities.

“Securing finance is one of the biggest challenges facing any would-be business owners so for young entrepreneurs like Simon, Virgin StartUp is a vital lifeline to financing which can otherwise be particularly difficult to source.”

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