New Entrepreneurial Spark partnership to provide boost for Yorkshire startups

A new project in Leeds city centre is set to give a boost to budding entrepreneurs and Yorkshire based startup businesses.

Entrepreneurial Spark has once again teamed up with Hull-based marketing agency Strawberry to roll out StrawberryToo.

Based on Park Cross Street in Leeds, Entrepreneurial Spark is the world’s largest free business accelerator for early stage and growing ventures.

Entrepreneurs who join the programme receive a wide range of support and specialist knowledge from business leaders in order to help them develop and grow their startups.

After two years running the StrawberryToo design and digital agency in Hull, Strawberry were keen to work alongside Entrepreneurial Spark to help more start-up businesses in Yorkshire.

Dominic Love, Strawberry’s creative director, said: “The idea for StrawberryToo was born after seeing a lot of our local creative design and digital talent leave Yorkshire to pursue a career in places like London and Manchester.

“There’s a perception that you need to move away from Yorkshire to have a career in this industry and we wanted to challenge that by offering apprentices and graduates the opportunity to hone their skills whilst working on real client campaigns for small and start-up businesses.

“The ethos of StrawberryToo and Entrepreneurial Spark align perfectly due to our common passion to help startups and young people develop their knowledge and begin their career or business. Being a startup ourselves, we understand the challenges ahead.”

StrawberryToo was launched in Hull in 2014 with the aim to employ, train and mentor young creative talent in a real working environment.

Once the StrawberryToo team members complete their time at the agency, they are helped to find a career in their chosen field. Some recent StrawberryToo graduates have been given full time roles with sister agency, Strawberry, joining its 30-strong team of designers, marketers and digital developers.

StrawberryToo is currently recruiting for a graduate designer to be its lead creative at the new Leeds-based studio to work alongside Elliot Mann, a Senior Designer at Strawberry.

Speaking of his new role as StrawberryToo Leeds Senior Designer, Elliot Mann said: “I’m thrilled that I’ve been chosen to head-up the second studio for StrawberryToo. I’ve been working closely with the team over the past two years and this is a great opportunity for creatives in Leeds to make their first steps in the design and digital industry.

“We’re looking to transfer the model that is working in Hull across to Leeds and tap into the hub of Entrepreneurial Spark growing in the city.”