A Barnsley-based creative agency, which sought to showcase the artistic prowess of its hometown, is setting its sights on using its skills to support new entrepreneurs in the region after rising to the challenges posed by lockdown to enjoy a record year of growth.

Graphic designer Dan Rose launched creative agency We Are Awesome in 2016 when the marketing agency he worked for closed its doors. With the long term aim of delivering a full range of marketing agency services, the combination of Rose’s creative knowledge and Chris Endcliffe's technical expertise have led the agency since.

Rose focused on helping its growing client base to stand out from the crowd while Endcliffe pioneered a custom-built content management system, helping people with limited IT skills to manage their own websites and marketing campaigns. Rose approached Launchpad to help the agency scale its business.

We Are Awesome, headquartered in Barnsley’s DMC01, has built a client base that includes clients like Warner Music, the University of Sheffield and the Barnsley Hospital Charitable Trust.

In the first lockdown, the agency reunited with Launchpad to develop startup support for the newly self-employed.

Rose says, “At the beginning of lockdown, we knew our business would need to adapt again, so we revisited many of the lessons we had learned during the time we spent with Launchpad. The workshops helped us to gain a stronger understanding of what it takes to run a successful business, whilst our one-to-one sessions with Ben helped us to apply those lessons to our own company. Working with Launchpad helped us to build a much stronger business and even during a particularly challenging time for many, we’ve continued to enjoy a period of organic growth."

Launchpad is Sheffield’s key support programme for new business. Financially supported by the European Regional Development Fund and delivered by local authorities within the Sheffield City Region and the Prince’s Trust, the programme provides free help and support in the form of access to workshops, masterclasses and one-to-one help with experienced business advisers to individuals who are thinking of starting their own business, or working in small companies and looking to scale their ideas.