TEDCO sat down with Jenny Nicol, founder of Ramsey’s Theatre Stars, to chat about why it’s important for small business owners to continually develop skills and why leadership is an important part of running any business that employs staff or relies on a team.
Having recently completed the Digital Track programme – funded by the North of Tyne Combined Authority and delivered by TEDCO Business Support – Jenny also explained why she chose to enrol on the fully-funded programme and what it offered to her as an entrepreneur.
Ramsey’s Theatre Stars began life in 2012 as a side hustle for founder, Jenny Nicol. Offering acting classes, workshops and children’s parties in rented rooms around other paid roles, Jenny quickly built a reputation for providing fun and accessible performing arts activities for children (and parents) wanting to express themselves and find a creative outlet. She says,
“I wanted to offer inclusive theatre classes for children of all ages, regardless of income, race, gender, special educational needs or disabilities. I’ve always believed that performing arts should be open to everybody.”
With time to think about the future of her business during the Covid-19 pandemic, Jenny decided that the time was right to build Ramsey’s Theatre Stars into a fully-fledged, full-time business. The brand had already built a strong reputation in the North East of England and her own children had reached the age where she felt she could dedicate more time and energy to growing the company. She explains,
“I set about looking for a dedicated studio space and found just the right place in Wallsend that we could make our own. And, touch wood, we’ve experienced steady growth ever since.”
An important part of assessing opportunities for growth has come from business support, according to Jenny. She says,
“Working with my business advisor Jeff Thompson and participating in courses like the Digital Track programme have helped me to identify how we can build on our success and take Ramsey’s Theatre Stars to the next level.”
The Digital Track programme is offered exclusively to businesses based in North Tyneside, Newcastle and Northumberland and is funded by the North of Tyne Combined Authority. The programme offers support in a number of different areas – including marketing, growth and leadership courses – delivered through a combination of in-person and online workshops.
Jenny explains,
“I work with a number of volunteers and I have one freelancer who works with me currently. But mainly I’ve tried to juggle all the responsibilities myself. Going forward, I know I’ll need to be able to lead a team and delegate better if we are to grow sustainably. My aim is to have taken on another member of staff before the end of this financial year.
“Hearing from others on the Digital Track programme about their experiences of being a leader was really beneficial. And finding out more about people working in a variety of different jobs from a range of industries was fascinating.
“Similarly, the social media and digital marketing course helped me to understand how we can promote the business in the future.
“The best compliment I can pay Digital Track is that I’ve already recommended the course to other family members and friends who run small businesses.”
TEDCO Business Advisor, Jeff Thompson, adds,
“For business owners like Jenny who have a clear focus on growth and development, Digital Track is a great option. I’m delighted that she has taken so much from these short courses and I’m excited to see how Ramsey’s Theatre Stars evolves over the months and years to come.”
To find out more about Digital Track, click here.