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£10k investment helps Barnsley businessman bring sports to work

Former PE teacher turned entrepreneur Darren Padgett has used a £10k investment to set up a sports business which he is now expanding into the corporate sector.

Darren’s plans are being supported by Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, a partner in the South Yorkshire Sector Growth Enhancement Programme (SYSGEP).

His primary business, Team Activ, set up in 2011, works with more than 60 schools, mainly in Barnsley, running sports competitions, clubs and training teachers. The firm now works with every secondary school in the Barnsley area and over half of primary schools in the region.

Team Activ Plus will see the company working with businesses running corporate sports leagues and encouraging after-work activities.

Darren, who was head of PE at the school where Kes was filmed and has nearly 30 years’ experience in school sports, said: “Having a fit and healthy workforce can make a lot of difference to productivity, morale, staff retention and sickness rates.

“Research by Sheffield Hallam University shows that for every pound spent on wellbeing you’ll save three times that in sickness absence alone. So it makes sense for an employer to think about it, both from being a good employer and having a happy workforce, but also thinking about the bottom line.”

“With Team Activ Plus not only will it be about having fun and keeping fit, but also a great networking opportunity and so much more healthy than a networking breakfast of bacon, egg and sausage.”

Darren wants to steer away from traditional sports such as cricket and football, and is looking at ones that are more likely to interest women too, such as orienteering, rounders, basketball, geocaching and dodgeball.

SYSGEP who is supporting the diversification is part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund through the Yorkshire and The Humber ERDF Programme 2007-13.

Adrian Waite, SYSGEP sector growth manager, said: “We were keen to support a successful social enterprise model being adapted for the corporate world. Businesses and employees can only benefit from working alongside Darren and his team.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .