2011 was the year of the entrepreneur. Lets take a look at the success stories of some of Barnsley businesses overturning the downturn.

Industrialists, coal and steel magnates, car makers and ship builders were once the business people who mattered.

That is changing. Entreprenurs are on the rise and rule books are being re-written. Entrepreneurism was once regarded as risky, voguish and not to be taken seriously. Now it’s in danger of providing the only action in town.

A Firm picked up its biggest volume of orders at the start of 2011 in more than 10 years.

Merlin software at Barnsley Business and innovation centre acquired 11 customers mainly in tourism. The boom was caused by the re-launch of a system covering admissions and ticketing.

Wombwell based Fernco Environmental, a subsidiary of of the coupling company Flexseal, cemented its position in german and australian markets. It became a supplier to Sydney water and launched a spray stop erosion to pipes from acidity or sewage.

Osborne Technologies at Dodworth changed the way schools nationwide kept track of people coming in and out of their properties with a touch-screen signing in system. The firm developed the system to log visitors to its reception and it has been fitted in 50 schools and colleges.

Evolution scooters at platts common became the fastest growing UK dealership of Chinese made Lexmoto and Pulse Scooters.

Go for Gardens at Claycliffe was on track to be the top online garden centre in the UK. Boss Eddie Riby is Regularly hailed as a model entrepreneur. But he did not always have it easy. He recalls lots of late nights looking at and adjusting overheads.

Eddie says you must learn from your mistakes, roll up your sleeves and be prepared to get your hands dirty.

He sums up success as hard work, having the right team, good customer service and having the right products at the right price.

(source Barnsley Chronicle, Friday, December 30, 2011)