A multi award-winning child development organisation has moved into a new head office at the Sony UK Technology Centre in Pencoed.
SuperStars has taken a three-year lease and 1,800 sq ft of space in the Business Incubation Centre at the site, located just off the M4.
The move allows for the company’s ongoing expansion after being backed by the Welsh Government to create 70 new jobs over the course of the next two years.
SuperStars was founded in 2005 by young entrepreneur James Taylor to initially provide sports-based holiday courses. Shortly afterwards, it became a legal requirement on schools to give teachers 10 per cent of their time away from class for planning, preparation and assessment (PPA).
Taylor capitalised on this requirement by introducing subject specialists in sport, music, art and drama to schools to provide teacher release during curriculum time.
From five contracts in its first year, SuperStars now works with over 400 primary schools in south Wales and the South-West of England and 60,000 children a week.
Ahead of the new academic year in September 2013, SuperStars reported a 60 per cent increase in new schools. To cope with the additional workload, it has recruited over 100 new graduates over the past six months through strategic relationships with Wales’ top universities.
Managing Director, James Taylor, said: “We have witnessed considerable growth over the past year, with an additional 170 primary schools coming onto our books in the last few months. To service this extra workload, we have taken on over 100 new staff which has meant that we have outgrown our old offices in Cardiff.
“We needed flexible office space that would allow for future growth and be based in a convenient location to travel to our customers along the M4 corridor. We considered two premises – one in Bristol and Sony in Pencoed. However, we were keen to keep SuperStars a Wales-based company and the Welsh Government’s backing allowed us to do so. The Sony UK Technology Centre provided the ideal solution with modern office space, state-of-the-art facilities and like-minded businesses. The centre also has a gym and canteen which is a great perk for our growing team.”
Home to 28 businesses in a variety of different sectors including Digital Technology, Renewable Energy, Media, Gaming, Design, Business Support and Logistics, the Sony UK Technology Centre is quickly establishing a name for itself as the home of innovation and flourishing businesses.
Steve Dalton OBE, Managing Director of Sony UK Technology Centre, said: “Over the past year, we have made a conscious effort to attract new and flourishing businesses to the Centre. We have already successfully collaborated with the University of South Wales, Welsh Government and the Bridgend Economic development centre to offer office space to several entrepreneurial graduates who are now in an environment where they can prosper. We have also targeted businesses in sectors that not only complement our existing business, but also those that we feel are currently flourishing in Wales such as media, digital, gaming, renewable energy and education.
“We’re delighted to welcome SuperStars into the fold. James is an inspirational role model to those starting out in business and the SuperStars brand is a great name for us to have based here as we look to attract more start-ups and established businesses to our incubation centre.”