Bumble Beez
Entertainment needs to be at the heart of East Kent’s economic
recovery. So says Sarah Cannon, director of Bumble Beez, a Thanet
based start-up which secured a loan of £30,000 from Expansion East
Kent in November.
Bumble Beez plans to launch in February 2013, offering children
of all abilities access to a state-of-the art-family entertainment
centre. “Currently there is no provision for disabled children in
the local area, so we really wanted to start a business that could
cater for all children”, Sarah says.
“There was a point where we came up short with funding.
That’s where Expansion East Kent came in."
The company will use the loan to invest in the specialist equipment
required. She says that she simply wouldn’t have been able to
afford the equipment without the help of the loan. “The scheme is
vital, a lot of businesses cant access funding through the normal
streams and this is holding back many start ups. We funded a lot of
the business ourselves but there was a point where we came short.
That’s where the loan helped.”
Through the family entertainment centre Bumble Beez plans to
create 18 new jobs in the local area, and Sarah’s long-term
ambition is to establish the centre as a hub for family
entertainment and a reason to visit Thanet.
“Thanet has a lot of untapped value. There is so much
potential in East Kent"
“We aim to be recognised as a hub in the location community as
well as a local business supporting the local economy.
“We hope to bring a unique facility to the local
community, Thanet has a lot of untapped value. There is so much
potential in East Kent”