Patrick's Novelty Success

Published: 23 October 2009.

INSPIRING entrepreneur Patrick Gillespie is enjoying the sweet taste of success after his jelly baby-based business bagged him an award. His online novelty products firm has been named as one of the UK’s top enterprises in the 2009 Barclays Trading Places Awards. Patrick (56), is now in the running for national glory in the awards which honour men and women who are turning their lives around by choosing to be their own boss.

The Government-backed awards recognise business heroes who are no strangers to overcoming adversity. Two years after losing his job - and six months after receiving his third pacemaker - Patrick was finding it hard getting an interview, let alone finding full or part time employment. With advice from Rotherham Jobcentre and Rotherham and Sheffield Enterprise Agencies, Patrick realised that self employment was a real possibility. A grant from the national enterprise network, the NFEA, made his dream of being his own boss possible and he launched www.adoptajellybaby.com, a website offering an online novelty product that is interactive and child friendly.

Patrick is now in the process of adding free downloads of illustrated short stories and has other exciting plans for the future with the support of his talented team. Barclays’ marketing director for local business, John Davis, a judge on the panel, said: “Trading Places is a celebration of inspiring people who have struggled through adversity to get their businesses up and running, even during these turbulent times. “The calibre of this year’s entries is outstanding and we hope that with this recognition, adoptajellybaby.com will continue on the road to success. “We also hope Patrick’s story will inspire other budding entrepreneurs in Rotherham, who face similar difficulties in their private lives to come forward and turn their own business dreams into reality.”

This year’s national finalists will be competing in three new categories, Triumph over Disability, Success after Unemployment and the Spirit of Inspiration Award, before hoping to be named the 2009 Barclays Trading Places Winner. Each category winner will also walk away with £5,000 for their business, courtesy of Barclays, and all national finalists will receive £2,000 worth of computer software from awards supporter Microsoft. Another addition for 2009 will see the awards’ partners coming together to offer everyone who enters a range of business support and mentoring packages. Other award partners are Jobcentre Plus, youth charity The Prince’s Trust, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, the NFEA and Leonard Cheshire Disability.

Patrick finds success after adversity

Published: 30 June 2009. By Bob Rae

A Rotherham man, who overcame adversity to launch an online business, has won his way through to the finals of the Barclays Trading Places Awards. Two years after losing his job and six months after receiving his third pace maker, Patrick Gillespie, 56, was finding it incredibly hard getting an interview, let alone full or part-time employment.

After getting advice from the Job Centre, and the Rotherham and Sheffield Enterprise Agencies, Patrick realised self employment was a real possibility.

A grant from the National Federation of Enterprise Agencies made his new dream of being his own boss possible and he launched www.adoptajellybaby.com, an interactive, child-friendly website offering online novelty products.

He is now adding free downloads of illustrated short stories and has other plans for the future.

Barclays Marketing Director for Local Business, John Davis, a judge on the panel, said: "Trading Places is a celebration of inspiring people who have struggled through adversity to get their businesses up and running – even during these turbulent times."

"The caliber of this year's entries is outstanding and we hope that with this recognition, adoptajellybaby.com will continue on the road to success. We also hope Patrick's story will inspire other budding entrepreneurs in Rotherham, who face similar difficulties in their private lives, to come forward and turn their own business dreams into reality."

Read the article in the Sheffield Star newspaper

Patrick's Jelly good business idea

Published: 14 March 2009. By Polly Rippon

WHEN Patrick Gillespie was made redundant from his job in the mobile phone industry he hit rock bottom. He was 53, on his third pacemaker, out of work and his prospects looked bleak.

But ever the entrepreneur Patrick, now 55, dusted himself off, hooked up with pal Richard Baker, and launched an unusual gift service. Now AdoptAJellyBaby.com, launched in December, is going from strength to strength.

The quirky concept allows customers to choose a name and colour for their Jelly Baby which is then delivered in its own case, wrapped in a velvet pouch, and comes with its own adoption certificate.

Patrick said: "We wanted to create something different and fun as a gift so people can show they care. People have a strange affection for Jelly Babies, they want to look after them. They are silly, frivolous and cute - it's just a bit of fun."

The business is based at Patrick's home in Herringthorpe, Rotherham.

Richard, 44, said: "We've had orders from Aberdeen to the south coast. One customer ordered six - one for each of his mistresses.

"We've also had grandmas ordering them for their grandchildren and one man who wanted one for a terminally ill child. There may be a credit crunch but people are still finding time to send their friends and loved ones something amusing - a small token of affection."

The company also has an eco-friendly policy, and the majority of the product comes from sustainable resources or can be recycled. The Jelly Babies are made by Haribo in Pontefract, the plastic dish used to house them is made from recycled material and, for every baby sent out, the company makes a donation to a tree planting scheme.

Log on to www.adoptajellybaby.co.uk to adopt your own.

Read the article in the Sheffield Telegraph newspaper

Top business award delight

Published: 29 June 2009.

A ROTHERHAM entrepreneur who set up a novelty online shop has seen his firm named as one of the UK's top businesses in the 2009 Barclays Trading Places Awards.

Two years after losing his job and six months after receiving his third pacemaker Patrick Gillespie, aged 56, was finding it hard getting an interview, let alone finding full or part-time employment.

But thanks to advice and a grant, Patrick launched online firm www.adoptajellybaby.com - a website offering jelly babies as a novelty gift, packaged individually in boxes ready for 'adoption'.

Each category winner in the Trading Places Awards will walk away with £5,000 for their business.

Read the article in the Sheffield Telegraph newspaper