Startup Business
Start up business award
Starting a new business is not for the faint-hearted. It comes with its challenges, and it requires motivation, resilience, and courage. The purpose behind the Selwyn Startup Business Award is to recognise just that.
The Startup Business Award acknowledges new businesses that show these qualities and seize the opportunity to meet a gap in the market. Without startup businesses over the years, we would have little to show for ourselves here in Selwyn.
PLAY! Drama Workshops more than deserved the Startup Business award in 2021 for the hard-work, dedication, and success they have seen since starting up the organisation. Between running after-school clubs and holiday workshops they have managed to enrol over 145 students and are expecting a further 20 enrolments in 2023! It’s no surprise that kids have been excited to get involved with creative and artistic activities and performances.
With over fourteen different weekly drama and musical theatre classes and individual lessons, there is plenty to choose from for students to find their own unique taste. These workshops focus on different aspects of Theatre from devised drama, musicals, singing and adaptation. So, if you’ve been looking for somewhere to test out your kids love of drama and performance, this is the place.
For ages 5-15, Nickie Hughes, who is the creator of PLAY! believes that the organisation really increases creativity and, more importantly, increases confidence with the children and young adults that they work with. It was one of the main reasons why PLAY! Was established; to help children come into their own and learn all about performance techniques in a fun and safe environment.
When we asked Nickie why she wanted to apply for the award, she said that the criteria resonated a lot with PLAY!’s content, particularly the engagement with the Selwyn community.
“What I love about PLAY is its inclusiveness and supportiveness of all of our students. Our goals are to encourage and inspire, and I see our Selwyn award as a reflection of these goals!”- Nickie Hughes, Owner and Director of PLAY!
At the time that PLAY! applied for the award, they were only a team of two, however since then they have grown to four main tutors teaching alongside other creatives such as Aurora Dance Studio and CentreStage Rolleston. The award meant a great deal to PLAY! not only recognising their hard work and boosting their confidence, but also by helping to spread the news and credibility of the work that they do, which has resulted in new opportunities and partnerships coming their way.
The Startup Business Award was a major catalyst for growth for PLAY!. At the time of winning, Nickie was in a position where she was starting to consider how to further grow her business in order to spread their values in the community and welcome new students. With two new tutors added to the team and an investment in a custom-built commercial building with her partner that allowed them to have a permanent home in Rolleston, we think she has achieved her goal of growing her business, and we look forward to seeing it’s continued growth and success.
And although the Selwyn Award can’t take all, or even a lion share, of the credit for PLAY!’s growing success, we are honoured to have been able to play small role in building their reputation and nudging opportunities in the right direction.