For this month’s delve into the entrepreneurial stories behind South Yorkshire businesses, unLTD caught up with Laura Blackburn, founder of 2D animation studio B Animated, to discuss what inspired her to take the plunge in setting up her own company.
Could you tell us about the background to setting up the business?
Following on from graduating with a graphic design degree in 2009, I went on to work for a publishing company, working on adverts and laying out magazines. They created their own marketing department, so we started working with clients doing marketing materials, logos, posters, brochures – those sorts of things. Then they created a video department so I got asked to help out on some motion graphics. This was around 2012-2013, and I didn’t know too much about animation at the time. So, I essentially taught myself.
You clearly took to it well?
Yes, it quickly went from helping out with a couple of moving images to working on animations. That became a service that they offered and still offer now.
Was there a specific moment where you remember deciding you were going to set up your own business?
It was more of a case of me realising I could do this myself. I saw there was an opportunity to build a business out of my skill set and just wanted to give it a bash. I started looking for a job, emailing a few of the agencies which I really wanted to work for. A lot of these I now work in partnership with, which is something I would have never imagined a few years ago.
I started putting my business around; a lot of people wanted animations and I ended up realising the potential in it.
Was it daunting setting up your own business?
I didn’t know much about it at that point, as I’d always been an employee.
I didn’t really know what I was signing myself up for, but I set up as a limited company for my first six-month contract. I could see there was some potential and knew I was capable. I could see there was some potential and knew I was capable. I took an office at the Digital Media Centre (DMC 01) and started collaborating with a few companies who were based there.
Quite a lot of business after that came through word of mouth. It all just progressed from there really. Current clients include Barnsley Council, Science in Sport PLC and Amco Giffen. I work with a wide range of companies in the private and public sector.
What advice would you give to someone who’s thinking about starting their own business but is potentially a bit unsure or lacking the confidence to do so?
I suppose it’s the classic ‘if you don’t try, you’ll never know’ advice. I jumped off the top diving board, didn’t really know what to expect. I knew if it didn’t work out, I’d have to get another job. But yeah, you don’t know until you give it a go.
ABOUT B ANIMATED
B Animated is a 2D animation studio, based at the Digital Media Centre in Barnsley.
Our mission is simple; to use our expertise in animation to help clients get the best results.
We work on a wide range of projects – in both the public and private sectors – creating eye-catching, on-screen animated content to promote businesses, services and products.
When it comes to design and animation, we appreciate that every client is different, but what never changes is our personalised approach.
