Triumph over adversity sees friends launch web start-up

Pete Roberts, 26, and Ben Barraclough, 21, met when they were trying to find jobs.

Mr Roberts had just been made redundant, while Mr Barraclough had struggled at school and college with dyslexia.

They had a shared passion for design, so they decided to set up their own business.

There was another setback when, within weeks, Mr Roberts’ computer and other business equipment was stolen in a break-in.

Undaunted, the friends pressed on with their plans to set up Barob, a company that specialises in creating websites which are compatible with iPhones and iPads.

They have received start-up funding from the Barnsley Business Mine at the University of Huddersfield’s Barnsley Campus (UCB).

The grants, worth £2,400, are awarded to promising ventures under the Enterprising Barnsley programme, which offers business support to local firms with growth potential.

Barob has moved in to a new office at Barnsley’s Digital Media Centre, in County Way. It has a growing client list.

Mr Barraclough said: “I’ve discovered I love learning but formal education didn’t work for me because I think in a different way.

“I’ve turned things around by learning under my own initia-tive.

“Pete and I complement each other.

“There are a number of famous entrepreneurs who have had problems with dyslexia, like Sir Richard Branson, and their stories have really inspired me. I don’t feel like there are now any barriers to achieving great success with our company.”

To be eligible for the start-up grants, recipients have to be students at the University of Huddersfield or have graduated from any university within the last five years.

Enterprising Barnsley is a partnership between UCB, Barnsley Development Agency, Barnsley Business and Innovation Centre.