>Identikids

In 2002, Nadine Lewis was running another business, which she started a few years previously.

A friend of hers was involved in a car accident, which raised a lot of "what if" questions. "What if you were in an accident and couldn't look after your children". "What if you were unconscious and unable to contact next of kin to look after the kids", etc. With two young children she was very aware of their wellbeing and security and had an idea that has now developed into a successful business.

The idea is a simple way of providing contact and medical information on an ID card, which sits on a child's car seat.

A year later Nadine lost her son in the Trafford Centre, which led to the development of her identification wristbands. The range of solutions has grown over the past few years and there are now many solutions available for identification of not just children but the elderly and other vulnerable sectors of society, including those with medical conditions and allergies.

The IdentiKids ID solutions are now widely available at over 1,000 Boots Stores and the top 48 Mothercare World Stores with a number of other national retailers set to be selling them during 2006.

As with all new business, raising finance to start trading was a problem. Nadine applied successfully to the Women in Business Loan Fund for a start-up loan and the business has grown from there having just secured £250,000 from the Bank of Scotland to further expand the business.

Bolton Business Ventures has been able to support Nadine with Business Advisers. In the early months, as problems arose, the Adviser helped with general advice, advice on bookkeeping and with help with finding an accountant.

As the business has progressed, Nadine has continued to work with the Advisers, using them as a sounding board for ideas. She has used the Women in Business support project accessing networking and other workshop events.

IdentiKids was successful in winning the North West Orange Award for Bright Business at the regional finals of National Business Awards. The Company is located in the Brenton Business Centre in Bury and employs four people with a turnover of £1/2 million, which will grow further with the latest expansion.