Buckinghamshire and Leeds small business wins Vodafone prize

Play Makes Sense was set up in November by Abbie and Alice

Author: Scarlett Bawden-GaulPublished 3rd Apr 2021
Last updated 3rd Apr 2021

Set up in November the new business has been given a boost by the win.

Play Makes Sense has been set up by Abbie in Buckinghamshire and Alice in Leeds, both ex-primary school teachers who have taken a break from the career for family.

Despite never meeting in person, the two have managed to set up the business in the middle of a pandemic and have now been recognised by Vodafone's Shoutout to Small Businesses awards.

They have won a bespoke social media marketing campaign on Facebook and Instagram, which will also be amplified across Vodafone’s own social media channels to potentially reach more than a million people.

The business will also receive online business strategy sessions with Vodafone’s V-Hub digital business experts.

Abbie says its a huge thing to be given this award:

"We nominated ourselves and told our stories and have now been given this amazing opportunity to show what Play Makes Sense can do.

"Running a business is so new to us, so we have Instagram accounts but not like this.

"Its just an amazing opportunity and we feel so privileged to have won and be able to have this support."

Play Makes Sense creates sensory play phonics activity cards, creating an engaging and fun environment for children and adults to set up learning activities.

Anne Sheehan, Business Director, Vodafone UK said:

“I’d like to congratulate Play Makes Sense who were worthy winners of this competition and I hope will go from strength to strength as a result of this social media boost. We launched the Shout Out for Small Business campaign to continue raising awareness of the brilliant things small businesses have done to survive the pandemic. While the pandemic has presented many challenges, the ability to engage with and attract customers online opens up all kinds of business opportunities.”

“We are so excited to be part of the Vodafone Shout Out for Small Business Campaign said Alice Spencer, Co-Founder, Play Makes Sense. The campaign is an amazing opportunity for us to reach more parents and help them play and learn with their children.

“The knowledge gained from the business strategy and mentoring sessions will be invaluable, as will the exposure that the Vodafone brand provides. We are so grateful for the chance to learn how to further grow and market our business!”