Elland teenage tycoons build up their own after-school media business

Sep 17 2008 by Henryk Zientek, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

TEENAGE tycoons Sam Roper and Liam Siddall are learning the lessons of business – by running their own company while still at school.

The 15-year-olds from Elland have set up media business LSR Group to produce and distribute a business magazine and offer printing services to local firms.

They also run a leaflet delivery service – and have plans to expand that to provide a parcel delivery service in conjunction with an established courier company.

The enterprising duo, who attend Brooksbank Sports College, launched The Calderdale Business Gazette in January and have reported lots of interest in the magazine – building up distribution to more than 5,000 copies a month.

“Our first magazine was released in March this year and has taken off from there,” said Sam. “We have gone from strength to strength.”

He said: “Some of our business aims are to create a better society and improve local business by bringing them more custom. Our main aim is to improve our local area – and with the support from local businesses and people we can achieve our goal of having a better community.”

The magazine, which is printed by another local company, includes a section promoting the achievements of young people in the area.

Said Sam: “Public opinion seems to say that all teenagers carry knives and wear hoodies. We are trying to show people that not all teenagers are the same and that there are lots of people out there trying to do something for the area.”

The idea of running a company for real grew out of schoolwork. Said Liam: “I was doing business studies and one of the tasks was to prepare a business plan for an imaginary business. We decided that perhaps a local magazine could work as a real business.

“We got together and decided to set it up. We devote a couple of hours to the business after school when we can see people in Elland and at weekends when we can go into Halifax.”

Liam provides the creative input – designing the magazine and other items requested by customers, such as business cards and leaflets.

Sam focuses mainly on visiting customers, selling and making sure they are happy with the finished product, although Liam adds: “We work as a team and we do whatever needs doing. It is a partnership and it operates just as any other business.

Said Liam: “We would like to carry on the business after our GCSEs next May, but we also intend to continue with our education, so we will see how things work out from there.”