Case Study 5: Top Careers Ltd

The client

Top Careers Ltd started to take form in 2006 when teacher Eiman Munro, taking a break with maternity leave, decided to design a card game that brought awareness about the variety of careers for students in science, engineering and maths.

With no financial backing, Eiman invited sponsorship from major corporations to pay for their logo on the back of each career card. The first sponsor was Boots who sponsored the Pharmacist Career Card. Eventually 20 company sponsors were secured including British Airways who sponsored the Airline Pilot Career Card and Vodafone who sponsored the telecoms Engineer Career
Card.

This sponsorship raised over £14,000 which enabled the first Top Careers series of card games to be published. The games were tested in local schools and questionnaires completed on feedback. Initial sales of the games were through mail order and purchased largely by teachers and careers workshop facilitators.

What support did they receive?

• Made aware of some of the business support available to small businesses like free desk space
  at Starting Point
• Encouraged to become an active member of the borough’s SENSE network for social enterprises.
• Encouraged to attend free workshops on marketing and finance
• Encouraged to enter the second annual Barking and Dagenham Business Awards and won the
  award for Best Sole Trader.

  What did they achieve?

• With further help from SENSE Top Careers advanced into the retail market by securing a contract with the Science Museum with their retail shop taking the science, engineering and maths card games.
• Top Careers has recently become a Community Interest Company (CIC) New games have been
  published and further annual sponsorship secured.

  Eiman said that she would never have thought of entering the business awards, and winning the award has really given her a boost and is a great marketing tool. All her sponsors were really impressed. Her business has gone from strength to strength and she is very optimistic about
  the future. “I am very grateful for all the help and support I have received.”