This quarter, it's the turn of Gary Cooke of Boomerang Ltd in Melksham, Wiltshire …

 

Gary Cooke started Boomerang Ltd in Melksham, Wiltshire, in 1995. Originally a play area of 1,250 square feet (sq ft) for young children, located in a community centre, the company is now spread over a site of 30,000 sq ft. It features a large, indoor, multi-storey play area, café, pool and table tennis facilities, as well as a laser combat zone. The centre offers fun for all the family, and also caters for corporate clients. Work colleagues, if they need to let off steam, can spar against each other in a ‘bouncy' boxing ring, using giant pugil sticks, whilst riding on a bucking bronco!

 

"After 6pm, we cater for older children and also adults," explained Mr Cooke. "Parents can come and let their hair down for a change. There are big sumo wrestling suits, for example, as well as a licensed bar for evening events."

 

Mr Cooke signed up his company as a member of the FPB in 2002 to take advantage of the money-saving offers. The main attractions were the discounted telecoms deal with Chess, and savings on merchant services – for taking payments by credit and debit cards.

 

He also votes in Referendum, the FPB's quarterly ballot of members, the results of which are sent to all MPs and MEPs, together with comments from members in their constituencies.

 

"Politicians and bigger businesses don't realise the difficulties that independent firms like ours face," he said. "The FPB keeps us informed and fights our corner extremely well. It is always there at the end of the phone, and saves my managers and myself a lot of time, effort and money, making the annual subscription great value for money."

 

Mr Cooke, a former leisure centre manager, decided to create Boomerang after noticing that children loved the combination of the padded floor mats and toys that he had placed in a sports hall. It was apparent also that their parents enjoyed retreating to the coffee shop next door.

 

For parents less inclined to take advantage of the play equipment, or who have tired themselves out trying to keep up with their sons and daughters, Boomerang also provides a quieter area, with the advantage of satellite television and soft couches, where they can relax whilst their children play. Some appear to have no trouble at all getting comfortable.

 

"Parents can have the kind of interaction with their kids that is becoming rare these days," said Mr Cooke. "But when they have had enough, they can flop down on the sofas. There have even been occasions where they have fallen asleep and we've had to wake them up when their kids were ready to go."

 

Boomerang is a family business. Mr Cooke's wife, brother, mother, father, sister-in-law and 16-year-old daughter are all employed there in some capacity, as part of a 50-strong team of staff.

 

"One of the big plusses is that we love what we do. Personally, I just can't stop thinking of ideas to further improve the business," enthused Mr Cooke. "In addition, parents come along and are pleased because their kids are happy – it's a win, win, win situation."

 

Mr Cooke does, however, find running the many different aspects of the business to be a daily challenge, but most enjoys the control he has over what he does, and over the direction of the firm. He cites the FPB as having been an essential source of support as the company has grown.

 

"HR comes under my remit. There are a lot of staffing issues and we often seek guidance from the FPB's 24-hour legal helpline," he explained. "We also subscribe to the FPB's Employment Guide and Health & Safety Guide, which are updated annually, and save us a lot of time and effort when we have to change our procedures in line with changes in the law."

 

From a one-man start-up based in a community centre, Mr Cooke has grown Boomerang into a successful – and unique – business, enjoyed by children and adults alike. Along the way, the FPB's extensive range of money-saving offers and the practical business guides have helped him turn his dream into a profitable reality.