Koolkarts races ahead with expansion plans
CHILDREN’s entertainment company Koolkarts has secured an 8,500sq ft site in the Swinton, Salford as part of its expansion strategy.
It has launched a new centre called Playkidds, following support from Greater Manchester’s Business Growth Hub.
Koolkarts, a go-kart operation and soft play activities centre, helps children from Key Stage 1 and 2 learn about road safety from a driver’s perspective.
With the use of props such as traffic lights and zebra crossings, the team recreate a road scenario using go-karts, helping the children learn how to safely cross roads.
The business, which currently employs 13 staff, has been running for four years and was originally a mobile operation, working with the likes of Sale Sharks, Salford Reds, Greater Manchester Police, and local schools.
Greater Manchester’s Business Growth Hub helped to provide Matthew O’Neill, the owner of Koolkarts, with an appropriate new site for his business.
Following the move into the Playkidds centre, the company is expanding into promoting healthy eating and safe play, spreading its mantra of ‘education through recreation’ and is aiming to secure more sites across the region. The firm is now aiming to expand its services to provide more soft play activities for children of all ages.
O’Neill said: “It has been fantastic working with Business Growth Hub, which has now supported my business plan for over a year.”
Mick Hadfield, growth advisor at Business Growth Hub, added: “Road safety is an integral part of any child’s education, and Matthew’s unique approach to developing these skills made the decision to work with the business an easy one.”
Salford City Mayor Ian Stewart, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Koolkarts to Swinton and I hope to see their growth accelerate rapidly. It’s further proof that Salford is booming for business, helping to create local jobs and bring spend into our economy.”
