A Cardiff-based climbing centre is celebrating after winning a prestigious business award

Boulders Indoor Climbing centre won the best new start up award at the South Wales Business Awards recently held in Cowbridge.

In spite of the worst economic conditions experienced for decades, Boulders was recognized for the commercial success it has had since setting up just over a year ago.

The brainchild of business partners Rob Lawrence, a former British Army officer and Ollie Noakes, a former soldier in the Territorial Army, Boulders is one of the largest indoor climbing centres in the UK housing over 2,000 square metres of climbing wall.

The two friends came together last year through a passion for climbing and with the help of Finance Wales and two business angels, Peter Saunders and Keith Thomas, their dream of opening an indoor climbing centre in Wales became a reality.

Twelve months later, the centre is not only catering to experienced, established climbers, but has opened up the sport to a host of first time climbers, young and old, who are using the centre as an alternative to the conventional gym, as well as the corporate market who are using the centre to host team building days for staff.

On winning the award, managing director of Boulders Indoor Climbing centre, Robert Lawrence said: “Despite only launching last year, we have been able to defy the economic downturn and go from strength to strength and this award win tops off what has been a fantastic year for us. It has undoubtedly been a challenge, but we have survived through continually innovating what we do and by looking for new ways to introduce people to climbing for the first time.  This award is a testament to the all the hard work that has gone into making Boulders a success.”

“We would not have been able to get to where we are today without our talented staff and our business advisors. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Finance Wales, Morgan Cole, BPU Chartered Accountants and Cooke and Arkwright for their help in our launch and their continued support. We would not have been able to turn our dream into a reality without their guidance and for our ambitious business plans.”

Since launching in August 2008, Boulders has a taken niche sport enjoyed by few, and turned it into an alternative form of exercise to conventional keep fit activities such as the gym.  In offering a dynamic, social sport in this way, the company has reaped the rewards.

Richard Jones, solicitor for Morgan Cole, said: “When we originally helped Boulders launch last year, we were able to tailor a package to support the business that would enable it to grow. We are absolutely delighted that they have won this award which demonstrates the dedication of the hardworking team.”

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