A Barnsley businesswoman who received support to set up her business through Enterprising Barnsley’s Launchpad programme has been named as one of the UK’s top 100 female entrepreneurs.
Leonie Briggs, founder and director of interactive science education business Amazelab, has been included in Small Business Britain’s annual list of top female role models for 2025. Their f:Entrepreneur #iAlso100 list celebrates women who run purpose-driven businesses which support their communities.
Amazelab delivers fun and accessible STEAM workshops for children of all ages and abilities. Leonie’s hands-on sessions are focused on exciting an interest in science and encouraging young people to consider careers in sectors such as research, design, technology and engineering.
Amazelab works with dozens of schools, libraries, museums, charities and community groups to deliver workshops across South Yorkshire and beyond. She collaborates with providers such as North Star Science School in Rotherham, and delivers virtual workshops which reach children and young people around the world, as far afield as the Caribbean and the Middle East.
In 2024, Leonie estimates more than 250,000 young people enjoyed Amazelab’s educational activities, including 15,000 at one Sheffield weekend event! In 2025, she will provide a cosmic workshop in collaboration with the International Space Station and the UK Space Education Office (ESERO_UK) as part of Mars Day (2 March).
Leonie, of Hoyland Common, said: “I love what I do, and I’m thrilled to be included in this year’s list of top female entrepreneurs. I’ll use every opportunity this provides to shout about the value of science education for all. I also want to highlight the many wonderful careers in science which are available to young people, especially in our region where there is so much industry and innovation.”
Leonie is thought to be the first Barnsley woman to be recognised as a trailblazer in Small Business Britain’s annual female entrepreneur awards. She will attend a celebration event at Westminster on International Women’s Day (8 March), wearing an outfit made by another Hoyland Common entrepreneur - designer-dressmaker Jilly of Jilly’s Fashion.
Former chemistry teacher Leonie started her business by delivering virtual STEAM workshops to children during COVID in 2020. Setting up conical flasks on her dining room table and using a simple webcam, she was determined to design and deliver practical, safe and affordable experiments kids could join in with at home.
Leonie said: “I’m passionate about science education and helping young people to discover new things, work things out and create stuff that make them go ‘Wow’. I never miss an opportunity to get out there and so many wonderful people and organisations have been in touch with me since Covid that I’ve been able to collaborate and deliver more and more – growing the business quicker than I could ever imagine.”
Amazelab now also provides training and consultancy services for teachers, childminders and youth workers and produces its own educational resources. It collaborates with STEMUnity to produce 5parkboxes, packs which contain everything children need to carry out experiments.
Leonie is committed to inclusivity and one key collaborator for workshop provision is the Limbo Foundation – for children with limb differences and their families.
The business now employs a team of five, with additional support from a squad of University of Sheffield students for events. Leonie, aged 42, also involves her family.
Husband David, a graphic designer, leads on the company’s branding and materials and their children - Alex, aged 11, and Lucas, aged 7 - are founding members of the ‘Mini Amazelab Crew’, who test out all Leonie’s workshops to ensure they are kid-friendly and as effective as possible.
Leonie received support to set up her business full-time after the Covid pandemic through Enterprising Barnsley’s Launchpad programme, which can help anyone in Barnsley start and grow their business.
Enterprising Barnsley group leader Ben Hawley said: “Leonie has built a stunning business in just five years and has turned something she is passionate about into a successful small enterprise with huge impact.
“She is creating jobs and collaborating with an impressive list of high-profile companies, industry leads and educational organisations. Leonie is definitely an inspiration and we can only see further stratospheric growth for her Barnsley-based business.”
Leonie said: “It’s not about me, it’s about the science. It’s a privilege to work with young people – who knows what one or two of them might do with science in the future? I want Amazelab to go on after me and engage more children in science.”
Leonie is a ‘STEAM’ educator - which adds Arts to the more familiar Science, Tech, Engineering, and Maths elements, introducing creativity, imagination and fun to her workshop experiences.
Clients include Barnsley Libraries and Sheffield Weston Park Museum. Leonie has carried out live experiments on BBC Radio 5 Live and Radio Four’s Women’s Hour.
Our Enterprising Barnsley business support team are based at DMC 01 and DMC 02 and Launchpad is a South Yorkshire-wide start-up support service which helps any business – tech-focused or not - to get up and running.
