A specialist toy slime manufacturer has upsized its operations in South Yorkshire with a move to larger premises in Barnsley, with plans to increase its workforce by two thirds after receiving support from Enterprising Barnsley.

Novelty sensory putty retailer Slime Party UK has taken 14,291 sq ft of industrial and warehousing space at Unit 19 Redbrook Business Park in Barnsley and will expand its staff with 10 new jobs this summer.

The expanding business had outgrown its existing unit on Industry Road in Carlton, Barnsley, and is now using its new base to manufacture and distribute its range of 16 collectible sensory putty.
   
Agents Knight Frank, acting for landlord Industrials, secured the new unit for Slime Party UK, which was started in the town in 2018 by Ruby Sheldon, and has since manufactured more than 800,000 pots of putty to customers worldwide.

Ruby Sheldon said: “I set up Slime Party UK after the craze hit the UK in 2017 and my kids were trying to make it. I then devised a special compound for our products which means there’s the fun of slime, without the mess.

“Since then our business has grown. In 2022 there were three staff, now it's 16 and the move will bring 10 new jobs later this summer.

“Our former unit in Carlton had become too small and this new base offers racking space, the offices we need, further recruitment plans and allows easy access for distribution.”

Slime Party UK supplies toy shops and stores across the world including Fenwicks, British Garden Centres and Toytown with the most distant clients being 13 toy megastores in Lebanon.

Kitty Hendrick, surveyor in the Knight Frank Sheffield office, said: ‘We are delighted to have let Unit 19 Redbrook Business Park to Slime Party UK. This is a positive story, where a local Barnsley business is expanding into bigger premises, and great for the local economy.  

“It highlights again the sustained and strong demand for small to mid-sized industrial units in Barnsley and across South Yorkshire, underpinned by the lack of supply in the region.”

Councillor Robin Franklin, Cabinet spokesperson for Regeneration and Culture, said: "It's amazing news that Slime Party have expanded into larger premises within Barnsley.

"This is a fantastic story of a local entrepreneur finding success on an international scale with a unique product that children around the world have enjoyed hours of fun with.

"We're proud that our award-winning Enterprising Barnsley team have played a part in helping along the way. We'll remain on hand to provide any additional support they need.

"We wish Ruby and everyone at Slime Party the best moving forward."

The Mayor of Barnsley, Councillor James Michael Stowe, will officially open the new Slime Party UK base in April.

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