Leeds woman who uses superheroes to teach kids about safety named finalist for top business award
This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.
This business is showing kids why staying safe is super important 🦸♀️
The founder of a Morley-based business which aims to transform how kids learn about safety has been shortlisted for a prestigious national entrepreneur award.
Bethany Holroyd founded the Safety Superhero Academy in late 2024 with a mission to show the next generation how cool health and safety can be through interactive workshops, hands-on activities, and creative resources.
With a background of 14 years of experience in construction, the entrepreneur knew the importance of always staying safety-conscious.
However, as a mum, she wanted a fun way to teach her son’s generation about the topic.
That’s why Bethany created The Safety Superhero Academy, which demonstrates the importance of safety both in everyday life and the working world.
Now, in just 18 months, the Safety Superhero Academy has delivered workshops to almost 1,000 pre-school and primary school pupils across the UK.
Every pupil who participated in a workshop also received a copy of The Safety Superhero, a picture book which continues the learning through colourful storytelling.
“The absolute aim of the Academy is to make sure children develop a positive culture around safety, health and wellbeing from the earliest years,” Bethany told the Yorkshire Evening Post.
“The whole ethos is about making the world a safer place.”
Since its creation, the Safety Superhero Academy has expanded through “word of mouth” and is now working with major organisations such as L'Oréal.
Bethany said: “When a global company like that believes in what you're doing, it gives you confidence that you're making a real difference."
For Bethany, the ultimate aim is to address a “gap in education” regarding teaching about health, safety, and wellbeing in schools.
"With my background in corporate health and safety, I've seen first-hand the impact of poor safety culture. Every workplace is made up of people with different perceptions of risk, and that's exactly why I believe those attitudes and behaviours should start developing in childhood,” Bethany said.
“Across the UK, there's no consistent approach to teaching children about safety, health and wellbeing. Some schools do an incredible amount, while others have far less opportunity. I wanted to create a common language and framework that every educator could use, regardless of their setting."
As The Safety Superhero Academy grows from strength to strength, Bethany has now been shortlisted for the Start-Up Entrepreneur of the Year at the Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards.
Bethany said: “It's a lovely recognition that the Academy is growing and that people really believe in the mission.”
"Having that recognition makes all the hard work worthwhile."
The winners of the Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards will be announced at a ceremony on November 16.
But before then, The Safety Superhero Academy has no plans on slowing down.
In fact, later this summer the business will launch a new programme called Shaping Safer Futures which includes a CPD-accredited e-learning course for teachers to bring safety, health, and wellbeing education into classrooms across the UK.
Bethany said: “"We're trying to address a challenge that isn't unique to the UK. Wherever children live, whatever their background, it's about helping them develop the awareness, confidence and communication skills to navigate the world safely.
“The more conversations I have, the more I recognise that actually it's needed on a global scale.
“We’re only just scratching the surface of our ambition”.