YVONNE ABOAGYE and Israel Hobson launched TYRO Studios in Shipley in April 2022 to host a range of creative workshops aimed at beginners.

And now the husband and wife have had their work recognised with the title of New Business of the Year in the Telegraph and Argus Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Awards.

The award is sponsored by Bradford Live.

Classes hosted at TYRO Studios cover a wide range including flower arranging, wine tasting, calligraphy, embroidery and macrame.

They give participants the chance to discover something different and possibly take up a new hobby.

Yvonne said they were not expecting to win the award.

“We were aware of the nomination but we were surprised to get the award. We really weren’t expecting it. We were just beavering away and trying to make something of our business,” she said.

She was impressed by the setting for the awards evening.

“I’ve lived in the city centre of Bradford for the last 5 years and I’ve never seen it transformed that way - it was absolutely beautiful,” she said.

Although the business is Yvonne’s, her husband is very involved in it too.
“When you’re married to someone running a business you get drawn into doing everything anyway.” she said. 

The business, which was a new venture for the couple, involves hosting different kinds of workshops.

The name they chose - TYRO - is Latin for a beginner or novice.

“All of our workshops are built with the beginner in mind,” Yvonne said.

“So in those two hours we’ll walk you through step by step and by the end of it you will have created something beautiful that you can take home. And you can take the step of learning more about that thing or you can think ‘do you know what I had a good time, that’s enough’.”

Each session includes wine, or non-alcoholic drinks, and chocolate - and the setting is beautiful and minimalist.

TYRO has also started taking private bookings for events such as birthdays and bridal showers.

Winners of 2023's Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Awards

Find out about the winners by clicking each category below.