We’ve launched our 2026 furry friends fundraising calendar

To celebrate the fact that The Business Village is a dog-friendly site, we’ve launched a fundraising calendar featuring all the ‘canine colleagues’ who come to work with their owners.

Proceeds from sales of The Dogs of The Business Village calendar, sponsored by Vets for Pets, will go to Barnsley Hospice.

Almost 40 dogs go to work with their owners at The Business Village’s two sites in Wilthorpe and Cudworth. Other dogs who prefer to stay at home have also been included in the calendar.

The calendar celebrates a policy which has allowed Business Village tenants to bring dogs to work with them on an occasional, part-time or even full-time basis since March 2023. Introduction of the dog-friendly policy followed a consultation in which a large majority backed the move and any reservations raised were carefully addressed in the code of conduct and tested in a successful pilot.

Each dog must be registered with site management, and their owners sign a contract to abide by strict rules monitoring behaviour and hygiene. Pets are not allowed in communal areas or meeting rooms and owners must ensure no-one has allergies or is nervous of dogs in their own offices or workshops

Our Business Development Manager Kevin Steel said: “Our aim was to introduce dogs in a very practical way which also protected the professional integrity of the workplace; and the consensus is that we’ve achieved that. Our calendar is now a fun collective way to celebrate our business community and our canine colleagues – as well as raise some money for an important local charity.”

250 copies of the dog calendar have been produced by I Do Magazine – a publishing company which moved back to The Business Village just a few months ago largely because of the dog-friendly policy.

I Do co-director Heather Tiffany, who brings her two soft coated wheaten terriers to the office with her, said: “Being able to bring my dogs to work was definitely a big factor in bringing our business back here. It’s a great idea when it’s managed well like this and it seems to have only added to the business community. We love all the photographs people have submitted for the calendar.”

Simon Atkinson, corporate partnership manager at Barnsley Hospice said: “We are so grateful to be chosen as the charity to receive proceeds from this doggy calendar. We rely on donations and fundraising to make up two-thirds of our income, so those who purchase these lovely calendars can do so knowing they are making a huge difference to the care and services we provide to local families.”

Louise Gwyn, Practice Manager at Vets for Pets, based over the road from The Business Village in Wilthorpe, said: “Our pets play a huge part in our lives and we’re very pleased to support this fundraiser for Barnsley Hospice led by a business enterprise which is pioneering dog-friendly practices.”

The move to allow dogs at The Business Village has brought many benefits according to Kevin. Dog-owning business owners have reported that productivity has improved as taking the dog for a quick walk has given them a break from the computer screen, helped clear heads and unlock ideas. Others have found that having a dog around has boosted their general wellbeing and reduced stress. It has also helped businesses to interact and get to know each other better as people have had many more informal chats as they walk their dogs in the grounds. The busy entrepreneurs have also appreciated the convenience.

The Dogs of The Business Village Calendar is selling fast and copies are on sale to the public, priced £4.99, from The Business Village receptions at Wilthorpe and Cudworth and The Bistro, Barnsley Hospice Retail Hub, Vets for Pets Barnsley and online here: https://www.business-village.co.uk/buy-dog-calendar-2026/ .