The creator of a screen-free early years and Key Stage 1 maths programme says she was “over the moon” after her business was recognised by former Dragon’s Den panellist Theo Paphitis.

Cubie, the creation of Lottie Trump, a teacher for ten years, was selected as one of six ventures to win the entrepreneur’s #SBS (Small Business Sunday) feature.
They’re picked from the many who tweet, comment or post an image to @TheoPaphitis between 5 and 7.30pm every Sunday.

The following day, at 8pm, the lucky six chosen are re-tweeted to Theo’s 489,000 Twitter followers.

They also become part of the #SBS small business network now numbering more than 3,500 active members.

After Cubie was chosen as one of the six, Lottie was invited to attend #SBSEvent2022 at Birmingham.

She joined nearly 1,000 fellow small businesses with main stage presentations from Dragons’ Den investment Rachel Watkyn and Debbie Lewis of NatWest Business.
An afternoon fireside chat featured fellow TV Dragon and textile king Touker Suleyman who took questions from Theo and the audience for almost two hours.

Winners also had the opportunity to have one-to-one advice sessions with #SBS partners, offering bespoke advice and expertise.

They also received their certificate and had a picture taken with Theo who is Chairman of Ryman, Boux Avenue, Robert Dyas and the London Graphic Centre.

Lottie, who developed the Cubie programme with the support of her husband, Ben, and a team of teachers and maths specialists, said: “We were over the moon to discover that we had won Theo’s Small Business Sunday.”

Launched last year Cubie is described as the maths equivalent of reading for 15 minutes a day.
For just 10 to 15 minutes 5 days a week, it provides children with skills and reinforcement in maths.
It was created, designed and developed in Dorset.
The programmes run in line with the national curriculum for reception, year 1 and year 2.
In a separate development Cubie was named ‘Best subscription box for supporting maths learning’ in The Independent’s Indy/Best feature.
Rated 8/10 the newspaper said: “Its educational credentials really impressed.
“This is exactly the kind of thing we wished we’d discovered during lockdown.”
Lottie, who lives in Fontmell Magna and gave birth to her first child, Ottolie, in December, said: “This was a very exciting moment for us and we loved the write up.”

In other developments:
• Cubie boxes have been shipped to Australia, Los Angeles, Romania, Norway, Zambia, Scotland, Wales and across England.
• The venture has featured in The Mail on Sunday’s You Magazine.
• Cubie has received glowing reviews including Stephanie Drax of ‘Storytellhers’ and Ore Oduba, the TV and radio presenter, actor, 2016 Strictly Come Dancing winner and Old Canfordian.

Lottie is now working on Year 3 content for Cubie Level D for launch in September.
She has also recently launched a ‘what have you learnt this month’ card to go in each box for children to reflect on, and celebrate, their learning and achievements.

Cubie is offering its April box as a one-off for people to try the programme without a subscription and at a special price of £24.99. More information at cubie-education.com.

By Andrew Diprose
with dorsetbiznews.co.uk