For Leila McCardle, languages have always been at the heart of her career. As a secondary school teacher of French, German, Italian and Spanish, with experience teaching learners of all ages, she has spent years helping people build confidence through language learning. It was this passion, combined with her experience reading with her son, that inspired her to launch Red Beret Publishing.
While searching for bilingual children's books, Leila found there was often a choice between educational resources and engaging stories, with few titles successfully combining both. Wanting to create something that would make language learning fun and accessible, she is developing a series of bilingual children's books designed to introduce young learners to everyday language through storytelling. Guided by the belief that languages should be for everyone, her books encourage children, parents and educators to explore language and culture together.
Since launching the business, Leila has continued to build on the original concept. Her first book – Isabelle Goes to Paris… and Drops Her Bunny Bonbon – is available in hard copy, Kindle and Audible formats, with the audiobook recorded locally at The Lane Studio in Prestonpans. Future titles in Italian and Spanish are already planned, alongside accompanying workbooks and interactive learning resources.
What makes Red Beret Publishing particularly unique is its focus on creating an experience around the stories. Through a collaboration with local business Wow Crochet, the book's characters have been transformed into handcrafted crochet dolls, helping bring the stories to life for young readers. Leila has also written a song inspired by the book and is developing workshops that combine language, culture, art and storytelling in an engaging and memorable way.
Like many new business owners, Leila has faced the challenge of balancing creativity with the practicalities of running a business. As a sole trader, building awareness of the brand and reaching new audiences continues to be an area she is keen to develop, and she is interested in connecting with local businesses and organisations to explore promotional and collaborative opportunities. Support from Business Gateway East Lothian, particularly from adviser Irene Ramsay, has helped her navigate the early stages of growth, providing access to funding, one-to-one advice, networking opportunities, webinars and training. Through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund New Business Support Grant, Leila was also able to purchase equipment that helped her establish the business in its early stages.
"The support I received from Business Gateway East Lothian was invaluable. The grant helped me get started, but it was also the encouragement, guidance and belief from Irene and the wider team that made such a difference. It gave me the confidence to keep moving forward and develop my ideas."
Looking ahead, Leila plans to expand the book series, grow her programme of workshops and continue developing partnerships that enhance the learning experience for children. Through Red Beret Publishing, she is combining education, creativity and community collaboration to inspire a new generation of language learners.
To find out more about Red Beret Publishing, books are available through Amazon Kindle and Audible or can be ordered directly via [email protected]
Follow their journey on Instagram: @redberetpublishing
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