Twenty years ago, YouTube started as a simple idea a platform where anyone could share videos with the world. Today, it’s an unstoppable force with billions of daily views, helping creators build careers, launch businesses, and change their lives. We spoke to three South Yorkshire creators who found success on the platform and learned how they transformed their passion into full-time jobs.
Discovering a New Creative Playground
For Ruth Amos, a Sheffield-based engineer and inventor, YouTube offered a place where creativity met opportunity. Her channel, Kids Invent Stuff, launched in 2015 and now boasts 71,000 loyal followers. Together with her colleague Shawn, Ruth brings children’s invention ideas to life, turning wild concepts into real, functioning prototypes.
“There’s an amazing variety of ways to make money on YouTube,” Ruth explains. “Advertising, brand sponsorships, collaborations, and platforms like Patreon allow creators to diversify their income. Most successful YouTubers don’t rely on just one method – they mix several to create a stable career.”
Before YouTube, there was no easy way to find content about niche hobbies like robotics, Ruth says. “When I was a kid, you couldn’t just tune into a channel about building robots or crafting. YouTube gave all of these hobbies a home, and allowed niche communities to flourish alongside viral sensations.”
Kids Invent Stuff has collaborated with Channel 4’s popular show “Taskmaster” and even taken on Guinness World Record challenges, proving that opportunities on YouTube can stretch far beyond the platform itself.
Advice for the Next Generation of Inventors
Would Ruth recommend a YouTube career to the young inventors who send her ideas? “Absolutely, if you’re creative and passionate,” she says. “But I always tell kids think about your other skills too. Many top channels show people doing something else they’re passionate about, whether it’s art, music, or science. YouTube thrives on genuine expertise and enthusiasm.”
Growing Up Online and Moving to TV
At just 15 years old, Barnsley native Lee Hinchcliffe began uploading videos to YouTube. What started as gaming content quickly expanded into skits, challenges, and light-hearted vlogs. It wasn’t until he filmed a wild McDonald’s Monopoly challenge spending hundreds of pounds trying to win a prize that his channel truly took off.
“I never won anything big,” Lee laughs. “I lost more money than I care to admit. But people connected with the honesty and humor of it all.”
Lee describes YouTube as his personal education. “It’s my university. Instead of lectures and exams, I had real-world experience filming, editing, building an audience, learning what works and what doesn’t.”
His work online led to opportunities offline. Lee became a television presenter for CBBC, working alongside the lively puppet Hacker T Dog. “Normally you’d go through auditions and screen tests,” Lee explains. “But with YouTube, they already knew what I could do. They saw my videos and just handed me a mic and an earpiece.”
The Endless Hustle of Being a Creator
Despite his success, Lee stresses that the workload never really stops. “It’s an obsession,” he says. “When you love what you do, there’s no clocking out. You’re constantly filming, thinking about new ideas, editing, connecting with your community. It’s constant plate-spinning.”
He admits that balancing creative passion and personal life can be tough, but says the rewards both personal and professional make the hard work worthwhile.
Building a Business Around YouTube
While some creators build careers purely as influencers, Steve Garbutt took a different approach. Along with his son Shane, he runs Yorkshire Car Restoration in Doncaster, blending his lifelong passion for cars with a sharp eye for opportunity.
Five years ago, they decided to document their restoration projects on YouTube. Initially working out of a cramped 1,000-square-foot warehouse with only a few cars, they have since expanded into a 10,000-square-foot space housing over 40 vehicles.
“People don’t realize how much work it is,” Steve admits. “You’re doing the restoration, constantly moving cameras around, adjusting lighting and that’s before you even start editing hours of footage at home.”
Smart Moves in a Crowded Market
From the beginning, Steve and Shane understood the importance of strategic thinking. They offered free restorations to popular YouTubers like Mat Armstrong, trading their skills for exposure rather than immediate cash.
“You’ve got to be smart,” Steve explains. “The real opportunity isn’t just about money. It’s about building relationships, getting your name out there, and attracting the right kind of audience.”
Through collaborations, they’ve worked with well-known figures such as The Stig from Top Gear, Mike Brewer from Wheeler Dealers, and Jonny Smith from The Late Brake Show.
Finding Fulfillment Beyond Finances
Despite the long hours and sometimes modest earnings, Steve insists the emotional rewards are immense. “The positive comments we receive are incredible. That encouragement keeps you going, even when the financial side doesn’t always add up,” he says.
Steve warns against relying solely on YouTube for income. “It’s easy to believe that a viral video will change everything but that’s rare. My advice to anyone would be to pursue YouTube alongside a solid career. Build your channel around something you genuinely love, not just what you think will be popular.”
In the end, passion, persistence, and a little bit of strategy seem to be the common ingredients behind these creators’ success stories a fitting tribute to YouTube’s incredible journey from humble video site to global creative powerhouse.
