Paula James is an expert in making healthy food look, and
most importantly, taste fantastic, with her Café and Takeaway; PJ’s Kitchen
based in Litherland. At PJ’s (Named so after her full name; Paula James) is a
Health Food Café and Takeaway that specialises in gluten free foods and
desserts. With the demand for gluten free offerings reaching the highest it has
ever been, Paula definitely has her finger on the pulse when it comes to this
type of food.
And she is well qualified too as well having graduated with
a BSc Hons in Nutrition and Health, as well as having a Business Management
BTEC, so she could get ahead of the game when it came to starting up her own
business. Paula is also currently re-training in Sports and Exercise Nutrition
online. After her training and education, Paula says; ‘I worked for a charity which was working with disadvantaged young
people. I had always wanted to set up my own business but I was too scared to
take the risk. Until one day I decided that life is too short and I needed to
give it a try!’
Something that was incredibly difficult for Paula when she
decided to start her own business was funding and where to find it, if even
there is any available. With a record breaking number of businesses starting up
across the UK last year, and an incredible 6,000 businesses starting up in
Liverpool alone in 2014, it could be argued that it’s easy to see why the
funding is hard to find and difficult to navigate.
Paula says; ‘I think
that there could be more financial help and support for women in business.’,
and when Paula was put in touch with The Women’s Organisation and worked with
our Business Advisor Yan, she was able to receive some pointers in the right
direction. ‘I received support from The
Women’s Organisation and had help completing my business plan, cash-flow and
forecast, as well as signposting towards MSIF for funding. I found this service
very helpful, and I’m not sure I could have done it without the help of The
Women’s Organisation!’
As well as receiving advice and support from The Women’s
Organisation, Paula took other steps to get the ball rolling with her business;
‘I set up all the Social Media sites and
tested the water with complimentary meals.’ The Women’s Org are sure her
complimentary meals went down a treat with the type of food that she has
displayed on her website! Main meals like ‘The
Frenchy – Garlic chicken breast cooked with mushrooms, onions and fat free
natural yoghurt’ and ‘PJ’s Fave –
Sweet potato rosti with spinach and poached egg.’ All of her delicious treats
are available to order and have delivered online.
Paula’s food looks incredible and she says; ‘Our menu offers a variety of nutritious,
fresh and satisfying meals, with the added extra of detox juices and even the
odd healthy desserts threw in there somewhere, we also cater for Slimming World
users, and most of our meals are Slimming World safe.’
With such a large market of health conscious people to cater
for, how is Paula’s business going so far? ‘So
far, I am breaking event, and I’m happy with this, as I have only been trading
for 6 months. The best thing about running the business is the freedom and
being able to make my own decisions.’ And if a friend of hers was thinking
about starting their own business; ‘I
would say do it! You only live once, and what’s the worst that could happen.
Right now I am proud of myself, and I aim to keep going, and hope to have a
chain of PJ’s Kitchen’s in the future.
We hope so too! Perhaps we can persuade Paula to have a PJ’s
just round the corner from our offices? If you would like to find out more
about Paula and PJ’s Kitchen, you can visit her website, pop into the Café in
Litherland, or use the contact details below!
PJ's Kitchen, Litherland, L21 2PA
T: 07939881993
E: pjskitchen@outlook.com
If you are thinking about starting up your business, like
Paula, then we can offer you help, advice and support from our talented team of
Business Advisors, as well as so much more!
Get in touch with us by emailing hello@thewo.org.uk or ring us on 0151 706
8111.
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