WHERE there’s a will there’s a way – that’s the attitude Corrine Sankey adopted when she took early retirement and was looking for something new in her life.
“I had been working in the Court Service as a Legal Adviser for six years” said Corrine, “and due to cutbacks they were looking for people to take early retirement, which I opted for. But there was no way I was ready to retire so I started thinking about what I’d like to do”
That’s when Corrine, who is a qualified solicitor, decided to start up her own will writing business Where There’s a Will, which offers a variety of will writing services including Will Drafting, Appointment of Executors, Trustees & Guardians, Document Storage,Residential/Nursing Home Care, Advising the Elderly, Lasting powers of Attorney, and Video wills to support the written will, as well as much more.
She said: “Once I had made my decision I set to work quickly. I knew if I was going to set up a will writing business I had to do it properly as making a will is a huge responsibility”.
Corrine became a member of the Institute of Professional Will Writers (IPW) and passed a number of exams to become fully qualified in this area.
Corrine believes passionately the Will Writing industry should be regulated, she said “there is a growth of DIY, internet and unqualified Will Writers, offering a service which leave many people misled into thinking their will is sound when it is not. Getting it wrong could bequeath a potential nightmare for bereaved and grief stricken friends and relatives to deal with.”
Corrine, who is based in Southport, received free help and support through women’s enterprise organisation Train 2000 as part of the ISUS (Intensive Start-Up Support) programme. She worked on a one-to-one basis with an adviser to put together her business plan. “Train 2000 was great” she added “everyone I came into contact with was extremely helpful and supportive. My adviser Rhian was always willing to help and it was so nice knowing there would always be some one at the end of the phone to support me when I needed it.”
Corrine also attended Train 2000’s Business Planning course as well as the PR workshop and is hoping to undertake further courses in the future.
Despite only launching the business this March, Corrine has already gained several clients and has received very positive feedback. She is now about to launch a marketing campaign to make people aware of her business. She continued: “It’s so important for people to do a will or to update an old one if their circumstances have changed but where my service differs to that of going to have a will made at a solicitors, is that I will go out to clients’ homes to write the will and I offer a very personal and flexible service; my rates are also extremely competitive.”
She also believes that being a woman is a massive advantage to her business. She said: “Anything in the legal sector is very male dominated and a lot of people, particularly women, feel more comfortable talking to another woman, particularly when I am going into their homes.”
Corrine, who is married and has two sons aged 18 and 22, says that her family has been extremely supportive. “My boys are so interested in what I’m doing” added Corrine “and they are always looking for ways to help me develop my business.
“I am thoroughly enjoying being my own boss and am so glad this was the path I chose”.
To find out more about Corrine’s will writing service visit her website at www.wheretheresawillsouthport.co.uk or email info@wheretheresawillsouthport.co.uk
Alternatively you can contact her on 07824631077 or 01704 213979
And to find out more about Train 2000 and the FREE services offered to women throughout the Merseyside and Greater Manchester areas visit www.train2000.org.uk or call 0151 236 6601.
