'Empowering, Insightful, Though-Provoking': #SetYour2020Vision Business Club

At the first Business Club of 2020, we invited members to set their vision for the coming year.

‘New year, new me’. We’ve all said it at some point, then gone and bought a gym membership, opened a savings account, made extravagant plans for the coming year. But then, after a few weeks, our momentum slows, life gets in the way, we sleepwalk through the year, then suddenly it’s December again and nothing has changed.

In an inspiring session ran by Lin Hankinson, we invited our Business Club to set their vision for the coming year, and learn how to manifest that vision.

Networking before guest speaker Lin Hankinson

Lin Hankinson is an experienced counsellor, mindset coach, and founder of ‘What If…You Can’. As an entrepreneur, she has a wealth of experience in what is takes to start and maintain a successful business, and now coaches people in removing the mental barriers preventing them from reaching their full potential, and helps them to create the life they want to live.

Lin started out by saying: ‘We create our own reality, so let’s create the best life and best story that we can. 2020 is going to be my year – I want it to be your year too!’

With this in mind, Lin set us the task of ‘creating our best life’. What changes do we want to have made by next year?  What habits do we need to shake? What habits do we need to begin? What do we honestly believe our purpose on this planet is?

What do we want our lives to look like next year?

This got everyone thinking… It’s not often that we’re forced to be introspective, and it even sparked tears from a few people!

We went on to imagine our life in a year’s time: how do we want to be? What do we want to do? What do we want to have? How does the thought of being, doing, and having them things make us feel?

Lin demonstrated to us that these dreams and desires are very much within our grasp, but the programming of our brains from childhood mean we’re hardwired to believe, or not believe, certain things about ourselves and the world around us. Fortunately, we can retrain our brains to think more positively, and override these negative beliefs – we just need focus and support from those around us.

 

We followed up with plenty of networking, and it was great to see so many brilliant women connecting and sharing tips. One member has even arranged a trip to the top of the cathedral with a member from Russia!

We had lots of wonderful feedback from the session. Here’s just a taste:

‘Really stimulating, and great to learn about a new framework to guide my thinking. Such great energy!’

‘Just a lovely and inspiring morning with Lin. Lots of food for thought and big dreams. Thanks for the safe, inspiring and calm space, and opportunity to attend.’

‘It was empowering, insightful, and thought provoking. Really enjoyed it.’

‘Lin’s workshop was a wonderful opportunity to be challenged and empowered to take the wheel of my life and take responsibility for steering it in the direction I want to go. I LOVED IT!’

‘Amazing! I came so far in such a short amount of time. Lin was brilliant and pitched this workshop perfectly. Magic stuff happened here!’

Thanks to everyone who came, including our wonderful speaker Lin Hankinson. You can catch her upcoming events over on her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WhatIfWorkshops/

Our next Business Club event is our International Women’s Day event on Friday 6^th March – it’s going to be an exciting one, so make sure to save the date ♀️

Business Club is rebranding to WO Connect! We’ll be creating a new Facebook group for members to exchange tips and ideas, and including a corporate membership option, for women who wish to attend events on behalf of big businesses. Keep an eye out for our new logo, launching soon…

'Just Get Started!' - Social Media Experts Share Tips and Stories on Boosting Online Followers!

It’s reported that 3.2 billion people use social media, making it clear to see that if you want to get your voice heard, you should probably be online. With that in mind, we rounded up some of Merseyside’s most savvy social media users to come and share their tips on how to get ahead and start building a following online at our event 'Building Your Social Media Influence'

Hosted by The Women's Organisations Training Co-ordinator, Bernie Cox, our panellists included; Head of Communications at Sefton Council, Nicky Speed, Producer and presenter, Ben Osu and Founder of multi award winning blog 'Mini Travellers', Karen Beddow. With the room full of people ready to start conquering the world of online communication, we eased our panellists in with the question on everyone’s mind.

“Do I have to be on every social media platform to reach my audience?”

In short, the answer was no with all panellists in agreement that it's more important to focus on finding out what social media platform is going to work for you and your business, from here you will be able to find where your audience are. For anyone unsure about what platforms to try first, Karen had a top tip

“Even if you don’t know if you’ll use that platform, I would still go on to register your username. If you decide to use it in the future, you will have an official username that everyone can recognise you by”

Successfully campaigning to bring the MOBO awards to Liverpool in 2010 and again in 2012, Ben shared some of his insights on how to make a campaign work.

“I worked tirelessly, constantly calling promotors” 

He spoke about social media playing a key element in his campaign

 “Social media can really compliment the work you’re doing. When I started campaigning, I used Facebook groups to get an audience together. At the end of the day, it’s all about engaging content. Once you got that in place, the audience will start to build itself”

At the heart of the Sefton Borough, Nicky spoke about how the community spirit influences her marketing team at Sefton Council. “Our biggest strategy for promoting our key messages is engagement. You need to be listening to what your audience wants. We work with different partners and organisations, so we like to share other people’s content and get involved in the conversation online”

The main message to come out of the night, JUST GET STARTED! Social media can take practice, but don’t be afraid to get it wrong!

A massive THANK YOU to everyone who attended our event and our guest panelists! a special thank you to Hala Saeed for taking photos of the event!

Feedback included:

“Really interesting, informative and funny! I have noted somethings I’m going to look at when I get home”

“Really informative! Picked up some great ideas & tips. I’ve been alerted to some things I was unaware of!”

“Fantastic, informative and well-chosen mix of speakers. Can’t wait for the next one!”

If you enjoyed Building Your Social Media Influence, we have TWO more networking events throughout summer. Join us on 17th July, 6-8:30pm for some Summer Collective, and on 21st of August, 6-8:30pm for Speak Out to Stand Out

Alternatively, contact us on 01517068111 or hello@thewo.org.uk for more information.

Building Your Social Media Influence

Being on Social Media is now more critical than ever if you're looking to build a following for your business. Social media is now one of the main forms of communication used to reach an audience and it's becoming more and more important to establish yourself online with a strong brand presence.

Here at The Women’s Organisation we are holding an event to help you build up your own social media presence. We have 3 social media experts who have worked over the years to build a successful following and establish strong relationships with their online audience. You will take home tips and tricks to build your following and be inspired to be the next social media influencer for your business!

Join us Tuesday 18th June, 6pm-8:30pm at 54 St James Street, L1 0AB

Our Panelists 

Ben Osu - Content Producer and Presenter

Ben set up his own community forum, giving young people of the city a voice and soon became a youth leader working with multiple agencies across the city on youth policy and service design and provision. After a social media campaign in 2009, Ben was successful at bringing the MOBO (Music of Black Origin Awards) to the city and back again in 2012.

Karen Beddow - Founder of multi-award winning travel blog 'Mini Travellers'

Karen left her full-time role as a commercial litigation solicitor when she had her children to concentrate on her Family Travel blog Mini Travellers. Karen has used her skills to create and then turn Mini Travellers into an established creative business, that has meant she can work from home and spend more time with her three children. Karen also has a social media consultancy Aster & Fern. 

Nicky Speed - Head of Communications Sefton Council

Influential communications leader Nicky Speed has over 18 years' experience in the industry, working in a variety of sectors from local government and higher education to housing, transport and health, with a proven track record in building organisational profile, reputation and brand.

Building Your Social Media Influence will be held at 54 St James Street on Tuesday, June 18, from 6pm to 8.30pm. Tickets are available over on eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/business-club-building-your-social-media-influence-tickets-59574071652

Business Club

The Women's Organisations Business Club is an exclusive women's only networking group which is open to female business owners.

Membership is open to female business owners only and is per individual not per business. Additional staff members can be booked onto individual events as you go. Our events will mostly be held at our flagship building, 54 St James Street in Liverpool but members are welcome to join from anywhere.

How to know when you are ready to take on staff for the first time

Making the leap from a sole trader to building up a workforce can be the most critical stage for any business and a very daunting task. The cost, time and practicalities involved in taking the leap and expanding can be a sticking point for young businesses. 

We have rounded up the top 5 indicators which may mean you are ready to take this leap and hire your first member of staff.

1.      You have more business than you can handle and are turning down work.

Perhaps the most obvious indicator that growth is warranted is that you can’t meet demand. Obviously, you shouldn't hire until you have adequate work for another person to handle. If you are turning down a lot of work because you can’t physically handle it then this could be a sign you need to hire someone to help meet the demand.

2.      You have identified a new revenue stream.

You can hire someone to help you with your existing work demands but you can also hire someone to help with whole new types of work. If you see a gap in the market or a new possible revenue stream then you could hire someone to help you with this, the right employee can truly make the difference in taking your business to the next level.

3.      You have a plan for growth.

It’s important to have both short- and long-term goals, but you also need to map out a strategy for getting there. If you plan to grow which will mean you can’t handle the workload by yourself then hiring a staff member could make the progression smoother and more successful.

4.      Your industry is growing.

Take a look at your industry: is the market saturated? Or are you only scratching the surface of the customer base you could reach? Analyse your competitors and possible target markets-If you have minimal competition and a large untapped customer base, then you have better odds for successful growth which can mean that you need staff to help you.

5.      You are meeting your goals.

As a business you need to be setting yourself goals and aiming to reach those milestones you set. Make sure you asses your progress continuously to make sure you are on the right track to meet those goals. If you are, and ahead of schedule, then maybe you can speed up your plans and to help with take could employee someone to help.

If those indications are taking place in your business, then here is the next step as suggested by our senior business advisor here at The Women’s Organisation, Claire Pedersen. Take time to analyse if you are definitely ready to hire your first staff member by completing a time and motion study.

Every day for a few weeks, make a note of everything you do and how long those tasks take. Then analyse these tasks and see if they are things you need to be doing eg., networking or delivery of a service. These tasks should then be split into two lists. First, look at the tasks and see if there are duplications, are there tasks being done 3 times a week when you could just do them once? This is to find out if you are maximising your time in the most efficient way. On the second list look at what jobs are on that list and what job roles this could form, is there enough tasks on that list to warrant a full time member of staff or should you just employ freelancers or no one at all?

If you’d like some help with taking on staff for the first time, get in touch with Enterprise Hub to find out more about the business growth programme which can help you understand the practicalities. Email enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk or ring us on 0151 706 8113.

Your Official Guide to International Women’s Day 2019 ♀ 💪

Here at The Women’s Organisation one of our favorite days of the year is just around the corner, International Women’s Day!

Friday the 8th of March is the day, make room in your diary.

International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by all women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.

This year’s theme is #BalanceForBetter because if you better the balance, you better the world as balance drives a better working world for all.

The future is exciting, lets aim to build a gender-balanced world where everyone can make a difference. We all have a part to play - all the time, everywhere. From individuals to communities, we are entering a new and exciting time in history where people can expect balance. We need to be noticing its absence and celebrating its presence.

How will you celebrate women's achievements on Friday March 8, while calling for a more gender-balanced world?

If you need some ideas here are some amazing events going on in and around the city which are celebrating International Women’s Day.

Morning Events

Business Club- “Women Can”

10am-12pm, 54 St James Street, Liverpool, L1 0AB

Joining us are two inspirational women who have broken glass ceilings and made their way to the top. Hear their journey and their tips on growing your business and be inspired as we explore the International Women's Day theme for this year #BalanceforBetter.

The first panelist is Chief Executive of Royal Albert Dock Liverpool Sue Grindrod, who is responsible for the strategic development and management of this iconic waterfront destination and is leading its next phase of evolution. The second panelist is Marnie Millard who is Group Chief Executive for Nichols PLC. She joined the company in 2012 and was appointed to her current role in May 2013. Marnie was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for her services to International Trade and Businesses in North West England.

This event is in partnership with NatWest.

All Day Events

The Female Gaze: Women Depicting Women, dot-art.

10am-6pm, 14 Queen Avenue, Castle Street, Liverpool, L2 4TX

The new exhibition at dot-art showcases the work of three women artists, Liz Jeary, Mia Cathcart and Rebecca Atherton. Each artist depicts women in their work, capturing and exploring identity and the complex representations of women in art through diverse art forms.

This exhibition starts on Friday 8th March and runs until Saturday 4th May. Entry is free and all are welcome.

Evening Events

Petticoat Rebellion? Women and Resistance to Slavery

6-7pm, Central Library, William Brown St, Liverpool L3 8EW

They are celebrating International Women's Day by remembering women's resistance to plantation slavery. If resistance to slavery in general was concealed by slaveholders, the resistance of women was underplayed and trivialised. This lecture puts women's resistance at the heart of the fight for freedom and tells the story of Nanny of the Maroons, Nanny Grig, Harriet Jacobs, Harriet Tubman and others whose often individual acts of resistance have gone unrecorded.

Sisbis presents: International Women's Day

6pm - til late, 24 Kitchen St, Baltic Triangle, Liverpool L1 0AN

Liverpool women have been busy: making art, making music and making noise about things they care about. To celebrate, SisBis presents a social for creative and active women in Liverpool. Expect live music, food and things-to-do run by the many exciting female and queer creative collectives from across the city.

An evening with Inspirational Women

5-8pm, Liverpool Hope University, Creative Campus, Shaw Street , Liverpool, L6 1HL

Celebrate International Women’s Day with a panel of inspirational women. They will be holding a Q&A session with women working in areas such as; Art, Education, Business and Science. The event will also provide a series of short talks showing the lived experiences of the women from this array of areas, highlighting the barriers challenged within their progression.

The panel includes-

Zara Khalique – Founder of Keep It Bright’, a positivity movement and lifestyle brand with customers such as Arianna Grande and Miley Cyrus.

Dr Ella Houston – Lecuruer in Disability and Education, focusing in the area of Feminism and Disability Studies.

Lauren Tucker – Dance artist and founder of Tuck Shop Dance Theatre.

Dr Nicola Jones - BSc (Hons) MSc PhD FHEA CPsychol – Lecturer in Psychology.

Mark Russell & Ruth Hartnoll Help us Raise The Ranks on Google

Having a website and social media page is great, but is it really any use if nobody is seeing it? Building your presence online should be high on your marketing priorities, and getting to grips with SEO can certainly help to build that presence. To set the record straight on SEO and content we decided to invite some expert marketers along to our September Business Club ‘Raise the Ranks on Google: Your Easy Step Guide to Being Visible Online’ 

We were happy to welcome Mark Russell from bmirco and Ruth Hartnoll from J&R Agency to come and deliver some SEO and content magic at the event. Mark, specialising in micro businesses has 5 years’ experience in the digital marketing field and Ruth, who is the founder and director of J&R agency, works to empower small businesses to think bigger.

We had varied audience, ranging from marketing consultants to interior designers, established businesses to people thinking about going into self-employment, and they were all ready to delve into the sometimes-complex world of SEO. First up, we welcomed Ruth to the Business Club stage!

Ruth Hartnoll

Talking about the important relationship between quality content and SEO, Ruth took us through some of the DO’S & DON’TS of producing good content to help boost Search Engine Optimisation and of course, we spoke about that top position on Google

 “I see people obsess with reaching the top search result on Google, but they have to remember that’s sometimes it’s better to be third or fourth as some people find these results more trustworthy, and you’re still on the first page”

Surprising, and definitely worth focusing on! She also spoke about the importance of blogging, and focusing on long form content that outranks short form much to the dismay of our budding writers! 

"Articles over 1800 tend to do better for SEO, always try and focus on the long form content for your blog and website"

Next up to speak, we had Mark Russell, who started his presentation by telling us to “forget the algorithm” and focus on the long-term SEO goals instead.

Mark Russell

“You have to understand what question people want solving, not just now, but what they wanted solving in the past and the future”

Helping us to break down all that SEO jargon, Mark took us through on-page, off-page and local SEO that will be key to building your SEO strategy. We then touched upon link building, a task that can be difficult to start. “Link building can be hard, this is why you have to build relationships offline so you can join together for content, help share each other’s website and offer out guest blogs”

We’ve certainly took away some amazing hints and tips from the event, and we had some great feedback from our audience:

“This was really good! I got loads of useful information on things I didn’t know already”

“My first time at a Business Club event! I’m very impressed with the amount of information and help I’ve been given. I will be coming again!”

“Very informative! I’ve got some new insights and tips that I had not heard of”

Mark & Ruth

Thank you to Ruth and Mark for giving us such SEO and content wisdom! And thank you to everyone who attended Septembers Business Club. If you'd like to contact them, you can use the links below: 

J&R Agency

Website

Twitter 

Facebook

bmicro

Website

Twitter

Facebook

If you enjoyed ‘Raise the Ranks on Google’, we have more exciting networking events throughout this year....

Join us on 14th November, 1:30-4pm for 'Unleash the Entrepreneur Within: In Conversation with Nisha Katona'

 Join us on 6th December, 4-6pm for seasonal spirit at 'Festive Networking'

Tickets all available via eventbrite or alternatively, contact us on 0151 706 8111 or hello@thewo.org.uk for more information.

‘BE BOLD’ – Trailblazing Women Share Stories and Advice at Business Breakfast

As 2018 marks the centenary of voting rights for (some) women, Business Breakfast celebrated the trailblazing women in business who are continuing to lead the charge for equality to this very day.

We headed to Museum of Liverpool to discover stories, experiences and advice from influential women who successfully established themselves in the modern working world. Guest speakers included; CEO of The Women’s Organisation, Maggie O’Carroll, Director of Museum of Liverpool & Merseyside Maritime Museum at National Museums Liverpool, Janet Dugdale and Former General Manager of Microsoft and current CEO of Earthport, Amanda Mesler.

With an early start, the women of Liverpool turned out in high numbers ready for coffee, pastries and a morning of empowerment. Up first, Janet Dugdale touched on 100 years of suffrage, paying particular attention to Lydia Becker a great leader in the early British suffrage movement. Janet reiterated the importance of powerful women today following in her footsteps, “together we can connect, collaborate and have a voice...”

Up next, CEO of The Women’s Organisation Maggie O’Carroll asked guests to put their hands up if they considered themselves a leader, with only half of the room reacting: “If this was a room full of men, there’d be quite a different response”. 

Maggie identified the most corrosive element to women climbing the ladder is that women don’t believe they’re leaders, she stated that true leadership is investing in yourself and helping others along the way: “leadership is an ill-defined concept, so make of it what you want and develop your own style. You ARE women who lead – don’t forget it!”

Finally, we heard from the incredible Amanda Mesler! Amanda’s wealth of executive experience in the corporate world, alongside being a mum to three daughters, has made her passionate about helping women create and achieve their ambitions. Amanda’s words of advice were, “fake it until you make it”, she recalled getting an ambitious job that she was the least qualified for: “confidence is key - initiative over experience is my mantra.”

Juggling a demanding job with international travel, alongside being a mother and having a passion for sports and running, some may ask just HOW Amanda maintains balance: “I’m always asked about balance, it doesn’t exist. That’s why I have four pillars of strength: family, international career, sports (Everton) and giving back. It usually only takes a little bit of energy to get me back on track, and I can get that from my pillars”.

Amanda recently became the CEO of Earthport, an upcoming business that helps with cross-border payments, “I run the company and get to change the culture. If I say diversity is important, if I say gender equality is absolutely critical, it’s going to happen because I have the power to make it happen” – YES AMANDA!

Having travelled to Liverpool for an Everton game several years back, Amanda fell in love with Goodison Park, our city and the people within it: “Me and my daughter went to one match at Goodison and completely fell in love. I love the community of the city, it’s my favourite city in the U.K.”

Amanda’s final words of wisdom, “Be bold. Have confidence in yourself. Fake it till you make it. You are already a leader, you can make a difference and you will make a difference.”

After a morning of inspiring discussion, Maggie then asked for a second time “who considers themselves a leader?” – we had a room full of hands up.

Feedback included:

What a great inspiring session, one of the best I’ve attended

Inspiring event, great speakers, amazing venue and lots of lessons to take back to the office. I look forward to the next one.

A fantastic, motivational talk. It’s great to have insight into what women can achieve. Family AND career is doable.

WOW! What a truly inspiring morning. So great to hear other stories. I feel inspired and empowered. Thank you.

Inspiring keynote speeches. All the women who spoke made me feel empowered to remember ‘I am a leader’ in my own life in every aspect. Thank you – I look forward to more events.

Inspirational! Given me the motivation to lead and have confidence in myself.

A massive THANK YOU to everyone who attended our Business Breakfast, as well as to our event partners Museum of Liverpool.

If you enjoyed Business Breakfast, we have TWO more networking events throughout summer. Join us on 24^th July, 6-8:30pm for some Summer Speed Networking, and on 23^rd of August, 2-4pm for an in-depth discussion with Julia Keyes and Jacqueline Coles, Being an Empowered Woman.

Alternatively, contact us on 01517068111 or hello@thewo.org.uk for more information.

“Leaving Feeling So Positive About Moving Forward!” – An Inspiring Business Club at #LoveYourBusiness!

In the spirit of Valentines Day, we had a mission to help our Business Club members love their business.

Every business owner knows what it feels like to feel bogged down in paper-work and a to-do list as long as your arm. Starting a business is not an easy decision and usually includes long hours, big decisions and asking yourself “have I made the right decision?”.

Well, we think you have. Turning your passion into a business reality is something that deserves applauding, so make sure you constantly remind yourself WHY you started in the first place.

We recruited the help of two amazing women who had a business idea and made it happen. Irene Afful and Marissa Rooney both became entrepreneurs through sheer hard work and determination, and a little guidance from The Women’s Organisation.

Irene Afful is Director of Ametrine Enterprise Solutions, Professional Coaching & Consultancy Services. If you haven’t heard Irene’s story, it’s pretty incredible and we recommend that you head to this YB news article to read about it in more depth!

A young girl growing up in Toxteth the same time as the Toxteth Riots, Irene experienced racial abuse from police officers. She later joined the force with a mission to transform its discriminatory culture and lay the foundation for a more diverse workforce. Irene did just that, eventually becoming Merseyside Police’s first black female inspector.

Now a businesswoman running her own coaching and consultancy venture, Ametrine Enterprise Solutions, Irene says “One of my ambitions was always to have my own business. I love working with people, supporting people and empowering people to achieve what they want to, seeing other people succeed gives me so much satisfaction.”

However, Irene doesn’t take nurturing her business lightly, “You can’t give 100% to your business if you don’t love yourself first. If you don’t look after yourself, you simply don’t have the energy to give to your business” – wise words from the incredible, Irene.

Irene left us with a quote from herself, “live your passion but .. make sure that you love yourself! Then you will love your business” – thanks Irene!

Next up was Marissa Rooney! Marissa has just began a bridal shop, Beautiful Brides Liverpool on Aigburth Road, specialising in fitting curvaceous women on their special day. Marissa told us all about her entrepreneurial journey, detailing the leap of faith she took into the unknown, “Fashion was the one thing I kept going back to. My nan taught me to sew and I was always creative growing up. When it came to starting a business, I kept thinking, ‘will I be taken seriously?’”.

Marissa contacted The Women’s Organisation, where she began working with our Jo, “the support network I had from The Women’s Organisation, meeting women every day at the bridal shop and at events like this, I feel like I’m in paradise. I’m surrounded by amazing women every day, and that drives my passion”.

It was clear to see Marissa’s love for her business, and that definitely left our Business Club members feeling inspired and motivated to push on.

We followed the talks with some 60-second pitches and lot’s of networking – and we mean LOTS – it was great to see so all of our attendees making contacts and arranging collaborative plans for the future. Comments from Business Club included:

“Most productive session I have ever attended! Left feeling so positive about moving forward”

“Great event! Really inspiring talks. Enjoyed meeting some great women in business”

“Brilliant speakers. Lovely to hear about other women’s struggles and stories around self-employment”

“Thank you very much for holding tonight’s networking. It was so useful to hear other people’s experiences and to have the opportunity to meet women with different businesses”

Thanks to everyone who came, and to our amazing speakers, Irene Afful and Marissa Rooney. You can find out more about Ametrine Enterprise Solutions and Beautiful Brides Liverpool.

Next up in the Business Club calendar is International Women’s Day! It’s going to be a big one – you can find our full agenda here.

To find out more about Business Club, contact us on hello@thewo.org.uk or 0151 706 8111.

‘Just Leap!’ – How Emma Started Her Own Business; Sweet Pea & Little Wolf

Sweet Pea & Little Wolf – this business name conjures up all sorts of lovely images in your mind, and meeting Emma Purchase, you’d think just the same thing! Emma, the founder of Sweet Pea & Little Wolf, who recently gave an inspiring speech at our Summer Social Business Club, is just that – inspiring and a breath of fresh air!

Just look at how she describes her business!

‘Sweet Pea brings the delicious range of herbal tea, Little Wolf brings the neat range of wanderlust themed enamel mugs, clothing and accessories. Together they make the ultimate team.’

Emma and her girls! 

But we all know being self-employed and running your own business is A LOT of hard work, but for Emma she faced challenges, some bigger than other head on, and her story of how she set up Sweet Pea & Little Wolf, is a truly motivational one!

Emma told us; ‘I decided to start up my own business for a few reasons. I am a single mother to 4 beautiful strong girls, and I have a need to show them that with a lot of determination and hard work you can achieve something amazing! And I also needed to be more financially independent and this is one of the reasons that spurs me on when I’m working away into the early hours!’

Some of Emma's lovely stock! 

But there were other even deeper reasons which motivated Emma to start her own business. When her Father became ill with Motor Neurone Disease she felt even more motivated; ‘It really did shock me into realising that time is very limited!’ And she came up with some rules for herself;

‘You have to use your time sensibility, push boundaries, get outside your comfort zone and take risks!’

And take risks she did! For Emma even setting up her business was a big risk! And she told us; ‘One of my big struggles was having absolutely no capital. None! I’m a single mum and a student, so I had to think smart, use the resources that I did have and work harder than most, never giving up!’

Emma's clothing modelled

These challenges lead to Emma getting in touch with The Women’s Organisation where she was paired up with Senior Business Adviser; Claire Pedersen, and she had some lovely things to say about the work she did with Claire!

‘For every no I got from every other avenue, Claire said yes! She said ‘Yes, we can do this, there has to be away around this’ I now consider Claire a friend and her support and advice has been priceless. It was so nerve racking trying to always push forward, but having Claire’s support was amazing.’

So, whilst working alongside The Women’s Organisation, Emma was continually striving to build her business more and more, and her tenacity and determination is unparalleled, facing all barriers head on! 

Emma told us; ‘One problem I found was not having a car, so I usually try and hump most of my bags and stock on the bus which is quite comical! And I’ll walk for miles with my stock to save money too!’

More of some of Emma's lovely gifts

Now things are going well with her business, and Emma is able to rent out spaces in four different shops to sell her stock in! (Gifts For Me & You, Practical Magic Vintage, Red Brick Vintage and Siren) and spend her days doing what she loves!

Emma told us; ‘The best thing about starting up my own business is being a bit more in control of my time so I can spend it with my daughters! Also, it’s about having that pride in my work, when I see someone wearing my t-shirt, it is so rewarding!’

AND – What advice can she offer anyone else who is thinking about taking a leap, and starting their own business?

‘Just make the start! We all put things off. Sometimes we are too scared to make the first step, but seriously…Life is way too short – Just leap!’

You heard Emma…Just leap!

And if you’d like extra support taking the leap, we are here to help you! If you’d like to access our advice and training for starting your own business then email us on hello@thewo.org.uk or ring us on 0151 706 8111