Manchester photography business adapts to raise funds for NHS

A small photography company, who has had all photoshoot bookings cancelled for the foreseeable future due to the Coronavirus outbreak, has been raising money for frontline NHS workers through the sale of limited-edition prints.

Photographer Katherine Gammon

Based in the heart of Manchester, Katherine Elizabeth Photography specialises in photographing pole dancers and aerial artists around the country, from complete beginners to famous performers. Having built up a name for herself within the community, owner Kat Gammon spends much of her time travelling around the UK visiting different dance schools, shooting with the dancers who teach or study there. She also receives regular commissions for editorial work.

Since initially embarking as a freelancer straight out of university three years ago, Kat has been looking at how to take her small one-woman operation to the next level, with support from business advice service, Excelerate Labs.

Just before the Coronavirus restrictions came into effect, Kat had made the huge business decision of taking on her freelance assistant as a full-time employee. Contracts were signed, and her assistant handed in her notice at her job – and then the UK government announced social distancing measures and lockdown restrictions.

‘All my shoots have been cancelled for the foreseeable future, and unfortunately, due to bad timing, I am unable to get any help for the government, as the date for furlough doesn’t cover my assistant’s start date’, says Kat.

‘Her previous employer has taken her on temporarily during this time, but only as a freelancer one and a half days a week, so they can’t furlough her, either’.

An example of Kat's work

Not only this, but as Kat is the sole director of a limited company, she does not qualify for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme that was laid out by the Government, or the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. This is the case for many directors like Kat, who have found that they fall outside the support net that has been put in place.

Taking these things into account, Kat knew that she had one option to keep her hard-earned business going: adapt to this new world which we have found ourselves in. Kat quickly put to use her array of photography skills, and began to edit photos from the safety of her own home, creating commissioned silhouettes for dancers using images from her signature smoke photoshoots – with part of the sales donated to the ongoing NHS effort to tackle to virus. The prints have proved very popular within the community, and Kat has raised over £300 so far.

Kat's smoke silhouettes have been raising money for the NHS

‘When I was experimenting with my new ideas to do at home, I felt like I wanted to give something back. I didn't want to just fund for myself, I wanted to help where I could too,’ says Kat.

‘The pole and aerial community have always been so kind to me and a lot of the clients who were messaging me with their words of support were frontline workers, many for the NHS.

‘I'm so proud of them for continuing their work when faced with such a scary task and still finding it in their hearts to show compassion for myself and others who are struggling with this new world.

‘It just felt right to donate part of the sales when I started the smoke silhouette commissions, it just came as part of the idea.’

Mike Marsden, Kat’s business advisor from Excelerate Labs, said:

‘Before lockdown, Kat was genuinely booked up for the year, and most of the business was repeat custom. That says an awful lot about how she has started the business, built great relationships, and developed her offer so her customers are delighted.

‘When the pandemic hit, I knew that Kat must have been hit the hardest.

‘However, Kat has pivoted the business, completely changed how she works, taken on a member of staff and is going to come out of this kicking and screaming. I am so pleased for her and cannot wait to watch her continued success!

‘We want to help more businesses! When this pandemic is over, we need people like Kat to drive the economy, to grow their businesses and take on employees.’

Despite the setbacks she has faced over the past few months, Kat is more determined than ever to continue to develop her business, and keep her employee in work.

‘Taking risks has been a huge part of growing and developing my business.

‘Even though I have taken a huge hit in hiring my first employee, I still hope in the future to embrace the hurdles I am face with, and continue taking risks!’

http://katherineelizabethphotography.co.uk/

Excelerate Labs are part funded by European Regional Development Fund to support businesses in Greater Manchester.  Continuing to work with local businesses shifting their model to continue to grow despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, Excelerate Labs offers FREE professional business advice.  To find out more contact exceleratelabs@thewo.org.uk

Sally turns her Hobby into a Success with Enterprise Hub

For many years’ photography had been a hobby that had allowed Sally Barreteau to express her creative side – now with a boost of confidence she has taken her passion and turned it into a full-time career.

Working with Enterprise Hub partners The Women’s Organisation – she now runs ‘Sally Barreteau Photography’ a Liverpool based photography business that is helping people capture moments in their lives for generations to come.

Feeling nervous about the prospect of going it alone, she approached The Women’s Organisation to find like-minded women who had been through the same journey.

With support from business adviser Yan, Sally Barreteau Photography was born - photographing anything and anyone, the company focuses on portrait shots and boasts a portfolio of family occasions, wedding, parties and travel.

Click here to read the full case study

Double award success for our growth clients ADHD Foundation 👏

Dr Tony Lloyd, chief executive of Liverpool-based ADHD Foundation - the largest user-led ADHD agency in Europe - is celebrating two award wins. Dr Lloyd is listed in the prestigious OUTstanding LGBT+ Role Models List 2019 for the third consecutive year and also takes home a Northern Leadership Award.

Dr Lloyd has been named by diversity champion, INvolve in their OUTstanding LGBT+ Role Models List 2019, supported by Yahoo Finance. The lists celebrate the work being done by LGBT+ and ally leaders across the globe in both the private and public sectors, promoting LGBT+ diversity and inclusion in the workplace. It is the third consecutive year Dr Lloyd has featured on the list.

As CEO of the ADHD Foundation, an NHS provider and consultancy for government and national agencies, Dr Lloyd has embedded inclusion across all aspects of the Foundation. He actively champions local and national charities and community groups through the Foundation and its staff, including the LGBT+ charity, the Michael Causer Foundation, Liverpool City Region Pride, anti-racism charity the Anthony Walker Foundation and Sahir House HIV and Aids charity. Dr Lloyd states that ‘Diversity is Inclusion’ and is also a champion of ‘neurodiversity’- advocating for the one in five people who have dyslexia, ADHD, autism and dyspraxia. He also supports a number of LGBT+ organisations and networks outside of his role and acts as a mentor to young LGBT+ people, supporting them through school and careers.

Dr Lloyd also won the Public & Third Sector Leader 2019 award at the Northern Leadership Awards, which celebrates the people and organisations across the north who are role models for their teams and raise the bar for their competitors. Held at the prestigious Queens Hotel in Leeds, the awards showcase the best qualities of modern leadership - of inspiration, collaboration and empowerment.

Speaking about his OUTstanding LGBT+ Role Models List 2019 accolade, Dr Tony Lloyd, chief executive, ADHD Foundation, said:

“I am truly honoured to be recognised alongside so many amazingly talented and dedicated people, whom I hold in such high esteem. Awards are significant as they give inspiration to others, and for others to see an LGBT+ person being celebrated shows that it is ok to be out at work. It is so important to promote diversity and inclusion in workplaces to ensure everyone can live up to their full potential.”

Commenting on his Northern Leadership Award, Dr Lloyd added:

“My work comes from the heart and I passionately strive to ensure that the neurodiversity conversation is promoted on a local and national level and that the gifts, intelligence, talents and employability of neurodiverse people are understood and celebrated. It is particularly encouraging to see neurodiversity being discussed, supported and welcomed in the business community and that so many more leaders are wearing their neurodiversity with pride.”

Founder and CEO of INvolve, Suki Sandhu OBE, said:

“We’re delighted to be celebrating another fantastic group of people from across the globe who are collectively driving cultural change and creating workplaces where everyone can succeed. LGBT+ discrimination is still prevalent in a lot of the world’s biggest economies, but highlighting the work of successful role models changes people’s perceptions. They demonstrate that you can be successful and out at work, but most importantly inspire the next generation of LGBT+ leaders.”

The accolades come after a record year for ADHD Foundation, who just last month, welcomed experts from across the globe to its Annual Conference at ACC Liverpool, the largest multidisciplinary conference of its kind in the UK with over 700 delegates, and for the first time staged the first SEN (Special Education Needs) conference exclusively for 600 parents and carers.
ADHD Foundation is a charity that over the last 12 years has grown to become one of the global leaders in the neurodiversity movement that is campaigning to change our outdated views on intelligence, ability and employability so they are relevant to our 21st century economy, communities and schools.

The charity’s iconic national campaign, the Umbrella Project, attracted the patronship of Patricia Ward Kelly, wife of the late Gene Kelly earlier this year after Patricia became enamoured with the dazzling array of colourful umbrellas at Heathrow Airport T5.

The Umbrella Project is part of an initiative to raise awareness and celebrate ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), autism, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia and dyspraxia - which all sit under the "umbrella" term of neurodiversity. The project aims to flip the disabling perception of neurodiverse individuals on its head and, instead, celebrate cognitive differences.

The project launched on Church Alley in Liverpool in 2017, where it has returned every year since; it debuted at BBC North, MediaCityUK, Salford Quays in 2018 and returned again this year; and launched at Heathrow this summer, marking the first time the artwork has been available to view in London or at an airport.

For further information about ADHD Foundation visit www.adhdfoundation.org.uk. You can also follow on Twitter @ADHDFoundation, Facebook @adhdfoundation and Instagram @adhdfoundation. 

From Start Up support to Scholarship Win: How Entrepreneur Liz is Changing Lives

Entrepreneur Liz Forshaw

Care leaver and entrepreneur Liz Forshaw has recently embarked on the next chapter of her journey in “empowering, encouraging and inspiring children.”  

The 31-year-old, who is studying BSc (Hons) Psychology at Edge Hill University, founded a business in 2010 to help build children’s confidence and resilience in a creative way, drawing on her own experiences as a teenager in care in the north Liverpool area.

Liz, who is from Aintree but lives in Warrington, said: “I only have one goal in life and that is to empower, encourage and inspire. Having this as a child is so important, so it’s become what I’ve dedicated my life to doing.”

Through confidence sessions and workshops at Best Self Club, ran by Liz herself – a qualified business and personal life coach – children are encouraged to explore their own identities, focusing on confidence and resilience through a growth mindset.

Having initially received funded advice and support from local enterprise support charity The Women’s Organisation, Liz’s business turned into a nationwide franchise, raising more than £100,000 for children’s charities along the way. She now intends to grow Best Self Club across schools in the Merseyside area and further afield.

Liz, far right, with some of the children she has helped empower, encourage and inspire

Still celebrating the news of being granted a scholarship, Liz has also recently been guaranteed a place on a volunteering trip to Ghana, Africa in December.

“I’ve always wanted to volunteer in an orphanage or a school so the news of this on top of the scholarship is just wonderful.

“Being able to take what I’ve learned from my time at Edge Hill, and from running my own businesses, across the world to another continent and empower children over there will be amazing.”

Since studying at Edge Hill, Liz has become a volunteer at the National Youth Advocacy Service for looked after children and supports others studying Psychology as a peer mentor.

She left school without any GCSEs and was recently diagnosed with dyslexia but is looking towards a bright future, hoping to graduate with a PhD and become a lecturer, passing on her knowledge to another generation in a dyslexia-friendly way.

Liz also hopes to open a creative school and to publish a collection of workbooks to help people through challenging times.

To find out more about  more about scholarships at Edge Hill visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/scholarships

And if like Liz you've got entrepreneurial ambition and would like to receive advice and support to get started, give The Women's Organisation a call on 0151 706 8111 or drop a line to hello@thewo.org.uk 

Be-Baby on the Worldwide Success and Growth of Innovative Brand 'Tidy Tot'

Be-Baby Ltd has been taking the baby product industry by storm, creating innovative multi-award-winning weaning brand ‘Tidy Tot’ which now sells its products in most of the major retailers in the UK, (Ocado, JoJo Maman Bebe, Amazon) along with exporting to 17 countries worldwide. We caught up with founder Jennifer Unsworth to talk growth. 

After 7 years supporting long term unemployed and vulnerable members of society to enhance workplace skills, Jennifer decided it was time to take the plunge into self-employment and in 2015, Be-Baby was born “I loved my job, and the decision to leave to set up a business of my own was not an easy one.  But having my daughter helped me find a real gap in the market for effective feeding bibs for when babies learn to self-feed, and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to take my idea for a product further.”

The Tidy Tot brand was established to make mealtimes less stressful for parents by introducing the Tidy Tot bib and tray kit. The unique products not only close the gap between the baby and highchair to prevent food from falling onto the baby’s lap, but the large tray means food cannot be dropped on the floor.

Operating from a small home office with 4 staff, Be-Baby are aiming high by forecasting 100% growth in 2019.“This year we’re being particularly ambitious - primarily as a result of rapid growing sales in China and the Far East”

To help with the growth of the product, Be-Baby has been receiving support from Greater Manchester based Excelerate Labs programme, working with Senior Business Adviser, Mike Marsden: “We've had regular meetings with Mike and always left every meeting brimming with ideas and new ways to tackle problems. Members of my team have attended training at The Women’s Organisation which has been invaluable to my business”

As a born and bred proud northerner, Jennifer says the North West has helped nurture her entrepreneurial flare, telling us: “The North has more limited top employment opportunity compared to London, I think the entrepreneurial spark is better able to grow” 

Be-Baby started 2019 off on a high, winning numerous awards such as Amazon’s Export Champion of the Year, being crowed small Business of the Year at the North East Cheshire Business awards and have recently been invited to join the Northern Powerhouse as one of DIT’S Export Champions in their 2019 campaign. With all these achievements under their belt, they aren't stopping there.

“We have secured two big name partnerships that will really help support our position as a weaning brand of choice amongst new parents. We are incredibly excited that the partnerships we’ve harnessed will really help to put the Tidy Tot brand and products front of mind as parents research weaning methods and equipment, and all serve to make their weaning journey a little easier.”

And what has been Be-Baby’s key to success?

Jennifer said: “We’ve never been afraid to take risks, sometimes you have to trust yourself and give it a go. In a product-based business like ours, there are some key things that we’ve learned along the way that have really contributed to our rapid growth”

She added: “Not waiting for product to be 100% ‘perfect’ before you show it to your customer is one – there is time to refine and develop product once it’s in the hands of the consumer – they are your very best source of product development and we never stop listening to them.” 

Finally, we asked Jennifer who inspires her in her professional career “Women in business are always inspiring to me.  It’s a real struggle to juggle demands of family and work, and in male dominated industries like manufacturing it can be difficult to have your voice heard.” 

To learn more about Be-Baby and its Tidy Tot products, you can visit their website https://tidytot.com/


If you would like to benefit from the support received under the Excelerate Labs programme, then please contact: exceleratelabs@thewo.org.uk.

Picture Perfect: Creative Moose Celebrate 10 Years of Growth

Video is now the number one form of content on the web and organisations are using it to connect and engage with their customers, relying on specialised businesses like Manchester based Creative Moose to help them out. Offering full-service video production and securing National and International clients, Creative Moose are entering their 10th Birthday with much to celebrate. 

Starting out in stockport in 2009, Creative Moose support organisations to discover the power of video, with services ranging from aerial filming to 360 virtual tours.  They aim to be able to offer a video for multiple platforms including websites, social media channels and presentations.

Prior to setting up the business, founders Scott Heslop and Anthony Beswick held positions in television for BBC and ITV, but with the rise in online video content, they noticed a huge opportunity to produce video for web and help organisations meet this demand. They told us: “We wanted to take the production values of TV and apply them to the web, ensuring that our clients can produce videos that they can be proud of”

Scott and Anthony both live and breathe storytelling with their passion for film and photography playing a huge role in the success of the business today. They now have offices in Stockport and Manchester City Centre, allowing them to offer their services to the wider Greater Manchester area which has given them the chance to work with businesses like The Northwest Air Ambulance Charity and The Christie NHS Trust. They are particularly proud of the relationship they've developed with the Northwest Air Ambulance Charity, telling us:

“We enjoy working with lots of charities of this nature and it’s great for us to help them use video to promote the life changing work they do”

Creative Moose is one of few companies offering medical video production in the UK and being HEMS passenger certified means they can film onboard helicopters to capture dramatic footage at the scenes of accidents. Looking to build a video strategy specialised for the medical and healthcare sector, they approached Excelerate Labs for support.

Working with senior advisor Mike Marsden, they have developed a long-term strategy to increase visibility in new markets “We really enjoyed using The Business Model Canvas, which helped us segment the business into key areas and set some achievable targets to grow in 2019”

Manchester is bursting with video production companies, but by offering the best storytelling through using the latest technology, producing 4k and HD video and only using industry standard equipment, Creative Moose stand miles ahead of their competition. Creating a lasting impact with their productions is also top of their agenda, Anthony explained:

“We place a huge focus on the story we are trying to tell and the emotional response that we want to create within audiences, we love the challenge that video production presents. It's a great feeling to craft a piece of video content that can that directly influences what people 'see', 'hear' and 'feel'. It's this unique focus that makes us stand out within the Manchester video production scene.”

This year Creative Moose are extending their services and launching 'The Moose Video Club', a service making it easier and affordable for organisation to produce regular videos throughout the year. We asked Creative Moose for advice to anyone looking to grow their business successfully

“My advice for others who want to grow their business would be to firstly establish a clear vision and a clear outcome of what they want to achieve and why? It's then about implementing the actions that you need to take to get your desired result.

Many times, businesses may need to change some of their actions in order to get move closer to their desired outcomes. That's certainly something that we've been working on, the 20% of actions that provide 80% of results.”

To learn more about Creative Moose and its video and photography services, you can visit their website http://www.creativemoose.com For specific information regarding Creative Moose's video production services, click here

Anthony is happy to speak with anyone that is interested in learning more about the power of video and storytelling. You can drop him an email on anthony@creativemoose.com or connect with Anthony on Linkedin

If you would like to benefit from the support received under the Excelerate Labs programme, then please contact: exceleratelabs@thewo.org.uk.

Construction Q take home a big win at the Northern Power Women Awards 2019

The Northern Power Women Awards marked their forth year at Manchester Central last night with Excelerate Labs very own graduate Construction Q taking home the Small Organisation of the Year Award. 

Construction Q at The Northern Power Women Awards 2019

Celebrating strong role models, gender balance and the nights theme of #WeCan, founder and director of the quantity surveyor firm Fiona Hull and her team at Construction Q were certainly at home in a room full of inspirational people.

Deciding not to follow the traditional career path into a female centric role, Fiona started Construction Q in 2010 and since then the business has gone on to work on successful projects ranging from £100,000 to one of their largest £30,000,00.

Spending her time supporting local charity events, Fiona has been a significant figure in helping to raise the profile of females working in construction, showing that an industry commonly thought of as a man’s sector is an inclusive workplace to all.

Construction Q are no strangers to winning awards, with them winning 'Woman in Construction Business' at the Excelerate Labs Celebration of Success awards in 2018. When speaking to Fiona in 2018, she spoke about working with Excelerate Labs and how Construction Q have been able to open themselves up to a wider networking opportunity helping them accelerate their business growth. “Excelerate Labs was a great sounding board for ideas but also supportive and full of suggestions for the business”

Helen Millne, Deputy CEO of The Women's Organisation presented the award for Mentor of The Year, sponsored by Excelerate Labs to Gill Hodgson, founder of Flowers from the Farm, a not-for-profit business that encourages the growth of British agriculture took home the award

Helen Millne and Flowers from the Farm 

Well done to all the winners and nominees of the night! The north certainly is one of the most exciting places to be at the moment and we can't wait to see what the rest of the year has in store. 

If you are in Greater Manchester and would like to find out if Excelerate Labs can support you and your business, then get in touch with us today! Email us on exceleratelabs@thewo.org.uk

From Manchester to New York: 'Making You Content' Talk Business Growth

With Manchester being the fastest growing city outside London for economic growth, Excelerate Labs is supporting businesses in Greater Manchester who are looking to reach the next level. Boasting a client base ranging from New York agencies to prestigious UK universities, we spoke to Kelly Gilmour-Grassam, Founder and Director of copy-writing agency Making You Content to find out all about her business growth journey.

Making You Content team

Graduating from university in 2014 with the desire to pursue copy-writing on a self-employed basis, Kelly had to start thinking about building that career path for herself. “I’d taken on a few freelance clients alongside my studies and realised that I was totally uninspired by graduate jobs. There weren’t many options presented by traditional paths, so I took my freelancing full time while I decided what to do next. I soon realised I was making the same amount from home as I would in a grad job, so dropped the search and put my focus on growing my own business.”

Choosing a name, investing in a logo and getting a website made, Making You Content was officially born. With the North West having no shortage of marketing agencies, we asked what made them stand out from the competition. “We focus purely on the written word. We bridge a gap between freelance copywriters and full-service marketing providers, helping brands identify their voice and grow through effective communication”

Making You Content is approaching it’s 5th birthday, a significant milestone for a business that started from a desktop computer in a bedroom. Now securing an eight-person strong team, you can now find them based in Manchester’s vibrant Northern Quarter with plans to grow further over the next 12 months. The growing business is just another thing to add to Kelly’s list of achievements with her being named as UK’s Young Freelancer of the year in 2015 by IPSE “This was a real launchpad for the business. It really raised my profile and gave me the confidence and credibility to push Making You Content forward”

Kelly spoke about the support they had received through the Excelerate Labs Programme. “I’ve been working with Mike, one of The Women’s Organisations Senior Business Advisers, on my business and growth plans over the past few months. It’s really useful talking through your challenges and opportunities with someone who has seen the same issues in countless other businesses and offer objective advice, support and signposting to point you in the right direction”

Finding the encouragement to build her business and generate new ideas, Kelly grew up in Yorkshire taking inspiration from her Grandad’s true honest graft and the 6 months she spent freelancing in South America, exploring new places and widening her horizons as a writer. 

Reflecting on her journey into business, Kelly has learned a thing or two about establishing her brand identity along the way: “When I started hiring, I tried to mould employees in my image, but quickly realised that having a variety of personalities who approach things in different ways is actually great for business. People buy people; if someone doesn’t ‘get’ me, they might really buy into someone else on the team. This has also helped us evolve the business from ‘Kelly copywriter’ to Making You Content as a brand people know and trust.”

So, what would Kelly’s key advice be for someone looking to grow a business? “Making You Content wouldn’t be where it is today without the amazing team I have around me. Investing my time and faith in people joining the business has definitely been key to its success. It’s hard to delegate in the early days – and often easier to just do it yourself – but in the long run you’ll reap the rewards of taking a patient approach to training up others around you.”

And to anyone thinking about setting up business in Manchester? “The North West is an exciting place to be at the moment. Manchester is evolving rapidly and gaining attention on a global scale. I’ve gained lots of inspiration from the business leaders around me. The great thing about this city is everyone makes time for each other. You never have to look far for role models you can relate to.” 

Before letting her go, we asked Kelly for any last words of wisdom for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to start their own business "I was very fortunate to start my business right at the beginning of my career, which has allowed me to dedicate all of my focus to making it a success. That’s why I really encourage young people interested in business to give it a go before they look to employment. Worst case scenario, they have a good story to tell in future job interviews".

You can learn more about our Making You Content's services and even copywriting itself over on the website and blog www.makingyoucontent.com, Kelly is open to a call or coffee with people interested in marketing and business as a whole. Drop her an email on kelly@makingyoucontent.com

Keep an eye out for lots more news from Making You Content over the coming months as they celebrate their fifth birthday! You can follow what they are up on LinkedIn and Twitter, or sign up to the newsletter for monthly updates from the team.

If you would like to benefit from the support received under the Excelerate Labs programme then please contact: exceleratelabs@thewo.org.uk.

Catherine Brings L19 Chiropody to Garston Village 👍

Reaching a time in life when she wanted flexibility to fit her family life, Catherine Williams, a qualified podiatrist who had been working for 10 years with the NHS, rose to the challenge and opened her own podiatry/chiropody clinic business.

L19 Chiropody in Garston Village is a spacious ground floor shop fronted premise and specialises in routine and aesthetic podiatry treatments, such as; nail care, corns, foot health education, corns callous, treatment and diabetic foot screening. All treatments are carried out by Catherine who holds a BSc (hons) in Podiatry, is registered with the Health & Care Professional council and is a Member of the College of Podiatry.

Since opening in March 2018, Catherine’s clinic has proved popular with local people and is busy treating clients of all ages. It is the only Chiropodist in its location in Garston Village which has a close knit very active business community where everyone ardently supports one another to succeed.

When Catherine had the idea of starting up her business, she got in touch with ‘Enterprise Hub’, which is the Liverpool City Region’s project to help people start up businesses. She was put in touch with Janine Hyland, a Senior Business Adviser at the Women’s Organisation, who provided the know-how of how to go about setting up a business, as well as ongoing support around marketing, creating a business plan and access to training and events.

Catherine said: "I wouldn’t have had the courage and motivation to start up, also its good to know that I’m a new business, I can still access one to one support from Janine as well as attend workshops and join the Business Club."

For more information on L19 Chiropody check out the website, or call Catherine on 07597 055 775

If you’re thinking about starting a business, contact The Women’s Organisation on 0151 706 8111 or hello@thewo.org.uk to find out how we can support you.

Yasmin's Story: "I learnt that I was not alone, Change it made me feel like I was part of something"

5 years ago, Yasmin Annie moved to Liverpool to start dance training at Lipa. Her career took off and she founded her own company 'Percaya Dance' whilst juggling being a dancer, performer & business woman. Feeling overwhelmed and anxious, she knew something had to change...

"I would get days where I just didn't see the point in anything I was doing and I felt like I couldn't handle anything alone. I felt I was pathetic and relied on everyone and that one day everyone was going to leave me and I'd be alone having to deal with life. I had no confidence in myself feeling like I had constantly to get reassurance off everyone, it was tiring and straining for people around me.

Yasmin Annie

I went on to do the ‘Change it’ course which came conveniently right after the break up. It felt like fate! During the ‘Change it’ course I learnt a lot. I learnt that I was not alone, even in a room full of ladies I’d never met. Change It made me feel like I was apart of something, because everyone in that room was going through something, they had their own battles, their own stories but we all at some point felt the same feelings! 

I didn’t feel 100% and I wasn’t sure how to change it. I’m obsessed with self help books and anything to help myself feel and be a better person. I've been to counselling, CBT, hypnosis and I think all these things are great and potentially could work more effectively for others, however for myself I couldn't keep up with the sessions as well as my hectic life.

Just before I went on the course, I went through a break up which meant I had to move out of my house and change my surroundings. This terrified me because I had to face one of my biggest fears: being alone, feeling abandoned and having to deal with life alone. My go-to reaction was ‘I can’t do that’.

The best thing about the programme was the trainer and the knowledge she had. Jenny is an asset to the Woman’s Org courses, she helped me a lot, she understood, cared and listened and had so much information to share.

I learnt so much, which I now use in my everyday life, which gets me through my days. I think I've have always been strong and confident deep down but I never told myself enough which was the issue! After leaving the course I reminded myself everyday that I was confident and that I could handle life on my own and that I am a strong person. It wasn’t always easy at first I felt like I was reading a script about someone else and it didn't connect to me at all! But everyday I developed and I started to notice a change and ways I would approach something in more of a positive way. I felt brave!

I still have a lot to learn and practice but I'm at a great place and I can and will handle what is thrown at me. I can do that by helping people, helping myself and helping in general through dance, and just having a tight network of women around me because I think we are good support for each other! 

Women who are thinking about doing ‘Change it’ Just do it! You won't lose anything from doing it. Only gain, gain a lot of amazing friends going through so many different things, which will broaden your mind! You will gain the knowledge that everyone has their own rough journeys but everyone's goal in the end is the same which is to be happy within themselves so why not help each other to get there. Finally you will learn that you deserve happiness and you will get there by following your own path!

I have changed a lot with the help of Womens Org and also by believing in myself that I can change things. I am so happy that I made the decision to go and I made that decision on my own and I am so proud of myself for how far I’ve come."

We have new dates available for Change it!

54 St James Street - Monday 14th January 2018, 10-3 (4 Sessions)


Wavertree Childrens's Centre - Tuesday 15th January 2018, 12:30-15:30 (5 Sessions)


Kensington Childrens Centre - Wednesday 16th January, 1-3 (8 Sessions with half term break in February)


Speke Childrens Centre - Thursday 17th January 2018, 9:15-12:15 (5 Sessions)


Belle Vale Childrens Centre - Thursday 24th January, 1-3 (8 Sessions)


If you’d like to find out more information about the programme or book a place, contact us on 0151 706 8111 or hello@thewo.org.uk and find out how we can support you.

Andrea's Story: "It was very exciting discovering the change in myself step by step"

When Andrea was recommended 'Change it: Progress to Success' by The Women's Organisation's Engagement Team member Sabah, her first thought was 'How does she know that I really need it?' After moving to Liverpool and losing her way, she decided to give it a try. 

"I have been in Liverpool for five years and somehow became completely lost. My partner got a job here, his dream job, and it was time to follow his aspirations (the previous ten years were about my passions). However, as a Hungarian journalist I didn’t know what was next for me. I still kept writing articles about my experiences, great and amusing British traditions and other cultural topics in my mother tongue, although the time and distance worked against me. My previous network was thinning out and I couldn’t find my new place.

This course promised a lot, identification of the positive achievements in my life and setting achievable targets on my action plan for example. I wondered how they would be able to do so, because my clouds lost their silver lining completely…

It started with a kind of magic. I never knew how difficult it could be to find positive adjectives (relating to myself) with the letters of my name. Or at all, at that time. Finally, I found six words which felt mine, and a journey started on which the brilliant and understanding Victoria guided us. We learnt a great deal about ourselves and more crucially about each other, that we are not alone with our struggles. We came to comprehend the importance of change, and more importantly how to appreciate it, and studied assertiveness, what is a very useful skill in an impatient and (passive) aggressive world.

It was very exciting discovering the change in myself step by step, to see the world through a different filter. Somehow everything got a warmer shade, just like when the sun suddenly shines through the clouds. However, the biggest surprise came after the third week, when I got my first ever English blog entry published. Honestly, it is a big deal for me, who thought that I just had to let my ‘writing thingy’ go…

Without the Change It program I would never have the courage to offer my writing skills in English, but by now I have learnt my favourite lesson: there is no such a thing like fail, it is only an abbreviation for First Attempt In Learning. Valuable message for a perfectionist. And the best part, they asked me for some more articles.

I have to thank Victoria Hart, Sabah Shams and Cynthia Bosafola (my business advisor), who introduced me and led me on my journey. I still have a lot to do, but now I am less afraid than how excited I am. All in all, I recommend this course for anyone and everyone who ever felt being under a bad spell or simply curious about themselves. Have I mentioned that it is fun too?"

Thanks very much to Andrea for sharing her story, we wish you all the best for the future

We have new dates available for Change it!

54 St James Street - Monday 14th January 2018, 10-3 (4 Sessions)

Wavertree Childrens's Centre - Tuesday 15th January 2018, 12:30-15:30 (5 Sessions)

Kensington Childrens Centre - Wednesday 16th January, 1-3 (8 Sessions with half term break in February)

Speke Childrens Centre - Thursday 17th January 2018, 9:15-12:15 (5 Sessions)

Belle Vale Childrens Centre - Thursday 24th January, 1-3 (8 Sessions)

If you’d like to find out more information about the programme or book a place, contact us on 0151 706 8111 or hello@thewo.org.uk and find out how we can support you.

‘Concept Corner’ Creates a Home for Wirral’s Artists and Artisans

Shopping local this Christmas has never been easier. Found in New Brighton, Concept Corner is home to a number of local independent businesses led by artists and artisans. Under this roof, you’ll discover an eclectic mix of luxury homemade jams and fudges to bespoke real wood plaques and vegan candles.

Hayley Matthews is the mastermind behind this new unique concept of high street store. After a lengthy career in the police force, Hayley was faced with redundancy and took the opportunity for a new beginning: “I was a police officer for 26 years and the job started to take its toll. I have children at home and I decided that the lifestyle that comes with being a police officer wasn’t for me anymore.”

After speaking to local creatives across Wirral, Hayley decided that area needed a space for makers to showcase their work. She dreamed of creating a supportive environment for quality local independent artists and artisans to trade and grow together under one roof in the heart of New Brighton.

With 25 years in the public service, Hayley didn’t know the first thing about starting a business: “as a police officer, I may be able to oversee football fans up and down the country, but writing a business plan felt like a whole different game – I didn’t know where to start!” 

Hayley sought business advice from The Women’s Organisation where she was supported under Enterprise Hub business start-up programme to begin working with Senior Business Adviser, Claire Pedersen. Claire helped Hayley create a business plan and apply for funding which would allow her to purchase a building in New Brighton to home Concept Corner – a big ask for a newly established business.

On supporting the campaign to ‘shop local’, Hayley said: “We have tried to create a welcoming space where there is something for everyone.  I think people are slowly going back to shopping local and appreciating the time and care independent artists put into their designs.”

Concept Corner currently has over 20 independent businesses working out of the space and has now expanded to deliver workshops. The shop boasts a busy diary offering everything from How to Boost Your Teenagers Confidence, Enhance your photography skills, Basic Sewing, Crochet and various upholstery Courses through to a yoga class for beginners and even business and marketing concepts.

Hayley is a Wirral-proud woman with a vested interest in supporting the local economy of New Brighton, Wirral’s seaside resort which has undergone a £60 million redevelopment scheme in more recent times. Hayley said: “I’m really proud to be based in New Brighton. It’s very cosmopolitan – you can feel the buzz in the area and the footfall coming through. When you shop at Concept Corner, it goes straight back into the local economy and that’s important for me.” 

Recognising the difficulties older people face in getting out to complete their Christmas shopping, Concept Corner now takes its art to the community running craft fairs and coffee mornings across Wirral making sure art is accessible for everyone.

And to mark a year of success, Hayley was awarded ‘Retail Business of the Year’ at The Women’s Organisation’s awards, Celebrating Enterprising Women. Nearly a year into her new business, Hayley said: “I love the building, the concept of the shop and meeting new people every day. I really believe in what I’m trying to do. I feel so proud coming to work every day. The shop is exactly how I envisioned it when I met with my business adviser all those months ago.”

To find out more about Concept Corner, head to the website or Facebook page.

If you’re thinking about starting a business, contact The Women’s Organisation on 0151 706 8111 or hello@thewo.org.uk to find out how we can support you.

Sophie's Change it Story: "Go for it, it's life changing"

Over here at The Women’s Organisation we love nothing more than hearing the uplifting stories from the women we’ve helped through our ‘Change it: Progress to Success’ programme. If you’re feeling like your confidence could do with a boost but you’re struggling to set the wheels in motion then hear from Sophie, a recent change it graduate who after lacking self-belief for so long decided to do something about it…

"If you could have seen me a few years ago, I was a very different mum with a very different mindset. Negative thinking was keeping me in a place that I didn’t want to be in. I knew I wanted to become a beauty therapist, but I genuinely lacked the belief system and motivation to do anything about it. There I was, a single mum with a dream just coasting through my life and then out of the blue the Change it programme appeared at the Stoney Croft Children’s Centre and the line worker insisted that I go on to it after seeing a lot of women transform their lives after completing it.

I moved to Liverpool with my children after falling in love with the city but at first, I felt isolated. Someone in my local shop suggested trying the Stoney Croft Children’s Centre and the kids loved it! There was really no excuse for me to start following my dreams, but the self-belief demon had a hold, telling me “you’re not clever enough, you aren’t good enough” and because I knew it a year had passed without me even trying to ring the college.

Then change it happened and I have never looked back.

The first session I met the trainer Mandy, I knew I was in safe hands. I felt like I was in the right place at the right time and of course having childcare meant that I wasn’t worried about my kids.

After the first session I began to realise that I was not alone, there were lots of mothers who felt stuck in their lives and I wasn’t the only one. Most of the mums wanted to do something with their lives, they wanted more but just lacked the confidence to do it. We’re not lazy, we don’t sit around watching daytime TV all day, that’s a misconception.

I had no idea that we could alter our thinking and as Mandy says, “Stinking thinking needs a shrinking”. We can change our thought patterns and I didn’t realise that not being assertive stops us from becoming who we are meant to become… it was a real eye opener to say the least.

I have changed for the better, I am more confident and after the course I applied for the Level 2 in Beauty Therapy at Liverpool Community College and guess what, I got in! I used to go over everything in my head all the things that could go wrong in the interview until I changed my thinking to “What could go right?”

The advice I would give to any mum thinking of doing the Change it course in any Children’s Centre is “Go for it as it’s life changing”. It’s like having a tool kit for your life, Challenge limiting beliefs, change your thinking, access your values and lots more. I would probably be still sitting there only dreaming of going to college and look at me now getting my life ready and on the path to becoming a proper beauty therapist. Stop dreaming, start doing and enroll for Change it!"

Thank Sophie for sharing your fantastic story, we wish you all the best for your future! Join us over on Twitter and Facebook to keep updated with all things Change it!

We're about to announce a number of Change it sessions around Liverpool within the next couple of weeks, so stay tuned!

If you'd like to find out more information about the programme contact us on 0151 706 8111 or email us on hello@thewo.org.uk and find out how we can support you.

Manchester Café supporting adults with learning disabilities wins National Food Award

The Dressing Room Café received national recognition last week picking up an award from the 15th Observer Food Monthly Awards. Winning by the OFM judges vote, the café took home the ‘Local Food Hero’ award, a category for businesses who have made a difference to the food industry in their own communities throughout the UK. 

Since launching in Chorlton in April 2015, The Dressing Room Café, which is part of the Manchester Award Winning Theatre The Edge Theatre offers art space and runs a dedicated catering and restaurant training facility for adults with learning disabilities, each year working with 24 adults to deliver 12 week one to one tailored training placements.

Janine Waters, CEO & Artistic Director at The Edge Theatre, said: “Participation is at the heart of everything we do at The Edge, from opportunities taking part in our participation programme right through to our award-winning hospitality programme.  We’re immensely proud of The Dressing Room and all the trainees that come to us to develop skills in our café, which is a busy and important part of our theatre space. For our project to win an award that, in our eyes, is one of the highest accolades in the food industry, is a huge honour and testament to our wonderful staff, partners and of course trainees.”

This will be the second award The Edge Theatre have received this year after support from Business Growth Programme, Excelerate labs.

Waters said: “The advice from Excelerate Labs has been helpful on so many levels. The work around helping me to understand Search Engine Optimisation has come at the perfect time to increase our website rankings on search engines”

The Dressing Room Cafe was also featured in the Guardian for the achievement: https://www.theguardian.com/food/2018/oct/25/ofm-awards-2018-local-food-hero-the-dressing-room-cafe-chorlton

If you would like to benefit from the support received under the Excelerate Labs programme then please contact: exceleratelabs@thewo.org.uk.

Baby E Coffee & Deli Brings 'Good Food and Good Vibes' to Liverpool's Commercial District

Descend the stairs into the basement of this iconic grade listed building and you’ll find Baby E; rustic exposed brick, towering ceilings, industrial-style beams and cellar windows that offer a snapshot into the lively and diligent business community of Liverpool’s Commercial District.

From living in London’s Bermondsey to Australia’s Melbourne, elements of Owner & Chef Lauren Clinton’s travels are visible in every aspect of Baby E Coffee & Deli. With the innovative branding and interior, the alternative menu and the overall vibe of this cool and quirky eatery, you could be anywhere.

So, what exactly is Baby E? It’s a bustling coffee and deli that serves all-day brunch and transforms into an intimate deli bar of an evening, proclaiming ‘good food and good vibes’ as it’s mantra. It’s one of those rare places that gracefully metamorphoses from morning to evening, and a place where both eggs benedict and coffee or wine and jazz are equally apt.

Like most entrepreneurs, Lauren has quite the story to tell. Completing her Business Management degree, she packed up and moved to Melbourne working in coffee shops and kitchens and simultaneously discovering where her real talent lay: “I was lucky enough to work with owners who let me design specials menus and introduce new tastes and flavours. It was in Australia where I realised my passion and knew that working in the food industry is what I have to be doing.”

Lauren moved back to her hometown and used her degree to begin a career in finance in order to fund her long-term ambition of owning and running, alongside her partner Chris, an eatery in Liverpool. Working in the iconic Liver Building, she meticulously analysed people’s lunchtime rituals (where they were eating, what they ate, how much they were willing to spend) to shape her eventual food offering and brand.

For nine months, Lauren weighed up venues on Castle Street, Wood Street and Bold Street realising the battle she was up against in burgeoning business rates for premises across Liverpool City Centre. It was only when walking home from work she came across a vacant space in grade listed The Temple building on Dale Street: “I spotted this venue by chance and straight off the bat I wanted it and knew it had to be mine. We pursued it and here we are.”

Late 2016, Lauren began working with Senior Business Adviser at The Women’s Organisation, Claire Pedersen, to get her business idea off the ground. The doors to Baby E officially opened in June this year, operated by Lauren and her partner Chris, as well as a small but extremely talented team of five: “the support from The Women’s Organisation was unbelievable. It was so helpful to bounce ideas back and forth to my business adviser, as she had worked with other aspiring and established food businesses and knew industry trends, what works and what doesn’t.”

A fervent lover of quality homemade food, Lauren tries to push the boundaries of her menu by putting a unique spin dishes. She has been inspired by delis and the nature of customers ‘picking and choosing’ what they want to eat. Baby E prides itself on serving, where possible, locally-sourced fresh ingredients delivered daily, meaning the menu will adapt to seasonally. Current menu customer favourites include: bangers & hash, shakshuka baked eggs, fluffy pancakes and pesto potatoes. Having travelled far and wide to find the right bean, Baby E also offers specialty sourced coffee from HasBean of Manchester and Lauren has invested time into training her baristas.

Lauren’s business idea evolved once she secured her premises: “the initial idea was a coffee shop that served all day brunch but when we took on a space of this calibre, I thought it would be a sin to shut the doors at 5pm. The idea of a deli and wine bar was born out of the nature of the premises”.

Baby E now caters to evening-socialisers offering a small but fine selection of wine, gin or beer to be enjoyed alongside a cheese board. Lauren and Chris are connoisseurs who have carefully selected a white and red wine to pair fantastically with the cheese and meat on offer. Now, having expanded to host live music including jazz nights, corporate bookings and offer an online ordering system, Lauren credits the company’s ‘openness to opportunities’ as her recipe for success.

With a degree in business management and a burning passion for homemade, hearty food, setting up her own food business was a venture surely written in the stars. As the business develops and grows, Lauren hasn’t lost sight of the reason she started out and her love of cooking: “I’m a business-owner, but my day-to-day role is a chef in the kitchen – it’s where I love to be.Being your own boss is the best and hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I’m so proud of what me and my team have achieved. The best feeling is to go home every night knowing I’ve cooked and served people food they’ve enjoyed”.

Lauren is already looking to the future and, in the next two years, hopes to have a second venue in the pipeline. Her advice to aspiring-entrepreneurs? Lauren said: “You’re a fool if you go into a business thinking you know everything. I think it’s important to know your strong points, but also know your weaker points and get advice and support from Enterprise Hub to fill in those gaps.”

To find out more about Baby E, head to their website or follow them on Instagram.

And if you'd like to find out more about how our team can help you to start a business through our Enterprise Hub programme then call us on 0151 706 8111.