Reacting & Adapting: Taking The Gildergreen bakery on the road

In this blog series we're catching up with entrepreneurs who are 'Reacting & Adapting' to make sure their business can survive and thrive through these unprecedented months.

We first met Natasha Arbia last Summer, when she need some advice, support and direction in setting up her gluten-free bakery, The Gildergreen.

As with many entrepreneurs, Natasha had to react fast and adapt her business model when the UK went into lockdown. She quickly launched a new delivery service, making sure her customers could still get their gluten-free sweet fixes delivered right to their doorsteps.

Read on to find out how Natasha has managed to create a more profitable way of doing business, all while reducing her waste, maximising her time and growing her customer base…

Tell us what business would typically look like for you in the pre-lockdown world?

My business is a Gluten Free bakery, making a selection of cakes, brownies, cookies and tray bakes. I specialise in mini cakes, rather than large cakes, as I want my bakes to be a little treat for people who are often the only one eating Gluten Free in their household.

We have an online shop, from which we sell a range of bakes that can posted anywhere in the UK.  We also offer a cake subscription, where we send a selection of bakes to subscribers every month, in a letterbox friendly package. The subscription also include tea from The Liverpool Tea Warehouse, making it a lovely treat.

Under normal circumstances I sell my bakes at weekly Farmers Markets around Liverpool. At the markets I normally offer a selection of 3 or 4 cake flavours, brownies, tray bakes and Cookies. I usually have a market every week and have some wonderful regulars who come and support the business.

February was pretty terrible for the markets, as we had week after week of high winds, meaning that they were either cancelled called off early. On one occasion the market was called off at the last minute and I had all my cakes ready, with nowhere to sell them. I decided to see if any of my lovely social media followers would like to have some cakes delivered to them, so that the bakes didn’t go to waste and I could recover some costs. I had a great response and sold most of the cakes that day.

A few weeks later Coronavirus had hit and I had to make some difficult decisions. The markets were still running (this was before lock down), but I just didn’t feel that it was safe for myself and my customers to keep attending, so I decided that I needed to move my business in a different direction. You could already see that people were staying at home more and I had got plenty of interest for my deliveries a few weeks earlier, so I decided to move to weekly local deliveries instead.

Was it a straightforward process to shift your business model? And how is it going so far?

My website had plenty of products on it, but they were all full or half batches of bakes (for example a whole loaf cake or four mini cakes – this is because I bake all my cakes fresh to order). I wanted to be able to offer customers the same sort of selection they would see at my markets, without waste and in a way that was logically possible for me, so I can up with my Market Selection Boxes.

Each week I bake 3 different flavours of Mini Cakes, one flavour of Brownies, one flavour Cupcake and Caramel Shortcake. I then offer these as various mixed selections and will deliver for free, anywhere in Liverpool (this generally means within Liverpool City Council boundaries, but we will deliver just over the boundaries, as long as its within about 20mins drive of the City Centre). All orders are placed through my online shop, which means contactless payment, so its safe for everyone.

As well as my mixed boxes offering a great selection to my customers, they also make delivery viable for me. It wouldn’t be sensible for me to offer deliveries on single items, such as a £1.50 Brownie and I also couldn’t make a whole batch for just one slice. I thought carefully about what I needed the minimum order to be and made up the box selections to meet that minimum order. Customers can order for Saturday delivery, any day of the week before, up to 5pm on Thursday. This means that I only have to bake enough for the orders I have, reducing waste and maximising my time.

In fact, this pre-order system has been much more profitable than my weekly markets and my business has grown because of it. My customer reach has expanded hugely, I have new regular customers who buy every week and I’m still able to make people happy with my cakes!

This new service must be proving popular with your customers?

I have one regular who always emails me excitedly each week to tell me how much she is looking forward to the delivery. One week she made a large order for herself and someone made a separate surprise order for her. It was lovely to see her face when she opened the door and saw the pile of cake boxes on her doorstep.

I miss my weekly markets for the customer interaction, but at a safe distance on the doorstep I am still getting wonderful feedback from my customers and able to see their faces at the prospect of the treats in front of them.

You’ve certainly achieved a lot over the last few months – are you pleased with how The Gildergreen has been able to react and adapt?

When the lockdown came I was in a panic about the future of my business! Could I continue to deliver my cakes? Was it sensible?  Possible? Viable? I am so glad that I made the decision to carry on!

If you'd like to try out Natasha's desserts, head to here website: www.thegildergreen.co.uk

If you'd like to contact Natasha directly, email: info@thegildergreen.co.uk

You can also keep up with everything Gildergreen through Facebook or Instagram!

Whether you are thinking of starting a business, sustaining your business through the current climate, or even growing your business, we have a team of expert business advisors who are here to help you through the practicalities.

Contact us via hello@thewo.org.uk to find out more or to book your 1-2-1 telephone or video appointment.  

Women entrepreneurs are being unfairly penalised for taking maternity leave in COVID-19 financial support

The Chancellor says self-employed people who have had a “volatile income” will be fairly treated by the Self Employment Income Support scheme, but one social enterprise is making clear that taking maternity leave is not a so-called “bad business year”.

New mothers who took maternity leave within the last assessment period are being unfairly disadvantaged in the Government’s Self Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS), says The Women’s Organisation.

Liverpool entrepreneur Jade Wright with baby Bea.

The internationally leading social enterprise is warning that entrepreneurs who are mothers, who typically take longer parental leave than their male counterparts, are being unfairly impacted by having taken time out from trading to look after their new-borns.

While official government guidance states that self-employed people who have taken, or are currently on, parental leave “may” still be eligible for the scheme - as HMRC considers them to be still trading - these entrepreneurs are receiving grants significantly lower than had they not taken this leave.

Under the Self Employment Income Support Scheme, the government will pay self-employed people grants of 80% of their average profits, up to £2,500, for three months.

These average profits are calculated based on the last three years of tax returns, but this does not consider any time taken off for maternity leave in that period, substantially bringing down the average for many.

The Women’s Organisation has estimated that this could potentially impact around 80,000 self-employed women in the UK who took leave during this time.

One of these women is Liverpool-based entrepreneur and founder of Good Taste Magazine, Jade Wright.

She says: “I am one of thousands of women who have been disadvantaged by taking maternity leave. My grant has been effectively cut in half because the maternity leave I took three years ago wasn’t taken into account in the calculation. Even though I returned to work in 2018 and have since earned a normal amount, I have lost over 50% of my grant because I made a loss on my self-employed pay during my first year in the assessment period.

“Women often take on the role of primary care givers, even beyond maternity leave countless women take additional leave every year to look after family members, and this all impacts on the amount they will receive. This is an example of structural discrimination which disproportionately penalises women and more must be done protect and encourage more female entrepreneurs”.

Helen Millne, Deputy CEO of The Women's Organisation (left), with CEO Maggie O'Carroll (right)

Maggie O’Carroll, CEO of The Women’s Organisation, says: “When queried about this failure in Government we heard The Chancellor Rishi Sunak say that the system was fair in ensuring that people who had a “volatile year” would get the opportunity to use an average calculation. Let us be clear. Taking maternity leave is not a bad business year; it is time away from trading to care for a baby.

“What’s more, employed people who have been furloughed under the Job Retention Scheme aren’t getting a reduced wage for having taken maternity leave three years ago, where is the parity? There is a real danger here that the unintended consequence of this approach can be understood as structural discrimination, which disproportionately penalises women in the scheme. Government must address this disparity as a matter of urgency, so that mother entrepreneurs can be rightly and properly supported."

The Organisation is calling for government to allow mothers to work out their average profits without having to include maternity leave in the calculation.

It adds that one viable way of regulating this would be for the government to look at who claimed Maternity Allowance, which self-employed women receive when the take maternity leave, over the last three years.

Professor of Entrepreneurship at Manchester Metropolitan University, Julia Rouse

Professor of Entrepreneurship and Head of the Sylvia Pankhurst Gender Research Centre at Manchester Metropolitan University, Julia Rouse, says: "The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme aims to compensate small traders for loss of earning during lockdown. Assessing those losses by taking into account maternity leaves taken in the past makes no sense at all. It is plainly unfair and a blow to new mothers who worked heroically to ensure that their businesses survive during pregnancy and maternity.

“Covid19 is another massive challenge for these businesses and one through which they need support, not discrimination. Imagine for a moment running a business while nurseries and childminders are closed. Mother entrepreneurs need and deserve our support and, at the very least, a fair deal.

“In the UK we have The Equalities Act that specifically states that it is discriminatory for the state to disadvantage someone on the basis of pregnancy or maternity. It is time for the Government to re-consider this unfair clause so that they act in both the spirit and the letter of the law. And show their empathy and commitment to women business owners."

The Women’s Organisation steps up support for female entrepreneurs in lockdown

While its no longer “business as usual” for thousands across the City Region, The Women’s Organisation is offering entrepreneurs and SMEs a vital lifeline through its programme of online and virtual business advice, training, and webinars.

Since lockdown began nearly 60 days ago the Liverpool-based social enterprise wasted no time in re-designing its services to fully operate on an online and telephone basis, with its programme of training and events as active as ever.

Read on to find out what The Women’s Organisation has been doing so far to support women in business and how you can tap into the support on offer, plus, how to catch up with anything you might have missed…

1-2-1 business advice through the Enterprise Hub programme

The Women’s Organisation is the lead partner of the Enterprise Hub programme, which coordinates and simplifies the business start-up and growth support available across the Liverpool City Region into a “one front door” access point.

As part of this offering for aspiring entrepreneurs and growing businesses The Women’s Organisation offers 1-2-1 advice with a dedicated business advisor, either by video link or over the telephone, alongside a programme of business training.

The support on offer is fully-funded and aimed at women across the City Region who are currently thinking of starting a business, as well as new businesses which need support in navigating through the current crisis and those which are experiencing growth due to increased demand for their product or services.

Clients can now instantly book a slot online via The Women’s Organisation’s Eventbrite page, or by getting in touch via hello@thewo.org.uk.

Online business training with Enterprise Hub

As part of the Enterprise Hub programme, those eligible can also access The Hub’s full range of fully funded online training. This includes business planning course ‘Planning for Success’, ‘Building a Social Media Strategy’, ‘Basic Bookkeeping’ and ‘Understanding Tax and National Insurance’.

For anyone interested in accessing these courses, The Women’s Organisation recommends getting a business advisor as a first step before enrolling on the training.

Entrepreneurial training with Enterprise Hub Skills

In a new addition to The Women’s Organisation’s programme of training comes a special two-day ‘Managing in a Crisis: Be Resilient’ course from Enterprise Hub Skills.

This entrepreneurial training will look at what it means to be resilient, offering practical tips to strengthen personal resilience, business resilience, and other areas of life which might have been impacted.

Managing in a Crisis is free to access for women in the Liverpool City Region who are running a business or working in a business and are finding it difficult to manage under current circumstances.

The first cohort will be taking place on Thursday 28^th May and Thursday 4^st June, 10.30am – 12.30pm, with the following session happening the same time on Wednesday 17^th June and Wednesday 24^th June.

Book your place via Eventbrite or by getting in touch via hello@thewo.org.uk.

Introducing ‘Rapid Response’: expert-led online webinars

In response to the crisis, the organisation has also launched a special series of free ‘Rapid Response’ events and online webinars designed to equip the local business community with specialised entrepreneurial skills to survive, maintain momentum and thrive through the pandemic.

Led by industry experts, the series has already covered topics including accessing finance, promotion and marketing, innovation, and well-being.

The first ‘Meet the Media: Promoting your Business During a Pandemic’ session welcomed the expertise of Nazia Parveen, North of England Correspondent at The Guardian and Tony McDonough, Journalist at LBN Daily.

Life coach Claire Morton led a ‘Master Your Mindset’ session to help entrepreneurs stay positive and motivated in challenging times, also looking at how to think outside the box for business opportunities.

A special finance and legal Business Resilience Clinic Q&A looked at approaches to securing additional financial support from funders, what steps to take to ensure a surviving and viable business, as well as practical advice on the legal impacts of Coronavirus on businesses.

The Women’s Organisation’s marketing manager, Joanne Austin, led the latest session ‘Keeping Connected with Customers’ which put a focus on how businesses can use PR and social media to make sure your business stays visible.

Sessions which have already streamed are all available to watch back. Those interested should contact The Women’s Organisation directly to access a play back link.

Upcoming ‘Rapid Response’ webinars:

Following the success of the ‘Rapid Response’ series so far, The Women’s Organisation has committed to running webinars throughout the crisis tackling core business themes.

The next session, ‘SEO to Stop Google Forgetting You’ is taking place on Tuesday 26^th May at 11am.

Jo Austin, Marketing Manager at The Women’s Organisation, will be sharing her tips and tricks on improving your SEO to make sure your business remains visible and help you grow your brand.

This will be followed by ‘Reacting & Adapting During a Pandemic’ on Wednesday 27^th May at 11am, where you can hear from the women whose businesses have survived and thrived during the coronavirus pandemic.

We will dig deeper to understand why their transitions have been so successful, find out what worked for them and what business practices they will carry forward in the future.

As businesses start to look towards the post-lockdown world, ‘Rapid Recovery – Returning to a Better Workplace’ happening on Thursday 28^th May at 11am, will explore how businesses can manage a smooth transition back to the workplace.

This Live Q&A will bring together a panel of business experts to offer their advice and tips on how to minimise risks in your working environment, how to build confidence in your team and how to adapt your strategy.

All upcoming Rapid Response sessions are free to attend and are open to business women across the City Region and can be booked directly through The Women’s Organisation’s Eventbrite page.

The message from the Organisation is clear: we are here for you and your business.

Business Adviser Co-Ordinator, Francine Taylor, says: “We understand that this is a worrying and uncertain time for entrepreneurs and businesses and so we would like to assure you that The Women's Organisation is, as always, here to support you in any way we can.

“Whether this be through our team of expert business advisers who are on hand to help guide you through these difficult times and continue to thrive, or through our programme of business training and events. We’re here for you.”

To find out more about upcoming events, or to instantly book a 1-2-1 business advice session, you can visit The Women’s Organisation’s Eventbrite page:  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/the-womens-organisation-1282675313

Those wanting to find out more can also contact the team directly via hello@thewo.org.uk, where an engagement specialist can talk you through the support available.

1000’s of Companies at risk as Directors are missing out on Government financial support

Directors of limited Companies are falling through the cracks in the government’s COVID-19 support package, putting their companies and millions of jobs at risk.

Leading social enterprise, The Women’s Organisation, is urging the Government to reconsider and plug the gaps in its COVID-19 financial support package to better protect Company Directors.

The Women’s Organisation is warning that there are thousands of businesses, and therefore jobs, at risk because these owner/ Directors have no access to an appropriate packet of financial support which would facilitate business sustainability.

Helen Millne, Deputy CEO of The Women’s Organisation

It is drawing attention to the plight of Company Directors who are not self-employed and are paid through their company on minimum salary, receiving the majority of their income through annual Dividends.

Many directors have paid tax both through PAYE on their low-level earnings and through self-assessment for the Dividends they have received from the companies’ profits.

The Liverpool-based organisation says that the current Government schemes intended to support businesses to survive the pandemic and be ready to thrive once the lockdown is loosened are not providing lifeline resources to this group in the way that is needed.

The organisation acknowledges that the Small Business Grant Fund (SBGF) is available to those in smaller premises, but this figure will be relatively low. And while the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) and Bounce Back loans are available to these businesses, loans are not the right solution for these personal income issues.

Whilst these Directors would be eligible for the Coronavirus Jobs Retention Scheme by Furloughing themselves from their roles as employee and director of their own company, The Women’s Organisation points out that both their income would be unviable and, critically, furloughing would mean they could not undertake vital tasks within the company to maintain its viability and ensure the business is able to restart trading.

One Liverpool Company Director shared their experience: “Within hours of lockdown all but two of my clients stopped their retained fees, leaving me with no alternative but to furlough my seven staff members. I tried to service the two projects and maintain the business myself but was forced to give up and furlough myself.

“Despite that I am maintaining company information, battling to get loan funding to enable me to restart at the point we are allowed. I earn a little over £700 per month before I earn profit related dividends - of which I have no profits to speak of since lockdown. All government routes to grant aid outside of the furlough scheme do not apply to me. I cannot see why it is so difficult to make a case to support company directors who create valuable employment to keep the economy moving.”

According to BEIS research (2019) there are 2 million actively trading companies (not including sole traders or partnerships) in the UK, with just over half of all Limited Companies employing staff and just under half only employing their owner/director(s).

This means that Limited Companies provide stable employment to at least 2 million people.

Helen Millne, Deputy CEO of The Women’s Organisation, said: “Limited Companies provide valuable products and services to their communities, generating significant income and employment to the UK economy. Company Directors deserve not only to be properly protected financially in this crisis, but also to have their contribution to our economy properly recognised.

“As it stands, a very large proportion of 2 million Company Directors are now left with no income, no support, and perhaps no business to return to. What is more, over 55% of these Directors employ staff meaning that the subsequent number of jobs at risk from these businesses failing is incredibly significant.

“We are hopeful that Government ministers and the treasury will be looking to develop a timely and effective support package which better reflects the contribution of this group to our economy and properly protects the income of thousands up and down the country”.

The Women’s Organisation has put forward a number of recommendations to the Government for extending the current schemes, so that they can best serve Company Directors and secure the sustainability of these businesses and ensure that they can be prepared for the recovery phase.

The first recommendation is to introduce a scheme specifically designed for Directors which replicates and acts as an alternative to the Self Employment Income Support Scheme, and that provides three months of their monthly dividend pay-out and three months of their monthly salary.

The Second option put forward by The Women’s Organisation is to introduce a Directors Retention Scheme, similar to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, that allows Company Directors to continue working to promote the success of their company whilst furloughed.

Reacting & Adapting: A positive picture for Outline Arts

In this blog series we're catching up with entrepreneurs who are 'Reacting & Adapting' to make sure their business can survive and thrive through these unprecedented months. 

One business doing just that is Outline Arts, which has launched an online programme to help children and adults alike to unleash their inner artist and explore art as a tool to switch off and get creative through these difficult months.

We caught up with founder and freelance art educator, Jennie Keegan, to find out more…

Having come from a background in Art and Design coupled with Creative Education, Jennie’s passion lies in helping people of all ages to develop their creative confidence.

After years spent working in higher, further and community education settings, Jennie decided it was time to forge out on her own. And so, Outline Arts was born.

Jennie offers courses and workshops in Visual Communication, using techniques from drawing and illustration, to image making and storytelling.

Having just celebrated its second birthday, Outline Arts has already delivered a raft of successful projects for the likes of National Trust Formby, Tate Liverpool, Alder Hey and Aintree Hospitals, as well as for schools and festivals.

Outline Arts’ programme usually consists of Art Club for children ages 7-10 and 11-14, alongside monthly themed workshops, holiday art schools and pop-up collaborations – including the National Trust, Emma’s Wild Garden and Sunshine Sensory.

Not forgetting the adults, Outline Arts also runs monthly themed workshops and an ‘I Can’t Draw’ workshop.

As with many businesses, social distancing measures have meant that its no longer “business as usual”. But Jennie hasn’t let that stop her getting creative with clients.

She says: “My sessions are planned around experimenting with materials and techniques, encouraging exploration of ideas and confidence so you switch off, be creative and enjoy the session. This aim has not changed. It is the way I do it which has.”

Outline Arts can now be found running an Online Arts Club, posting daily creative art prompts on social media, with more exciting projects on the go to keep the community engaged.

Jennie tells us: “I was approached by Grow Liverpool and other Liverpool businesses to launch #streetgallery #frommywindow to encourage children (and adults!) to create artwork and share it in their window so people have something positive to look at if they are passing - inspired by the movement in Spain and Ireland.”

Last month Jennie also launched free 8-week Online Art Club for children and adults, which has been a resounding success.

Jennie says: “The idea is you have an art session every day of the ‘working week’. It's completely flexible so you can do as much or as little as you like, when you like. Each Monday subscribers receive a video for that day’s session, along with a handout of resources for Tuesday to Friday. There are also research activities included so students can start to gain a wider understanding of artists, organisations and galleries.”

Jennie tells us that she initially set out with the aim of signing 20 people up to the programme, but there are now over 90 taking part.

The club has been so successful that the sessions might be here to stay as part of Outline Arts’ business growth moving forward.

Jennie says: “The Online Arts Club has had really great feedback and what's more surprising is the parental engagement with the creative activities! My daily art prompts and creative responses have also been a hit, with people getting involved from as far afield as New York and some people even starting an art journal to record them in.”

“We're now looking at how this could work in the future as it's definitely something I want to do with things open up again. I'm taking this time to develop resources and courses online, reflect on my business.”

What’s more, Jennie has now been awarded a bursary from Curious Minds, which is Arts Council England’s Bridge Organisation for the North West, to develop her CPDL during this time and adjust her teaching in response to COVID-19.

While it is no longer “business as usual” for Outline Arts, Jennie has successfully innovated to maintain engagement with her community and has been able to reach new audiences online. 

We asked how Jennie has found the process of reacting and adapting to the current crisis, she says: “Don't get me wrong, it's been a tough, uncertain time and I have moments when the thought of the future scares me but focusing on my online courses, creating videos and positive social media content has been good for my business with my followers increasing by 15% for both Instagram and Facebook.

“But the most worthwhile thing has been the messages and e-mails I've received from students and parents sharing their enthusiasm and photos of their work.”

Jennie was able to tap in o business support at The Women’s Organisation, through the Enterprise Hub programme.

She says: “The support and advice I've had from the Women's Organisation has been invaluable. They are positive, proactive, and forward thinking, especially in these uncertain times. Knowing you have the kind of support that you trust, which always has you and your business’ best interest at heart, is comforting and allows you to focus on your business more confidently.”

To find out more about Outline Arts you can visit www.outlinearts.co.uk or find them on social media on Instagram and Facebook.

Do you need help reacting and adapting your business? For more information about the support available through The Women’s Organisation to help you and your business, please contact us via e-mail at hello@thewo.org.uk if you're based in the Liverpool City Region.

3 COVID-19 Business support updates you need to know about this week

This week we have seen a handful of additional support measures announced for business. These are the 3 key updates you need to know about…

1. Coronavirus Bounce Back Loans

The Bounce Back Loan scheme, which aims to help small and medium-sized businesses who have had their cash flow interrupted by Covid-19 and could benefit from smaller and faster cash injections, is now open for applications. This is a separate scheme to the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme.

Key details:

• Businesses can borrow between £2,000 and £50,000.
• The government will guarantee 100% of the loan and there won’t be any fees or interest to pay for the first 12 months.
• Loan terms will be up to 6 years.
• The government will work with lenders to agree a low rate of interest for the remaining period of the loan.
• The scheme will be delivered through a network of accredited lenders

Details on how to apply are here: https://bit.ly/BounceBackLoanApply 

2. Top-up to local business grant funds scheme

A new discretionary fund has been announced to help small businesses with ongoing fixed property related costs. This means if you were previously excluded from accessing the small business grants fund scheme because of how you paid your business rates, for example, then this additional fund could be a vital lifeline.

Please find further details here: https://bit.ly/BizGrantTopup.

Businesses can check eligibility using the financial support checker tool: https://bit.ly/3fb6ubh

3. HMRC Self-employment eligibility tool

This week HMRC will start contacting customers who may be eligible for the new Self-Employment Income Support Scheme.

The scheme will allow customers to claim a taxable grant worth 80% of their average trading profits up to a maximum of £7,500, equivalent to three months’ profits.

Customers can claim if they’re a self-employed individual, or a member of a business partnership, their business has been adversely impacted by coronavirus.

You can check your eligibility using the self-employed checker tool here: https://bit.ly/SelfEmployTool

If you’re based in the Liverpool City Region and are in need of advice and support to navigate your business through these difficult times, please contact us via hello@thewo.org.uk to find out how we could support you.

Additional financial support announced for SMEs which fell through the gaps of previous measures

The Women's Organisation has welcomed the additional financial support announced for the thousands of businesses who were missing out on vital financial aid due to Business Rates failure.

The Business Secretary Alok Sharma has added a discretionary £600 million fund to support local small businesses which have so far fallen through the cracks and missed out on emergency business grant funds, because of how they pay their business rates.

This included businesses in shared spaces, regular market traders, small charity properties.

Liverpool social enterprise, The Women’s Organisation, has been actively lobbying around this issue, with several Liverpool City Region MPs adding their support and writing directly to Alok Sharma MP with The Women’s Organisation’s key concerns and recommendations.

In response to the announcement of this additional funding, Maggie O’Carroll, CEO of The Women’s Organisation, says: “Having worked directly with a number of government departments to inform them of the feedback we received from our local business community, we are delighted to see that the Business Secretary Alok Sharma has now put a discretionary fund in place to address these fundamental issues.

“This will prove to be a vital lifeline for those legitimate and viable small businesses that previously fell through the cracks in the financial support available. What we must see now is the swift and urgent allocation of this funding by our Local Authorities so that businesses across the Liverpool City Region have the immediate cash injection that they need to survive, ensuring that we can protect incomes, jobs and the local economy.”

Maggie O’Carroll, CEO of The Women’s Organisation

Thanks to Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, Kim Johnson MP for Liverpool Riverside, and Mick Whitley MP for Birkenhead, for adding their support.

You can catch up with the original story and find out how The Women's Organisation lobbied Government on this issue, here: https://thewomensorganisation.blogspot.com/2020/04/thousands-of-businesses-missing-out-on.html

For more information on the support available through The Women's Organisation please contact hello@thewo.org.uk 

Liverpool social entrepreneur launches debut children’s book to help families through Coronavirus Crisis

Book signings and launch events may be on pause, but one Liverpool author is forging ahead with the launch of her debut children’s book.

Toxteth-born author and social entrepreneur, Natalie Reeves Billing, is set to release her debut children’s book today (5 May).

‘My Mummy Is A Monster’ is the first in the ‘Monstrous Me’ collection which have a unique back-to-back parent and child version format, which Natalie hopes will help struggling families better communicate through the Coronavirus crisis and beyond.

The series comes off the back of Natalie’s work as a social entrepreneur and owner of Split Perspectivz, a project which encourages school children from under privileged areas of Liverpool to use storytelling as a way of therapy and to better understand family dynamics.

The books which are due to be released tomorrow in paperback on Amazon have already caused a stir with Natalie’s 27K Twitter followers and have caught the attention of those like Natalie, who have found the challenges of family life in 2020 hard.

She said: “It’s been a very tough time for a lot of families trying to balance working from home, home schooling, exercise, entertainment and general day to day living. A lot of parents have probably felt like monsters at one time or another over the last 6 weeks and I’m sure they’ve thought the same about their kids!

“It’s hoped that this book is a way to bring families together and get them to see things from both perspectives and hopefully make the rest of lockdown (and life) that bit easier to understand.  Afterall, people need creativity, books and quality time, now more than ever”.

While the restrictions in place due to the Coronavirus crisis mean there will be no official launch event for ‘My Mummy Is A Monster’, Natalie will be adapting by recording Live read along sessions and question forums on her social media pages on the day of the launch and throughout the next week.

Natalie, who is originally from Toxteth, has been an internationally regarded songwriter and poet for many years, however after having her own two children, began her journey into writing for children.

“The idea of the books is to show there are two sides to every story,” said mum of two Natalie. “They are supposed to be fun and on the cusp of a bit daring! I’m not afraid to talk about bogies and bums and things that gets the kids attention, it definitely makes the messages easier to understand.”

My Mummy is a Monster, is pitched from the child’s perspective, remarking on daily tasks such as how brushing their hair is like mummy using “a club made of spikes”, to tales of being “tossed into a hard iron cage to go monster shopping!”.

My Children are Monsters, flips the story and recalls it very differently - such as how “brushing fur is not something they like”, and when they go shopping “they take out veg and pound me with it”.

Natalie hopes the new books can give both parent and child a chance to look at situations from another point of view, helping children develop a sense of balance, roundedness and wellbeing.

“Children can literally and figuratively, turn the story on its head,” added Natalie. “It’s a cathartic experience for both parent and child and as the series goes on more aspects of family life will be involved.”

Working with Liverpool-based social enterprise, The Women’s Organisation, Natalie was able to access fully-funded business support, training and advice through the Enterprise Hub programme to help launch Split Perspectivz earlier this year.

Enterprise Hub is funded by the European Regional Development Fund to support local people to explore self-employment as a way to make an income for themselves and helps them through the start-up phase and the early years of growing.

As a first-time author Natalie was also able to tap into further support from Enterprise Hub partners, Writing On the Wall, who helped her with the practicalities of writing a book.

On this support, Natalie said: “As soon as I arrived at The Women’s Organisation, I knew I was in safe hands. Through the support and advice I’ve received so far, I’ve made huge leaps with my self-confidence as a new author. It’s allowed me to take stock and to start putting together solid plans and strategies. The team there have been a great help to me at this challenging time.”

My Mummy is a Monster will be published on Amazon from midnight on Tuesday, May 5th.
Live read along sessions and question forums will be available on Natalie’s social media platforms.
Facebook: /nataliebillingauthor
Twitter: /billingreeves Instagram: /natalie_reeves_billing

An ebook will be released on May 15th and a special hardback flip book edition will be released later this summer.

For further details about the Monstrous Me collection go to: monsterousme.com and to discover more about Natalie Reeves Billing visit lollipoplodge.net

If you're self-employed and need some support in navigating your business through the current crisis, or if you've got a business idea which you'd like to explore, and are based in the Liverpool City Region, then get in touch to find out what support might be available to you via hello@thewo.org.uk. 

Reacting & Adapting: Virtual retreats unlock a new worldwide community for yoga teacher Megan

In this blog series we're catching up with entrepreneurs who are 'Reacting & Adapting' to make sure their business can survive and thrive through these unprecedented months. 

Next up, we’re speaking to Crosby born yoga teacher Megan Halewood who has been running virtual yoga retreats since the start of lockdown to help support people’s mental health during the pandemic. 

We first met Megan last year when she needed some support in growing her young venture, Megan Marcelle Yoga & Retreats, which has been running in the UK and Spain for the last four years.

Today, the picture is much different for Megan and her students as they come together for virtual classes, but one thing remains the same: Megan Marcelle Yoga & Retreats’ supportive community.

Megan tells us that her passion for sharing yoga is primarily for supporting mental health and wellbeing, having graduated with a Psychology degree in 2012. She believes that getting on the mat to practice yoga can help people to manage their everyday stress and anxiety, ultimately giving them the opportunity to lead happier, healthier lives.

It is this connection between mental health and wellbeing is central to Megan’s teaching.

So, when the UK went into lockdown, Megan knew that her classes, workshops and retreats could provide an all-important escape and support system to help people through the difficult months ahead.

Postponing all her usual face-to-face sessions, Megan quickly adapted and set up a virtual yoga retreat, where she could support people every morning and evening.

Initially intended to run through the first week of lockdown, every day for seven days Megan taught an early morning flow session to start the day at 7am and a gentler evening yin class at 7pm.

Megan explains: “My aim was to inspire people to get up early and make an active start to their day, giving them purpose and establishing a routine. Each day I provided tips and tools people could take off the mat to help manage stress, anxiety and fear; emotions many people are currently experiencing.”

Her goal to create a supportive online community during these challenging times has brought together people from all over the world, including India, USA, Australia and of course closer to home in Liverpool.

With overwhelmingly positive feedback from her students, Megan decided to extend the virtual retreat until the end of lockdown.

So, how did she find the process of adapting and reacting to the current crisis?

It all comes back to remembering her intention and making the most of the online resources and support available.

She says: “It has been a journey adapting to ways of doing business in the current crisis and not always a smooth one, but I always come back to my intention and it is this which keeps me going.  My intention has always been to support others, I think everyone has an intention for setting up their business and a reason why they set out to do it and it is especially important to have this at the forefront of your mind during such a difficult time.

“We are very lucky to have access to online platforms which can help us reach our clients and I highly recommend trying it out, it can be a rather strange transition for those in a  customer facing business but people needed your business before the crisis and will need after, if not now.  In my case I felt people needed what I do more than ever which is why it was essential for me to carry on the work I do.

“Despite it being challenging at times, continuing to work and adapt has given me a sense of purpose and routine.  If you are able to move things online, I recommend the following:

• Remind yourself of your intention
• Do not overthink technology, you will learn as you go
• People are very forgiving and if you make a mistake or technology fails on you

Megan also received support from her business advisor here at The Women’s Organisation, having first come to us in November 2019 for support in growing her young business.

She says: “I was appointed Yan as my business advisor and she has been phenomenal, I am beyond grateful for all the support she has given me. I wouldn't be where I am now without her guidance. I also attended all of the growth courses which were incredibly helpful and only wished I had attended them earlier on!”

The retreat is open to everyone and sessions run twice a day (7am and 7pm) from Monday to Friday. People are welcome to drop in and out, joining as many or as few sessions as they like. To make the retreat accessible to everyone, payment is on a donation basis. All sessions are free for NHS workers.  

To find out more or to join the retreat, click here. You can also fin Megan on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Do you need help reacting and adapting your business? For more information about the support available through The Women’s Organisation to help you and your business, please contact us via e-mail at hello@thewo.org.uk if you're based in the Liverpool City Region.

Better Off Finance advice scheme to provide a lifeline for the self employed

A Liverpool City Region wide scheme aimed at helping people improve their finances has been expanded to support the self-employed through the Coronavirus crisis.

While many are now covered by the Government’s COVID-19 financial support packages for the self-employed, there are still huge numbers of entrepreneurs slipping through the cracks and struggling to manage financially.

Liverpool City Region is launching a vital lifeline for local entrepreneurs who need support and guidance in managing their personal finances to weather the current crisis, through the Better Off Finance programme.

Better Off Finance has now been expanded to offer practical support and advice to the self-employed in response to the Coronavirus crisis.

The move comes as £250k funding was made available for the programme by Building Better Opportunities via the European Social Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund.

Entrepreneurs who have been critically impacted by the pandemic will now be able to access advice from a dedicated Better Off Finance Key Worker who can support them in accessing the best welfare support for them.

This includes advice around Universal Credit and other legacy benefits like tax credits, housing benefits and council tax benefits.

The expert team will also be able to offer practical advice and guidance on negotiating arrangements around other personal finances.

Leading Liverpool-based social enterprise, The Women’s Organisation, is lead partner of Better Off Finance which brings together partners from across the City Region, including Citizens Advice and RAISE, to deliver support.

Maggie O’Carroll, CEO of The Women’s Organisation

Maggie O’Carroll, CEO of The Women’s Organisation, says: “These are unprecedented times where many self-employed individuals have, understandably, found themselves in a critical financial position. Particularly those who may have fallen through the gaps in the Government’s emergency support packages, for example if they have previously paid themselves through dividends or not yet been able to access the income support scheme.

“Expanding Better Off Finance support to the self-employed will not only be paramount in protecting the livelihoods of hundreds of entrepreneurs across the region, as well as their immediate financial security, but consequently in safe-guarding our local economy as these individuals are able to continue offering their goods and services in the long-term.”

O’Carroll also stresses the importance for those who are already in receipt of benefits to seek advice and check before they apply for Universal Credit.

She added: “It you are considering applying for Universal Credit but are already in receipt of other benefits, then we would urge you to reach out for advice and complete a ‘better off calculation’ first, to see how your current payments might be affected. You might not necessarily be better off.

“Through the Better Off Finance programme our partners - your local Citizen’s Advice – are on hand to help you navigate your way through this process and can also help in negotiating other arrangements around your personal finances.”

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority also backed the scheme and offered its support in securing the all-important expansion for the region’s entrepreneurs.

Metro Mayor, Steve Rotheram

Metro Mayor, Steve Rotheram, says: “After protecting lives and supporting frontline workers, our top priority is to help protect our economy. Whilst this is a huge task, beyond what any city region can achieve acting alone, we are doing all we can to offer targeted advice and support beyond national programmes.

“I applaud the Better Off Finance initiative, that will help self-employed people who are so crucial to our economy.”

Cllr Christine Spriggs, Cabinet Member for Culture, Visitor and Creativity Economy for Wirral Council, says: “It is very worrying that some self-employed people across the Liverpool City Region who have followed Government guidelines to apply for Universal Credit when they cannot work have discovered this hasn't been the best course of action. For example, one woman on low income had all her other benefits immediately stopped and she will be worse off now. This is unacceptable.

“I am very glad that The Women’s Organisation working with the Citizens Advice Bureau here in the Liverpool City Region is now offering a dedicated service for any self -employed person so that they can get a ‘Better Off’ quote about their benefit entitlement before deciding what to do.”

Anyone who is self-employed and registered with HMRC in the Liverpool City Region is able to access the support and should do so by contacting The Women’s Organisation directly via hello@thewo.org.uk.