Case Study: Getting into 'The Zone' with Lauren Caffrey

Growing up in an entrepreneurial household, Lauren Caffrey has had business on her mind from a young age. Passionate about fitness, she took the knowledge gained from 4 years work experience to open her own gym, offering personalised fitness and nutrition plans.

Hoping to make the start-up journey run as smoothly as possible; she joined the Enterprise Hub programme. We caught up with Lauren to find out how she has doubled her turnover in just under a year and how adapting her business model has helped her reach more clients…

Lauren Caffrey, Founder of The Zone

Starting a business at age of 21 was an easy decision to make for Lauren Caffrey.

Eager to gain experience straight from school, she became a personal trainer at a local gym, building on her fitness knowledge and eventually gaining a client base that would allow her to go it alone.

She opened The Zone PT in 2019 to an influx of excited clients, completing 60 sessions per week with the help of her friend Emily, also a personal trainer.  

Lauren told us: “The sessions were so successful from the beginning, that 2 months into the gym opening I had to start thinking about how what I could do to not turn clients away – this is when I decided to start online training sessions”

The introduction of the “7-week shred” meant that The Zone was able to continue to support those looking to change their lifestyle and eating habits, whilst maintaining a full schedule at the gym.

With over 300 enquiries within the first two months, she decided it was time to streamline the structure of the business to avoid becoming overwhelmed. She was introduced to The Women’s Organisation by her mum, who 20 years prior had also accessed their business support services to launch her own business.

Lauren’s first meeting was with her business adviser Carole – who helped her organise the structure of the business and see the potential growth opportunities she could work towards.

“Carole helped me look at my next steps and ways I could start to properly manage the business and clients I was getting in.

I did a few social media courses that has helped me understand the in’s and outs of promoting a business online to increase your audience”

Attending courses and regular meetings helped the business meet achievable targets and grow, with advice around taking on staff, dealing with client growth and loans that would be available to the business to help them go further.

Like many businesses across the world, the effects of COVID-19 mean that The Zone are now unable to offer their 1-2-1 services in person for the time being. To ensure the business can still operate, Lauren has introduced live workouts on Instagram – collaborating with other brands to help increase their audience. These free workouts have helped to promote the brand, bringing in 2000 new followers and paving the way for potential clients in the future.

So, how has the Enterprise Hub support impacted the business?

Lauren told us: “My turnover has practically doubled since getting more advice around the structure of my business. I have also been working on fixing little tweaks in the business I did not know need fixing until I started this programme.

The support has given me the skills to reach a wider audience and has taught me how to handle taking on more clients. My business now has a professional feel with the addition of a new website, something I didn’t think I needed before”

The Zone has only been open for under a year but has already achieved more than expected for a small start-up business. Lauren is now looking at moving into a bigger premise and is increasing the number of personal trainers in the business.

“Since coming to The Women’s Organisation I have been a lot more confident knowing that if I get stuck, I can always get help from my business adviser Carole. It really is a great community that keeps you motivated by seeing how ambitious all the other women starting businesses are”

and her final words for anyone thinking about starting or growing a business:

“I’m not finished here yet; I’ve been open under a year and I’m already looking at expanding. If you have an idea in mind, do not give up until you get it!

The Zone has just launched an app with lots of helpful information, exercise demonstrations, workout plans & healthy recipes.

To find out more about The Zone, you can contact Thezonept@outlook.com. You can also find them on Facebook and Instagram.

If you have been inspired by Laurens’ story and would like to see how Enterprise Hub can help you grow your new business, then get in touch with us. Email hello@thewo.org.uk 

Create whilst you isolate.

The following is a guest blog from Catherine Rogers – Cut Out Collage

Whether you’re an art scene regular, a curious creative or stuck at home looking for things to do, making art during this period of isolation is a sure-fire way to positively impact your mental wellbeing and escape the worldwide conversation of these strange times!

Hi, I’m Catherine, the founder of Cut Out Collage. Before everything changed, I was running creative workshops across Liverpool, giving artist talks, exhibiting alongside collectives and selling original artworks at markets and events, so this current climate has had a huge impact on my business. Despite the curveball I’m committed to focusing on adaptation and how I can creatively respond to the current crisis. So, I’m going to share with my top tips for staying motivated amongst the mayhem.

Artists are still working, we’re just online

Art has not ceased, just the physical places we congregate and share it are closed. Creativity is very much alive in people’s homes, minds and spirits. Therefore, there is a ton you can still get involved with. I would suggest following local and international artists on social media so the content you are browsing each day can motivate and inspire you. I find new and exciting creatives everyday who are hosting online chats, workshops, all kinds of creative spaces and offerings. Following artists can feed your soul and help you discover things you may want to try at home.

Get making, keep making

Don’t know where to start, why not start a sketchbook? What an amazing time to experiment in this way. You can buy one online or use a spare notepad you may already have at home and give it a new lease of life.

Sketchbooks are great for scribbling down ideas, cutting and pasting old magazines into, sketching your garden or your family or to capture your work as you follow online tutorials. Also, when normality returns you will have a record of your creativity and productivity to show for it!  Who knows you may get hooked on sketch booking – it’s the best!

Share your masterpieces, inspire others

Artworks can have a huge impact upon those who view them. Never underestimate the transformational power of making art and sharing it with other people. The offering of something you have created to another person can have a profound effect on their day, so if you make something that lifts your spirits, let someone else be lifted by it to! I am loving the art being sent to my inbox, its inspiring and lets me know people are thinking of me, very encouraging indeed.

Support one another and say thank you

If people share images that move you and or you enjoy in some way, comment on them, let people know that their work has encouraged you. This wave of paying encouragement forward is hugely impactful, it can create a chain reaction of kindness from such a small gesture.

For me and my business, I want to say thank you to the Women’s Organisation and The Common Zine. I want to thank them for believing in my dreams, even before I completely did. They have encouraged me every step of the way and I have taken leaps I likely would not have if it hadn’t been for their support. If confidence is your barrier, I couldn’t recommend them both enough.

Join the Collage Revolution

Obviously, I’m a little bias about this one, but if you’re unsure about where to start I couldn’t recommend collage highly enough. I release weekly Cut Out Collage bitesize workshops on our YouTube channel and top tip videos on a Tuesday! It’s a new platform for Cut Out Collage, so we’re all in it together and learning as we go. There are also collage packs available on our Etsy store, so you have plenty of images to work with!

Thank you Catherine! If you would like to find out more about Cut Out Collage you can find them on:

Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
Etsy
Youtube

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

Natasha Whips Up Gluten-Free Goodness for Liverpool with The Gildergreen

Having lived a gluten-free lifestyle for five years, Natasha wanted to use her passion for baking to show people that eating gluten-free doesn’t have to compromise on taste and quality. 

Natasha inherited a love for baking cakes through her mum and grandparents, but a change in diet meant that she had to rethink how she prepared food and the ingredients she so often used: “I started to research the science behind gluten and what steps you had to take to recreate the properties. I experimented with my own flour mixes and eventually started to make delicious cakes again.”

Feeling unhappy in her office job and with the support of her family, Natasha decided that setting up a business was now or never.

The business-planning process made Natasha feel slightly overwhelmed, but after contacting The Women’s Organisation, Business Adviser Jo Mountfort helped to simplify the process and break it down into small tasks: “I started to feel really excited, motivated and believed that I really could do this.”

Jo helped Natasha to streamline her idea through regular meetings and access to training and courses: “Enterprise Hub has provided me with countless resources, spreadsheets and tools. Jo has been incredibly helpful, I come out of every meeting feeling empowered”.

Used to working in an office environment, Natasha considered herself a hard-worker and good at time-managing but worried about being the only person responsible for her own success – would she be as motivated under her own leadership?

But motivated, she was.

The Gildergreen is a gluten free bakery that sells fresh handmade cakes online and to local businesses. All cakes are made to order and catered to the customers vision, what Natasha believes is more special and unique than supermarket-bought treats.

Natasha told us it’s early days, but she is slowly and surely building up her social media presence and building the Gildergreen brand. She has several regular stockists including a space at Woolton Farmers Market and the university square farmers market who are keeping her busy. Natasha has most recently launched an online cake subscription service, sending out monthly letterbox-friendly selection of bakes alongside tea sourced from The Liverpool Tea Warehouse.

Now running her own business, Natasha is proud of the journey she’s taken to reach today and is relishing having the freedom to make her own decisions and work at her own pace.

And what does the future hold for Natasha? As the gluten-free industry continues to develop with variety, Natasha hopes to fly the flag for gluten-free treats across Merseyside and beyond.

She said: “I hope to have stalls at festivals and markets throughout the summer. Do come and have a taste of the Gildergreen bakes – even if you aren’t gluten free, you may be surprised!”

Natasha added: “The support from The Women’s Organisation has been invaluable and I don’t know what I would have done without it!”

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!

In the Media: Enterprise Hub addresses enterprise gender gap across Liverpool city region

In its first phase The Liverpool City Region Enterprise Hub helped more than 6,000 would-be entrepreneurs, 60% of them women, and is now looking to step up that effort. Tony McDonough reports for LBN

Sara Burgess, left, and Joanne McCormick, founders of ‘child-friendly’ Liverpool hair salon, Ava & Harrison

Investing in more women-led businesses could boost the UK economy by £250bn, a report claims, and Liverpool city region’s support programme for fledgling entrepreneurs is doing its bit to the address the enterprise gender gap.

Published in March, The Rose Report revealed that just 6% of UK women run their own businesses, compared with 15% in Canada, almost 11% in the US and more than 9% in Australia and the Netherlands.

Since launching the Enterprise Hub in Dec 2015, a single-door access point to advise and support people who had started, or had ambitions to start, their own business, The Women's Organisation have supported women led businesses to access more than £1.7m in business finance. 

One, now thriving, business to benefit from that assistance was Sara Burgess and Joanne McCormick, founders of ‘child-friendly’ Liverpool hair salon, Ava & Harrison who benefitted from £30,000 of start-up loans.  Celebrating their first birthday Joanne McCormick says they "couldn't have done it" without the support from Enterprise Hub and their business adviser. 

Enterprise Hub is part funded by European Regional Development Fund.

For the full article on LBN click here.

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

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

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

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

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

2.      You have identified a new revenue stream.

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

3.      You have a plan for growth.

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

4.      Your industry is growing.

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

5.      You are meeting your goals.

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

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

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

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

Story Explorers: New mum Claire strikes the balance in her first year of business

After a whirlwind career taking her from Buckingham Palace to working as an undercover surveillance officer, Claire Jackson decided it was time to take control and re-adjust her work-life balance following the birth of her daughter. 

Claire found that her work wasn’t flexible enough for her to strike a good work-life balance. A dilemma which many new mums and women returners face. She says: “My previous role was pressured in what I was expected to do and so I found it difficult. Certain issues made me feel unsupported. I believe people expect you to return to work after having a baby to be the same. Your priorities shift.”

For Claire, starting her own business was the ideal solution. Offering interactive storytelling, creative play and adventures for under 5’s, Story Explorers was born.

Wanting to find out how to make her small business more successful in its first year, Claire joined Enterprise Hub for its ‘Boost Your New Business’ course. We caught up with her to find out more about her new business and how things have changed since we last saw her…

Click here to read the full story.

In the Media: UK Enterprise Expert Meets Liverpool City Region's Economic Influencers

Liverpool Business Group in conjunction with the Enterprise Hub drew together key local economic influencers for a roundtable event with one of the UK’s leading experts on enterprise research policy and practice, Professor Mark Hart, to consider how an innovative and focused enterprise policy and practice approach can inspire and propel business start-up and growth in the Liverpool City Region.

Vibrant entrepreneurship is a vital component for any ambitious city, generating wealth, creating jobs and finding innovative solutions. A start-up city is led by the entrepreneurial leaders who dare to think of something new, and their subsequent contribution to the economy is invaluable.

As the UK’s start-up revolution shows no signs of slowing down, Professor Hart provided evidenced based insights as to why creative and forward-thinking policy and support infrastructure is the catalyst to enabling a flourishing business community able to compete on a global scale, and just how we can achieve that.

To find out more about what happened at this roundtable event at 54 St James Street, head to Liverpool Business News to view Tony McDonough’s write-up HERE.

Professor Mark Hart is Deputy Director of the ERC and Professor of Small Business and Entrepreneurship at Aston Business School. Over the last 35 years, Professor Hart has worked and published extensively in the areas of entrepreneurship, enterprise and small business development and policy.  He jointly manages the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) project  in the UK and advises a number of UK Government Departments and the Devolved Administrations on enterprise issues.

Child-Friendly Salon Ava & Harrison is a Cut Above the Rest

If you have little ones, you’ll know that a trip to the hair salon isn’t as relaxing as it perhaps could be. Newly launched Ava & Harrison is Liverpool's child-friendly salon, looking to enhance the pampering experience for all members of the family. 

Sara and Jo worked together as children’s hairdressers in Children’s World back in the 90s. Going on to pursue different career paths, they dreamt of joining forces to open their own salon. Noticing a gap in the market, Sara and Jo launched ‘Ava & Harrison’ – Liverpool’s first child-friendly salon that caters to all members of the family.

Deciding that it was now or never, Jo contacted The Women’s Organisation: “we felt nervous, excited, doubtful and confident all in one”. Sara and Jo worked alongside Business Adviser, Yan Miao, to get the ball rolling and make their life-long business dream a reality.

So, just what makes Ava & Harrison special? The salon is designed for children, but also a place for adults to enjoy a treatment without having to worry about their children, with a play area in view of the salon chairs. Not only that, but the salon caters for children’s anxiety and is welcoming to those with special needs.

As the golden mantra preaches, nothing worth having comes easy. Jo found the finance side of things daunting and faced issues finding a landlord who would allow for the style of business. However, Jo and Sara were able to seek advice and guidance from Yan every step of the way. And was the hard work worth it? Jo said: “absolutely – the best part of running a business is the excitement of watching your dreams become a reality.”

With 19 schools within 1 mile of the salon, as well as a busy shopping centre, Jo and Sara decided to set up shop in Liverpool’s Old Swan. The name ‘Ava & Harrison’ is a tribute to Sara’s daughter, Ava, and Jo’s nephew, Harrison, who each played a pivotal role in the design and inspiration of the salon itself. And how is the business going? Jo said: “things are going really well so far; our team is organically growing, and we are taking more than our predicted forecast. By the end of week one we had to employ someone, and by our second week, another staff member. Our estimate for week twelve is that we will be up to a team of 7!"

Success is fuelled through passion, and this is testament to the triumph of Ava & Harrison. Jo and Sara are committed to ensuring that children have a positive salon experience, taking the essential extra time needed to support children suffering with anxiety. 

Jo and Sara are keen educate staff members with awareness in neurodevelopmental conditions. They’re currently undertaking training to specialise in hair care for autistic children and are keen to collaborate with local community groups specialising in autism and children’s disabilities. Seeking the advice of those with experience, such as carers, parents and experts, will allow Sara and Jo to shape the hair-cutting experience to suit the needs of those who require a slightly different approach.

To others looking to start a business, Jo’s biggest piece of advice is to “be confident in your idea. Research, plan and make sure to take advice from others who have been there and done it. You have to believe in yourself and be confident in your decision-making – what’s the worst that can happen if something doesn’t work?”

A big congratulations to Sara and Jo on the launch of Ava & Harrison!

If you want to find out more about the salon, contact them on hair@ava-harrison.com or visit their website on www.ava-harrison.com. Ava & Harrison is located 7 St Oswalds Street, Old Swan, L13 5SA (opposite Tesco) and can be reached on 0151 345 3443. You can also visit them on Facebook.

If this story has left you feeling inspired to pursue your own business dream, contact us on 0151 706 8111 or hello@thewo.org.uk to discover just how we can support you.

Catharine Becomes Financially Savvy to Pursue Business Dream

Catharine Ramage has come a long way since the launch of ‘Catharine Ramage Editorial’. Feeling overwhelmed by the complexity of the benefits system, Catharine was unable to pursue her lifelong business-dream or reach her true professional potential. Now, with support from  Better Off Finance, Money Marvels and Enterprise Hub, the only way is up for Catharine. 

Having left her teaching job due to illness in 2011, Catharine was more or less unemployed for 7 years receiving job seekers allowance and feeling unable to access the support she really needed to progress.

Catharine joined the Better Off Finance programme, which supports people to improve their financial capability and prepare and progress into sustainable employment, or access training opportunities. Feeling anxious whenever she tried to look in to her finances alone, Better Off Finance ensured Catharine was utilising the support she was eligible for, as well as helping her to assess her monthly outgoings and work out where she could become more financially savvy.

With her key worker’s support, Catharine managed to save £100 a month; “I really feel like he has given me tools for life to maximise my income and minimise my outgoings, I always tended to bury my head when it came to this stuff – now I have the confidence to find and negotiate better deals for monthly necessities”.

Regaining control of her personal finances, Catharine felt empowered to begin thinking about employment opportunities and the next step forward. Often the scariest thing about pursuing a business-dream is the reality of becoming a business-owner. Catharine knew her passion but didn’t believe she had the enterprise skills or experience to turn that passion into a business – and that’s where Enterprise Hub came in.

Better Off Finance made Catharine aware of the business start-up support available throughout the Liverpool City Region, when she decided to contact The Women’s Organisation. Catharine said: “I had a couple of business ideas but didn’t know where to start. My adviser helped me to see that I have skills that can be utilised in a home business and gave me confidence to know that I could do it. She was fantastic at explaining the nuts and bolts of how to start a business and how to market yourself on social media.”

Coming out of the other side, Catharine is now an editor and proof-reader able to bring written work to publishing standard. She has edited documents for a variety of academic journals and textbooks and written several educational textbooks for children learning English; “I am now a business-owner running my own editorial business from home – Enterprise Hub has allowed me to achieve this in less than a year”. The biggest mark of success for Catharine is that she will now be able to buy her own house, a dream she had once given up on when claiming benefits.

Looking back on her journey, Catharine credits the support system of both Better Off Finance and Enterprise Hub: “both of my mentors made me feel like they really cared about helping me to improve my situation – not that they were just ticking boxes or trying to ‘push’ me back into work. They both took the time to understand my circumstances and give me a personalised service.”

What does Catharine say to anyone thinking of contacting Better Off Finance or Enterprise Hub? “Do it! I feel really lucky to live in a city where these services are available to me.”

Well done Catharine! We’re delighted for you. If you’d like to find out more about Catharine Ramage Editorial, head to her website or Facebook.

If you’d like to find out more about Better Off Finance or Enterprise Hub, contact us on 0151 706 8111 and speak to a member of our Engagement Team.

Sarah is Helping Local Businesses to Transform their Marketing Strategy through SLMC Consulting

Sefton’s Sarah McCartney saw opportunity when faced with redundancy and decided to launch her own business. 

Having spent 22 years in the building plastics industry in senior positions in customer service, key account management, and marketing, Sarah had a wealth of experience to lend to her new venture.

But how did Sarah go from brimming with ideas to getting started?  

Sarah told us “The first thing I did was contact Invest Sefton [Local Growth Hub Broker for the borough] to ask what I needed to do, and they suggested I start networking and referred me to the Enterprise Hub to get the support of a business advisor to guide me though the process”. Support from Enterprise Hub partners The Women’s Organisation set the ball rolling for SLMC Consulting – a marketing consultancy specialising in supporting SME’s and Start-ups overwhelmed by the idea of marketing or buzzing with ideas, but not sure how to put them into practice.

Sarah received one to one business advice and also attended courses around business planning understanding tax and national insurance, and events around the keys to business start up with The Women’s Organisation and told us about the support

“The support I received from the Enterprise Hub was brilliant, the best thing I could have done to help start me off.  Huda was my advisor and I found the meetings we had every couple of weeks amazing.”

SLMC Consulting has continued to cultivate success in the five months that the business has been running, and has found networking with other businesses through the programme has helped her to build an initial customer base that has led to the business bringing her an income sooner than she had anticipated.

Reflecting on the steep learning curve of going into business, Sarah offered some insight into her key lessons she has learned along the way.

“It is important to get advice but ensure that you take it and make it your own. Not everything people suggest is always right for you and your business.  Getting out on the networking circuit has been a highlight which I had not anticipated but it has lead me to meet some very supportive people that have become part of my ‘personal board’ of either people I will ask advice of, or people if feel I can refer my clients to, to provide services that I don’t including print, design, social media, sales training etc.”

Already finding “work life balance” to be one of the key benefits of going self-employed, Sarah is feeling positive about the future and is currently completing coaching qualifications to be able to add an additional dimension to her consultancy services.

Like Sarah over 5000 residents from the Liverpool City Region have now been supported to assess their business ideas and build enterprise skills, with over 850 now launching their new enterprise.

When asked what she would advise another person facing a career crossroads and debating taking the leap into business Sarah said “I would tell them to get involved with a business advisor from the Enterprise hub first.  I would then get them to look at what they really want to achieve and to ensure that it must be something they are passionate about to keep them committed.    Things take a lot longer than you realise so work to a plan and make sure you reflect on the progress you are making regularly to keep you motivated.”

To find out more about SLMC Consulting you can visit Sarah’s website www.slmc-consulting.com drop a line to sarah@slmc-consulting.com or connect on twitter @SLMCConsulting.

If like Sarah you have expertise you think you could transfer to your own business, then contact Enterprise Hub to access free impartial advice.

Enterprise Hub is part funded by European Regional Development Fund and offers a one door access point for any Liverpool City Region resident who is looking for business support to access free expert help.

Antonia Brings A Taste Of Her Heritage to Castle Street

Liverpool’s architectural haven, Castle Street, is renowned for its vast array of eateries, bringing international flavours, delicacies and cultures right to our doorstep. If you’re a regular of Castle Street’s food quarter, you may have spotted its latest addition, Heritage, which prides itself on serving up a range of ‘made from scratch’ recipes from around the world.

Founder of Heritage, Antonia, grew up in a family of food-lovers where quality homemade cooking was the way of life. Her father owned a pizzeria and Antonia became accustomed with an appreciation for culinary from a young age.

Pursuing a different career path, Antonia continued to dream of owning her own restaurant but the time never felt right:“My husband and I always wanted to open a restaurant, as he has been a chef in Liverpool for 20 years. However, with having a young family and a career in teaching, it never felt quite the right time”.

With the support of her family, Antonia decided to step back from her 11-year position as a primary school teacher and take the leap of faith. This gave her the time and space to develop the business idea before contacting The Women’s Organisation and Start-Up Direct for additional support.

Working alongside our Business Adviser, Yan Miao, Antonia was able to get the guidance she needed to make Heritage a reality, “My sessions with Yan were great, sometimes, you just need a little bit of reassurance that you are on the correct path. At times it was nice just to move away from the madness and speak to Yan in a neutral place”.

Having looked at several premises around Liverpool, Castle Street seemed like a natural fit for Heritage, which hosts the daytime workers of Liverpool’s commercial district as well as a high volume of tourists and socialisers. And what makes Heritage stand out? Heritage is unique in terms of the food it offers, everything is made from scratch using traditional methods such as brining chicken for greater tenderness and curing their own bacon in-house for breakfasts.

With a degree in textiles, Antonia has an eye for design and took control of building the brand of Heritage itself. The name ‘Heritage’ means a tradition or set of values passed from preceding generations, and this seemed fitting for the family-run business inspired by the cooking of fathers, grandmothers and friends.

Taking on the role of Project Manager and overseeing the development of the business, Antonia credits never losing sight of her vision: “we have continually reverted to reminding each other that we must stay true to our product ‘Heritage’ – the reason why we opened our restaurant. So far, this mantra has worked. We have seen our business grow, especially over the past two months and we are continually evolving.” 

This large-scale venture took Antonia on a whirlwind journey to entrepreneurship and Heritage officially opened its doors early February. The eatery prides itself on having a small but extremely talented team, "With our business growing we now have 12 members of staff, some of which have been with us since the start of business. For us, as our business develops, it's extremely important to maintain quality service, standard of food and a great experience. Therefore investing time in our staff is key."

Six months from opening and Antonia has only just begun to acknowledge her own successes: “there is no denying how stressful a big venture like this is. Now, as our business is starting to bed in and become more established, we’ve had a little bit of time to think about the amazing achievement to date – we are four very proud business owners.”

Despite the twists and the turns along the way, the biggest reward for Antonia is “seeing customers enjoying our food and drink and gaining fabulous feedback”. about what she learnt along the way, Antonia urges aspiring-entrepreneurs to preempt diversions from the original plan and gain advice and support from others with experience, such as The Women’s Organisation, where possible.

If you want to find out more about Heritage, you can contact them directly on hello@eatatheritage.co.uk / 0151 236 8554 or visit their website on www.eatatheritage.co.uk.

Be sure to stay connected by following them on Facebook and Twitter! #ThisIsOurHeritage

 

Jennifer Makes Interior Design Simple With The Mini Interior Design Company

Jennifer Kay launches The Mini Interior Design Company with the help of  Enterprise Hub

With a passion for interior design and 10 years’ experience of working in the merchandising industry, Jennifer Kay, the founder of The Mini Interior Design Company approached the enterprise hub to make her dream of starting her own interior design business a reality. The Mini interior Design Company offers a professional but quick, easy and inexpensive online Interior Design service with the main goal of providing beautiful room ideas to everyday people. 

Taking a leap into self-employment, Jennifer said “I have always loved Interior Design and liked the thought of being self-employed, whilst working my 9-5, I qualified as an Interior Designer and after having my son I decided I had to give it a go”

Studying and gaining her design degree from Liverpool Hope University then completing her interior design diploma online via The Interior Design Institute in London, Jennifer comments “I decided not to take the conventional interior designer approach. Instead, I wanted to offer an affordable, time-saving and convenient service for everyday people”

After designing rooms for family and friends, she decided it was time to create a real business out of it “I set up social media business pages and had a basic website created. I felt very excited about starting up, but I was also nervous and unsure about what to do next”

Always working for big organisations, Jennifer soon realised that being self-employed was very different and that she needed some guidance and an action plan “It is daunting because it’s just you trying to find your own way. I had been used to working in big offices full of people and departments that specialised in certain areas of business that I could turn to”

Jennifer approached The Women’s Organisation for business start up advice and guidance “The advice and support given by The Women’s Organisation has been invaluable to me” she also speaks of her business advisor Francine, “She was so helpful, and I really enjoyed our meetings” touching on many aspects of the business, Francine helped Jennifer create a thorough business plan along with lots of tips and advice.

Jennifer also speaks about the business courses she attended at The Women’s Organisation “They were extremely useful and always presented in a fun and engaging way, making them so enjoyable. Everyone I have met at The Women’s Organisation have been extremely down to earth and approachable. It’s been lovely networking with so many kinds of people, letting you pick extra help up along the way and exciting business ideas”

Running your own business along with living your life can sometimes be a tough act to juggle, when asked about managing that, Jennifer comments “I’m married with a two-year-old son, so I am conscious that I must separate work from family life. It is hard as there is always an email you want to look at outside working hours. You can manage your own time so core working hours can be around whatever suits you.”

...and how is the company doing now?
“I have now found that interest is growing, more enquiries are coming through and most importantly sales are increasing. I am really enjoying working through all the different aspects of my business. It is extremely rewarding to hear nice comments about what I am doing and there is nothing better than making a customer happy with a room idea I have designed especially for them.”

Jennifer enjoys putting her own stamp on things and working the way she wants, being who she wants allows her to enjoy every day. When asked what advice she would give a friend setting up their own business “Give The Women’s Organisation a call, you won’t regret it! This is advice I’ve already given to my friends who want to be self-employed”

Jennifer has started her hand at blog writing as she wishes to inspire and excite people in the world of interior design. “I will be showing my work and projects in more detail through this channel as well as talking about interior news, latest trends and advertising new products”

The Mini Intererior Design Company was recently featured in the Liverpool Business Post which you can read here! 

You can contact The Mini Interior Design Company on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest!

They also have a website and can be contacted with any queries on info@theminiinteriordesigncompany.com

If you have an idea for a business and would like to receive advice and support we can help you get started! Contact our team on enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk or 0151 706 8113.