All Time High for Women on Boards

For the first time in history, the proportion of women on the boards of Britain’s largest companies has reached 30% - an increase from just 9.5% back in 2010.

Board diversity is crucial; not just in terms of gender, but also ethnicity, age, socioeconomic background, as well as professional diversity, to increase the different perspectives represented on the board.

The benefits of having a diverse board are numerous. Organisations with more diverse boards are more adaptable to change, increase profits, can improve their reputation and brand, and can more easily keep up with market trends.

However, with government targets and mounting public pressure to widen gender diversity on boards, there is a worry that many big companies are recruiting women as board members mainly to tick boxes. There is mounting evidence that women have shorter tenures and are less likely to be promoted into senior roles than their male counterparts – the average term for women on boards is 3.3 years, compared to 6.6 years for men.

Luckily, there are a number of groups that address these issues, connecting women with board vacancies that tie in with their expertise, and promoting the benefits of board diversity to companies. Women On Boards is an organisation specifically set up to break down the barriers of the board room, providing encouragement, advice and connections; they also help women to understand their transferable skills, and point them in the direction of a board that could be right for them.

There’s no doubt that the face of the boardroom is changing. In ten years, female board membership has tripled. In another ten, who knows where we could be?

Liverpool Local Enterprise Partnership currently have several vacancies for boards across the Liverpool City Region. For more information visit: https://www.liverpoollep.org/work-with-us/

Are female-centric office spaces the key to addressing gender imbalance in business?

With International Women’s Day just around the corner CEO of The Women’s Organisation, Maggie O’Carroll, has spoken out about the need for more dedicated spaces for women in business.

It’s been well reported that women are more than half as likely to take the plunge into starting up a business as men. 

The Unilever Foundry’s global study into start up diversity has shown that only 17% of start-ups are founded by women. While finder.co.uk has found that the typical business owner on Companies House in the UK is 51, British and male.

Liverpool based charity The Women’s Organisation, which is dedicated to the economic development of women, has found that there is a growing need for more office spaces in the business community which buck the trend in this male-dominated landscape.

CEO Maggie O’Carroll is a firm believer in the power of female-centric spaces, like the charity’s international centre for women in business at 54 St James Street, which offer the community and networks critical to improving women’s economic participation.

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

She explains: “For many women the prospect of taking their young start-up into the physical business world can be exceptionally daunting. This next step in taking on office space requires an incredible level of conviction and assurance - not to mention monetary resources. That’s why spaces like 54 St James Street are essential to creating safe and supportive networks, where women can feel empowered and access further support to succeed in business.”

“Another fundamental barrier many female-led start-ups face as they begin their journey is the fact that they are working from home. The experience of many of our service-users is that this only serves to compound a common issue for women who typically find themselves as primary caregivers. This prevents them from making a clear distinction between home life and working life, often reducing their capacity to focus on their business.”

Since opening its doors in 2011, 54 St James Street has helped to create over 1,000 new businesses and created over 2,000 new jobs in the Liverpool City Region through the work of The Women’s Organisation and the Enterprise Hub programme which is funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

54 St James Street is an international hub for women in business

Councillor Gary Millar, Deputy Mayor of Liverpool & Cabinet Member for Business Economy & Skills, says: “Enabling female participation in the local economy is critical to addressing the gender imbalance we see in business and that’s exactly what facilities like 54 St James Street are doing by providing the support and space needed to succeed in business. To be among a group of likeminded entrepreneurs is important to any business person to feel inspired and supported.

“Without these spaces, we risk leaving behind a pool of un-tapped female potential and talent which would otherwise be a significant contributor to driving the economy on a local and national level.”

Tenant of 54 St James Street and Director of Every Cloud Associates, Kate Morris, says: “As women, I believe that we already have a natural and shared ability to network. We are relation-seeking beings with an emotional empathy like no other. 54 St James Street offers the perfect incubation space for this to take hold and flourish.

“The peer to peer support, working alongside other passionate, female entrepreneurs who are trying to do their ‘thing’ better is a key benefit of this community. It’s hugely empowering for women to see other women lead and achieve, grow and develop. It’s like a ‘rising tide’, we bring each other on.”

Every Cloud Associates office at 54 St James Street

If you would like to find out more about the facilities available for female-led businesses at 54 St James Street and how you can become part of the community, you can visit www.54stjamesstreet.com

Helping Katie to Get Her Word Out

With 18 years’ experience in marketing communications under her belt Katie Crozier decided it was about time to take the plunge and set up on her own, all with a little help from The Women's Organisation.

After leaving her full-time job, and a stint upcycling furniture, Get Your Word Out was born. Offering copy-writing and proof-reading services for marketing materials, from websites and blogs, to leaflets and brochures, Get Your Word Out is all about helping businesses to communicate with their clients more effectively.

Katie says: “I’m a big fan of plain English and getting to the point. No one has the time or inclination to read much these days, so what you have to say needs to be delivered quickly, clearly and authentically”. And this is the mantra on which her business is built.

“I would recommend that if you can, give yourself a good 6-12 months of planning your new business and networking with potential clients, while you’re in full time work, before making the leap.”

Katie soon approached the Enterprise Hub to find out what support was on offer and she was set up with our business advisor, Jo Mountfort, to help get her business off the ground. It wasn’t long until Katie was ready to take on Enterprise Hub’s range of courses, from social media training to help understanding tax and national insurance.

She says: “I had the works! I attended every course and met with a business advisor regularly and can heartily recommend it - it’s essential to have that support because quite unknowingly you can have some really silly ideas and indeed, miss the really obvious ones!”

To read this case study in full, head to the Enterprise Hub blog! 

If you would like to find out more about Get Your Word Out, you can visit www.getthewordout.uk  

Enterprise Hub is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund and offered FREE to residents of the Liverpool City Region. For more information on how to get support to start your business call 0151 706 8113 or email enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Management Consultant Pamela Ball Explores the Over 50's Journey From Redundancy to Entrepreneurship

Pamela Ball

Management Consultant and member of The Women's Organisation's Business Club Pamela Ball has started to blog her business journey, using her own experiences to shine a light on the ever increasing breed of over 50's opting for entrepreneurship following redundancy. 

Pam's blog series " The Reluctant Entrepreneur The Over 50 Professional Redundancy, Redefinition and Enterprise" will explore: 

1.       Who are we?                   The new breed of workers  
2.       How did we get here?  The changing face of employment
3.       What next?                        Entrepreneur or employee  

Pam told us "This is the beginning of a blog series exploring the silent majority of the new generation of  over 50 professionals. No longer sure of a job for life, coping with a new world where made redundant at the point when we normally would think retirement, or simply the loss of a role due to the expiration of a traditional business model. This is the generation facing unplanned redundancy, retirement creeping further and further away.....and the task of discovering what this new generation of workforce may look like. Join me as I share my journey and learning  : about  redundancy,  about  discovering who we now are at this stage of life, and about what the new breed  of  entrepreneur may look like."

In her first post of the series Pam confesses "I never planned on being in my late fifties, redundant , without a clear plan of what next as I faced the fact I wasn’t 5- 6 years from retirement ,but more likely at least 10 -15 years away.  I was faced with a complex web of re-defining , not just what my next career move would be , but how the period of time originally earmarked for retirement was now definitively changing."

At The Women's Organisation we have noticed a growing trend of over 50's contacting us for advice and guidance around self-employment, in the main due to circumstances very similar to Pam.  It is great when people share their experiences as we can learn from one another, and also realise that we are not alone.

Click here to read the full first article in Pam's series. We will update you are Pam's journey continues and look forward to reading her insights.

 

When there wasn’t the work for Gemma Longworth after she graduated from University, she created her own work and business; ‘The Button Boutique’

The Button Boutique was launched by textile artist, Gemma Longworth in early 2011. Gemma is a highly qualified textile artist, having completed many years of training. Aged 17 she attended the City of Liverpool College, where she completed her AVCE (Advanced Vocational Certificate of Education) in Art & Design, before continuing and completing her Foundation Diploma in Art and Design.

Gemma credits the City of Liverpool College in helping her learn her craft, and decide which direction she wanted to take. The College has a large and varied range of courses, whether these are vocational, educational or apprenticeship based and it was the perfect place for Gemma to learn more about the art and design industry and become accomplished at many different skills.

‘I loved being at the Myrtle Street campus studying Art and Design. It was great, because I’d come straight from school but it was a completely different environment and a lot freer, where we were able to explore and discover the different disciplines and see which ones suited us the most.’

‘The teachers and tutors were all fantastic and you could go to them with any problems or issues that you had, whatever they were.’

It was here that Gemma realised that textiles was her favourite discipline and it was this that helped her decide to continue her education and training at University. Following on from the City of Liverpool College, she studied for her BA in Drawing and Applied Arts, in Bristol, and then completed her Masters in Textiles, in Manchester.

After completing all of this training and higher education, Gemma found it hard to find work in her field, even though she was a highly talented individual, there wasn’t the work out there for her, in the area that she wanted. It was during this time that she began to volunteer and at Alder Hey Hospital, running arts and crafts workshops twice a week.

  

As the interest in her workshops grew and she was working on a freelance basis, she began taking them outside of the hospital, to café’s in city, holding more and more classes. It became clear to Gemma then, that she needed a base. She chose the Baltic Creative to be this base, renting out two large sheds in their building, and running her workshops from there. She says, even at this time, it wasn’t clear to her that she was ‘starting’ her own business, she was just supplying the demand for her work and the nature of the business growth was organic.

By 2014, Gemma had outgrown her space in the Baltic Creative, and started to look around for larger properties, before finding a building on Brick Street which she describes as a ‘hidden gem’ The space took a lot of work to get it up to the beautiful standard that it is today, but Gemma says; ‘I’ve always been used to not having a lot of money, and having to work with what I’ve got, so I didn’t find it too difficult to work with the space’. The Button Boutique looks fantastic which Gemma says is down to, white emulsion, lots of fabric and a fair amount of skip diving!

The Button Boutique is doing incredibly well, and the business is growing steadily with every month. Gemma is quick to point out that it is a huge amount of work, and it can sometimes be a struggle to balance her work life with her home and social life.

‘Getting the balance right is very difficult. There are days when I go home, and say to myself that I won’t open my laptop, or check my emails but the temptation is always there. Because it’s ‘my baby’, there is always the pressure to be pushing the business forward and working all the time.’

‘There are good and bad aspects to running your own business and being your own boss. Of course there is more freedom, but at the same time, there is a pressure because you have to depend on yourself to bring an income in. Some days I do wish that I was going to work and being paid for being there, but at the same time, it is worthwhile in the end.’ 

‘If a friend of mine told me they wanted to start their own business, I would definitely tell them to seriously think about it. Make sure it is absolutely what you want because it’s a lot of hard work to begin with and you will have to put a lot into it. It takes up a lot of your time, and you will have to make sacrifices, but it will be worth it in the end. And if you need any support, I would recommend going to see the team at The Women’s Organisation’

Gemma also found a few difficulties in the business aspects of The Button Boutique. Like many individuals, the idea of understanding tax, registering as a company and working out pay rolls was a daunting one, and something that she found, and still does find difficult.

‘I don’t find that this side of the business gets any easier. In fact in gets harder as the business grows, because there is always something else to do, another form to fill out and something new to get my head around. But The Women’s Organisation helped enormously with this, and I would recommend any woman with their own business to seek advice and support from them.’

Gemma attended many of The Women’s Organisation’s free courses which helped her understand the technical side of running a business, and is also a member of our Business Club which she is a big fan of. Networking at The Women’s Organisation has been something that Gemma has enjoyed as well; ‘I’ve always hated the idea of ‘networking’, but at The Women’s Organisation it’s a lot more enjoyable because it’s informal and everyone there is in similar situations so it isn’t intimidating.’

Gemma has put the hard work, determination and effort into starting up her own business. After realising when she had finished her education and degree that the jobs she wanted were not out there, she has managed to create her own lifestyle and business which suits her and is a success. She says; ‘I am proud of myself, especially when I look back and think about everything that I have put into The Button Boutique, and how I have started it from literally nothing. I’m doing what I set out to do.’

If you would like help starting up your business, get in contact with us!
Email: hello@thewo.org.uk
Phone: 0151 706 8111

Mum to be Danielle Smallwood has battled through, and overcame, health issues to start up her own health and safety consultancy business, 3D HSE LTD.

With over 10 years’ experience in the industry and fully qualified, 3D HSE LTD provide concise and relevant advice to ensure businesses are up to date and well informed at all times. Their method of delivery is simple and effective, with a friendly yet informative manner, ensuring health and safety can be engaged in a way that makes it anything but a chore.

Credit: Barbara Idasiak Photography

‘We have vast experience working within a variety of sectors, from construction sites and offices, through to factories and oil refineries. With our thorough and knowledgeable attitude we will provide you with excellent service. We hope to not just become your consultant but a valued member of your team and by doing so creating a positive culture within your workplace. Our skills not only lie with carrying out the work but with engaging others to do so.’

Whilst working as a health and safety consultant, Danielle decided that she wanted to set up her own consultancy that she could use as a platform to change perceptions of health and safety. This would give her the opportunity to run it with the unique style she had developed for communicating health and safety.

When Danielle was unfortunately diagnosed with a range rheumatoid and connective tissue conditions, she decided to use the situation she had found herself in as the catalyst for starting up in business.

‘With everything that was happening with me medically, I decided it was now or never. It had been a struggle for the past few years but finally getting diagnosed actually made me realise just how well I had been doing to hold things together.’

‘Accepting my conditions has been the hardest part as it has meant I have had to make drastic changes to my life as a whole. It set me back a lot but I have always been very determined and I feel like this made me even more so.’

Danielle admits that the initial stages of setting up her business were difficult as she had many hospital appointments. This left her with little time to promote her newly established business but her persistence and dedication to her venture spurred her on.

‘I was slightly disheartened that I haven’t been able to give it the initial care and time it required but feel like now I am turning a corner and am getting things up to scratch. I am however really happy with the standard of the documentation I have been putting together and producing and feel proud to put my name to it.’

In the process of starting up her business, Danielle contacted The Women’s Organisation who she knew offered advice and support workshops to women in Merseyside, as she conducted the fire risk assessment on their building in the construction phase.

‘I received so much valuable support from The Women’s Organisation. The business templates they sent me were so useful as I needed to try and catch up on things I missed out on early on. My adviser was amazing and the training workshops offered were great for business.’

Despite being held back initially, business is steadily building and 3D HSE LTD is eager to assist small to medium sized businesses in becoming compliant with their health and safety legislative requirements. The business will be resuming normal operation throughout and after Danielle’s pregnancy.

Danielle is a shining example of what can be achieved if you are dedicated and determined enough to work through any barriers that present themselves, medical or otherwise. If you would like to contact her regarding any health and safety matters, you can find out more about the services 3D HSE LTD provide on the website www.3dhse.com. You can also contact directly on 07540 800 535 or email danielle@3dhse.com.

And if you would like to become your own boss, why not explore the idea you've been considering with The Women's Organisation - 0151 706 8111 / hello@thewo.org.uk www.thewomensorganisation.org.uk 


By Beckie Kinsella

Portrait photo credit: Barbara Idasiak Photography

For Interior Designer Cynthia Brown, ‘Success is Doing Ordinary Things, Extraordinarily Well.’

After graduating from Liverpool John Moores University with an Interior Design degree, Cynthia Brown found it very difficult to find paid employment.  She began to feel like the interior design world has a very limited opportunities for an aspiring designers looking to work, especially for an architectural practice.

Photo Credit: Barbara Idasiak Photography

"I thought the best way to overcome this barrier would be to create a job for myself by setting up my own upcycling furniture business" Cynthia told us, "now I can enjoy giving design advice as well as furniture restoration, not to mention, meeting brilliant clients."

Housed in her very own premises on Smithdown Road, Crafted Interiors sells and upcycles furniture and offers a quality interior design service.

"I found the idea of starting up really daunting, I had the skills but had never run my own business before, so after hearing about The Women’s Organisation at a job fair, I booked a meeting to get some support."

Cynthia was paired up with her own qualified business adviser and offered a place on a range of relevant business workshops that she greatfully took up.

Liverpool resident Cynthia  said "My adviser was very helpful. I had one to one support and went on all the great free workshops, including Understanding Tax and National Insurance, Selling Online and Basic Bookkeeping. I came to feel that I wasn’t alone; I wanted to hear other women’s stories and those courses allowed me to do that. It gave me a lot of confidence."

She continued "I found the business planning workshop [Planning For Success] particularly useful as having the business plan really helped me to identify how much funding I would actually need and how much income to expect over the coming months. I had some funds to put into the business but you never know quite how much you need, the business plan was perfect for that."

Despite Cynthia not being able to promote her business as well as she would've liked in the early stages, it took off within the first month.  At the rate her products were selling and commission works, it allowed her to turn her focus to marketing and actually pay for adverts on Facebook, website and other marketing materials.

Cynthia is very passionate about her work, which adds to the uniqueness of Crafted Interiors. Furniture is never resold in the condition it is bought, she is dedicated to spend as much time on each piece as it needs to make it perfect, from mixing colours to experimenting finishes.

The interior designer is now to develop her business by looking for commercial premises and a potential investment to allow her to expand and upmarket her products.

"I believe success is doing ordinary things, extraordinarily well" she told us. 

To find out more about Crafted Interiors you can visit their facebook page. 

If like Cynthia you are looking to create your own job by utlising your skills to start a business, get in touch with The Women's Organisation today via 0151 706 8111 or hello@thewo.org.uk 

Gemma Scattergood Turned Her Passion for Crafting into a Thriving Business

University of Liverpool graduate Gemma Scattergood quickly realised that job opportunities were scarce, especially in her desired field. Whilst struggling to work full time and volunteer for a drugs support agency, she made the bold decision to turn her passion for crafting into a business. 

Credit: Barbara Idasiak Photography

After graduating with a Psychology degree, Gemma found herself struggling financially. Noticing that she was receiving quite a few requests for crafted items from family, friends and co-workers, her boyfriend suggested that she should turn it into a job as it made her happy, when the minimum wage jobs didn’t.

‘First step for me was to design, design and design. I saved my holidays in work to take bulk time off to work on things and that started a few years ago now. I think only a handful of the original designs have made it to now as they were, a lot have either been modified or scrapped completely.’

‘I didn’t know where to start with business plans, finances, workspaces, legal requirements etc. It was terrifying. It got to the point where I realised I was only doing things for myself and talking about it, so I decided to look for direction.

The self-taught crafter contact The Women’s Organisation to help support her in setting up her own business.

‘I’d gotten myself stuck in a position where I didn’t know what the next step was and if I’d covered everything I needed to. They took all my ideas on board and helped me make sense of everything. The fact that this service is free is outstanding!’

‘My advisor Francine was my lifeline through all stages of my business plan and the workshops are tailored in such a way that they apply to all yet feel very personal. Everything from confidence building to tax is covered, and for the first time it made it feel exciting rather than daunting and that feeling has stayed with me. They also made it painless, I had my first meeting in January and launched by April after 3 years of trying to do this on my own. I could not have done this without them.’

Through her business Girl on Purl Action, Gemma celebrates everything to do with the wool and craft world. GOPA provides high quality, hand-made knitted and crocheted items that are sold through the online store, as well as custom bespoke services for that extra personal touch or special occasion.

Expanding on this, the Liverpool resident is now hosting weekly craft groups in various locations across Liverpool, as well as workshops and classes for all skill levels, currently in partnership with The Crosby Tea Rooms.

When asked what she likes best about self-employment, Gemma replied: ‘The freedom of it all. I am my own boss. I can create what I am in the mood to create (most of the time) which makes working so enjoyable! Having worked in so many minimum wage jobs over the years always answering to some faceless companies’ expectations and goals it’s wonderful when you achieve your own.’

Gemma does not have any ‘take over the world’ style plans, as she put it, but would really like Girl on Purl Action to be such a success that she is able to leave her day job. She is also aiming to branch out more into clothing, but I’m told those plans are top secret which is exciting.

‘I’m really proud because I felt like I was never going to get here. I feel that out of all my life achievements; learning to drive, moving out of my parents’ house, getting my degree, above all else, this is my biggest so far.’

To have a look at GOPA’s items, or to find out more about the groups and workshops that are running, visit www.girlonpurlaction.co.uk. You can also contact Gemma directly enquiries@girlonpurlaction.com

Why not follow Gemma’s adventure on social media. Twitter: @GOnPurlAction & Facebook: www.facebook.com/GirlOnPurl - She’s always happy to chat craft! 

If you have an idea or a passion you would like to make into a career, contact The Women's Organisation to find out how they can help you do so on 0151 706 8111 / hello@thewo.org.uk www.thewomensorganisation.org.uk 

By Beckie Kinsella

Portrait Photo Credit: Barbara Idasiak Photography

Hester Cox’s Business is Cruising Along Nicely with the Addition of a Second Boat to Star Narrowboat Holidays

Many people work from home, but successful business woman Hester Cox decided to take that one step further by turning her home into a business.

Credit: Jessica Lang Photography

A 57ft narrowboat called Gloria was home for Hester but with growing frustration of often being mis-managed and undervalued, and a long term desire to run her own business, she realised to set it up as a holiday hire boat was a reasonably low cost, low risk way to start-up.

‘I have always had an inkling to run my own business, often I would see how businesses were run and I thought why are they doing it like that? I would do it like this. So coupled with the want to be in control of my own work, career, day to day life, as well as realise my own ideas, I got started with my own business.’

Star Narrowboat Holidays offers excellent quality and reasonably priced canal boat hire. Now with 2 lovely boats to choose from, Gloria and Queenie, Hester and her business aim to create a memorable experience to all who stay aboard.

Bridgewater Marina at Sunset

Based at the Bridgewater Marina just outside of Manchester City Centre, near Manchester Airport, it is a perfect location for people across the UK and abroad. The marina offers a rural retreat that often feels like it is a world away from city life.

Since setting her sails in 2012, the business has been hugely successful which has allowed for the purchase of a second boat and further growth. It is now at the point that people are having to be turned away because the dates wanted are already booked and the boats are receiving excellent reviews from guests.

‘I feel proud of my efforts so far, I have the press coming to me asking if they can include my business in their latest article or review which is amazing. I have learnt so much about business, decision making and myself.’

Gloria

‘I like that it has given me so much more confidence, I love that I am in control of my own life, and I love it when my hirer's cruise into the marina on return from their holiday and I can see in their faces that they have loved their time aboard. That’s when I know I’m doing my business well.’

In the beginning, many people questioned what Hester was trying to do and didn’t believe it would work. However, now with 2 boats, her business is sailing along nicely.

Hester believes part of this success is down to surrounding herself with a network of strong business women, via The Women’s Organisation’s Business Club. This helped to balance the negativity received by the people who doubted she could achieve a successful business.

‘I was nervous to attend my first business club event, but felt quite at ease and cared for afterwards because The Women’s Organisation staff and other business women in the club are relaxed and helpful. I came away buzzing and feeling far less isolated than I did to begin with.’

Queenie

She continued: ‘Their support is invaluable and has saved me hundreds of pounds. I have received on-going business support from The Women’s Organisation, it has been really useful. They have helped me decide what direction to take and allowed me to identify my strengths and weaknesses to move forward. Ruth gives me business advice sessions in my caravan, the one I bought to use as my office, it really helps to have someone connected to the organisation that has seen behind the scenes of my business. ’

If you would like to know more about what Star Narrowboats has to offer, the website has all the details, including more lovely pictures and specifics of each boat – www.starnarrowboatholidays.co.uk and if you fancy having a look in person,  Hester is happy to give a personal tour.

And if you would like to gain support to grow your own business, you can speak to The Women's Organisation about the help available via 0151 706 8111 / hello@thewo.org.uk or visit http://www.thewomensorganisation.org.uk/ for more information.

Just Months After Launching, Mercer Travel Has Really Taken Off

As the holiday season comes to a close, it’s about that time of year when most of us are already thinking ahead to next year. If you’re anything like me, you probably get stressed even at the thought of planning a holiday that suits everyone and would much rather someone else organise it for you. Lucky for us, long time banker turned travel consultant Ann Mercer recognised that need and has opened up her own bespoke travel business.

Credit: Magical Moments Photography

Mercer Travel offers fully protected long and short haul holidays, trips and cruises, and the best bit about it is that it’s all based around what you, your partner, friends or family want!

Ann told The Women’s Organisation: ‘After over 25 years in banking, I wanted the freedom and opportunity of doing things my way, be my own boss and do something different.'

Global Travel presented Ann with the opportunity she was looking for. They offered her the chance to buy a franchise and provided all training prior to the business launching, culminating in an intense certified two week training course.

‘This was an exciting prospect as I had wanted to leave the Bank for a while and was just looking for the right opportunity and timing. I started progressing the purchase of the travel franchise before I left, so because I already knew about the role and work of The Women’s Organisation through local networking, I decided to arrange an appointment to get the ball rolling.’

As part of their business start-up programme, through the Big Enterprise in Communities (BEiC) initiative funded by European Regional Development Fund, Ann was paired up with a business advisor who she met with regularly. She also accessed free business workshops including Basic Bookkeeping, Tax and National Insurance, Building a Social Media Strategy and a 2 day business planning workshop, Planning For Success.

‘The business courses were invaluable and certainly helped to put the business on the right track. I received help with my business plan, which was really useful, and supported with a small grant package.’

Now further down the line, Mercer Travel is in full flight. Ann has quickly increased her client base through networking and referrals, and is providing regular quotes, recommendations and bookings for customers.

‘I have recently partnered with The Wirral Wedding House to provide overseas weddings and honeymoons. In fact I have just booked a honeymoon for one of my colleagues who attended the same courses as me with The Women’s Organisation!’

After changing direction from Retail Banking and Wealth Management to travel, there is no looking back for the travel consultant who is enjoying the flexibility, freedom and challenge of working for herself.

Thinking about her journey, Ann commented: ‘I feel proud, accomplished, invigorated and ready to look forward to the regular monthly income again.’

Ann’s advice to those considering a change of career would be: ‘Do something you love, with me it was travel. Your passion will shine through and you will want it to work. Get advice from the right places and people, networking and persevere!’

So, if you’re ready to plan that dream holiday and would like the support of an expert, contact Ann on 0151 722 2286 or 07446 943838 or e-mail – ann@mercertravel.co.uk and you can also search 'Mercer Travel' on Facebook to keep up to date with what's on offer.

If you feel you're ready to start your journey to self-employment, call The Women's Organisation for a chat about how they can support you 0151 706 8111 / hello@thewo.org.uk 

By Beckie Kinsella

Portrait photo by Magical Moments Photography