Singing Our Socks Off Success!

Mersey business woman Su Grainger celebrated the latest chapter of business success with close friends, colleagues and other local businesses last week when she opened her fantastic new training space.

Founder of 'Singing Our Socks Off', singing groups open to all abilities, Su has now developed her own rehearsal space thanks to Stepclever funding. Although Su will still run her groups across the county at various community venues, this exciting new office space will provide a regular venue where Su will offer one to one singing and speech training, as well as group rehearsals.

Based in Studio 11 of the St Mary's Complex in Waverly Street in Bootle, Singing Our Socks Off joins a whole host of other creative businesses taking advantage of this creative hub housed in the former primary school.

Those who attended the opening were treated to a performance from some of Su's students who joined together in African song in the communal hall at the Studios, an additional space that the incubated businesses have shared use of.

Train 2000's Enterprise Manager Jackie Williams (pictured with Su), who supported Su in the initial stages of setting up her business attended the event and commented:
"It's fantastic to see Su's business go from strength to strength. She is an inspiration to other business women, and testament that sheer determination does pay off."

For more information on the support available through Train 2000 and Stepclever for business start up and development, call our team on 0151 236 6601 or visit our website.

Toxteth Woman is Liverpool Vision's 1000th Business Start

A WOMAN who sells colourful and unusual African clothing and accessories has become the 1000th person to receive a business start up grant from Liverpool Vision.

Olusola Akinya, who lives in Toxteth has now opened a shop, ‘Dress Sense Couture’, in Kensington following financial support and advice from the city’s economic development company and its enterprise partner, Train 2000.

Olusola, a 22-year-old mother of three, initially had no idea that the clothes that her mother sent to her from Nigeria and that she wore to church were causing such a stir.

But such was the level of interest from people asking where they could buy similar garments that she decided to start her own business.

Olusola said: “My mother sells clothes back in Nigeria and she sent me some to wear and people here really seemed to like them and it was then I realised there was possible a genuine market for them.

“Now I’m providing customers with genuine African clothing and accessories at affordable prices as well as high quality hair and beauty products.

“Many of my lines are not currently available in this country which means it’s not just people in Liverpool that are buying them, but also from London, Birmingham and Manchester.

“Now if all goes to plan I hope to open an Afro Caribbean beauty parlour and employ hairdressers from different ethnicities.”

The Liverpool Vision Start Up Fund has been created to encourage and stimulate new business starts across the city. The Start Up Fund provides up to £500 as a grant to support start up costs and is available to new businesses in the process of starting up within the Liverpool City Council boundaries, especially those under-represented in business such as women, ethnic minorities and those with disabilities.

Chris Heyes, Business Start Up manager at Liverpool Vision, said: “One thousand business start ups is another significant milestone for us and is a testament to our continuing effort to support and stimulate enterprise in the city as well as a reflection of the enterprise culture that exists in the city.

“Olusola is an excellent example of how you can turn a good business idea into reality and we wish her every success with her venture.”

Olusula also received support from women’s enterprise organisation, Train 2000 as well as funding from the Prince’s Trust.

She added: “The support I’ve received from Liverpool Vision and from Train 2000 has been excellent not only in terms of funding but also in developing my business plan and being given a range of contacts to help my get my idea off the ground.”

For more information on the support that Train 2000 can offer and how to access funding for Business Start Up call our team on 0151 236 6601.

Celebrating Success Award Winners

Train 2000's Celebration of Success Awards at Aintree Racecourse proved to be a winning event all round.

The Awards ceremony was opened by Councillor Gary Millar before a welcome from Train 2000 Chair, Pat Shea-Halson (both pictured with Train 2000 Executive Director Maggie O'Carroll).
Host Su Grainger led the ceremony with her trademark wit and style and the room was inspired by the amazing stories of success from women across the whole of Greater Merseyside who had changed their lives and the lives of many others by opening up their own businesses.
A list of winners is produced here but scroll down below to see the pictures.

The winners were:
Progressed To Success
Arty Pants - Faith Withers and Jo Mitchell.

New Start Award
Melecoton Office Interiors Ltd. - Yvonne McDermott and Karen Clarke

Community Involvement Award
Norris Green WEN (Woman's Empowerment Network)

Innovation and Technology Award
Before The Stork - Joanne Marsh and Diane Carthy

Creative Business Award
Ceri Hand Gallery - Ceri Hand

International Business Award
Expert Language Solutions - Jessica Houghton

Health, Beauty and Well Being Award
Frodsham Laser Clinic - Jan Williams

Empowering Women Award
Gardening Angels - Pauline Gillett

StepClever Business Award
Little Halos - Clare Hancox

Special Recognition Award
SCS Kinder - Jaci Quennell & Elaine Allison

Business of the Year
Elaine Cunningham Interiors Ltd - Elaine Cunningham

For information on the category criteria and to see the full list of winners and finalists visit our new facebook fanpage discussion.

WICED Plans Approved!

Following a meeting with Liverpool City Council, the plans for the new Women's International Centre for Economic Development were officially approved! The design which was drawn up by Nightingale Associates, was congratulated by the planners.

Kier North West have now been appointed to head up the contruction of the scheme which will begin later this year and expects to be completed in late 2010. Wiced, which will run as a social enterprise, will be housed in a £5.3m building in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle area.

New Start Magazine interviewed Maggie O'Carroll, Executive Director of WICED and Train 2000 regarding the project. Read more about her thoughts on how the centre will be a fantastic research hub for female entrepreneurship here.

Business Success is Child’s Play For Southport Mums

Business is booming for two enterprising mums who are set to open a second successful business employing 20 local people – all in less than six weeks.

Rachel Clarke and Gill Ashcroft opened Southport’s Play Town in August and are set to expand their play centre with a creche and babysitting service on November 2nd.
The two friends who each have two young children were enjoying dinner one night and talking about looking for a flexible family friendly career when they realised the answer was lying tucked up in the bedrooms above.

Rachel who lives in Southport said:
“We both have very active children and the answer came to us almost immediately – “let’s open a play centre.”
The couple contacted the women’s enterprise agency, Train 2000 and scoured Southport looking for a suitable site and found a large area on the busy beachfront site at Ocean Plaza.

After refurbishing the building and completing essential health and safety qualifications the mums invited The Mayor of Sefton, Cllr Alf Doran to officially open the doors during the August Bank Holiday Weekend.

“We have had plenty of support from our partners and Train 2000 who have given us lots of practical advice and help over the past few months. It has been so busy we are both working 15-hour days but luckily we see lots of the children as they can spend some of the day with us,” said Gill.
The creche will open between 8.30am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday and the babysitting service runs between 6pm and 11pm on a Friday and Saturday evening.

She added: “All our staff are hightly trained and qualified to care for children between the ages of two to twelve – it means parents can enjoy some much needed me-time by shopping , watching a fim or enjoying a meal while their children are happily and safely entertained.”
And the two women don’t intend to stop there.

“We are busy planning our Halloween Ball at the moment but in the future we would like to franchise the business and open a Play Town in locations across the UK,” Rachel said.

For more information about the centre and its services call Rachel on 0754 591 4568 or visit www.playtownsouthport.com

Caption:.Play Town.
Left to right, Mayoress of Sefton, Cllr Gill Cutherbertson, Gill Ashcroft, Rhian Pavitt of Train 2000, Rachel Clarke, Mayor of Sefton, Cllr Alf Doran.

Train 2000 unveils the £5m shape of Women's Enterprise in Liverpool

Train 2000, has unveiled a first image of the £5.3 m Women’s International Centre for Economic Development (WICED) which will open in the city centre in 2010.
WICED is to be located in the Baltic Triangle on the corner of St James Street and Norfork Street and will be the hub of international research on female entrepreneurship. 

It will also provide a range of enterprise support services including space for up to 80 business units to help women start and grow their businesses.

The 2,000sqm centre aims to ‘break the gender gap’ in starting businesses and is expected to help 3,000 women set up businesses in the next 10 years creating 4,500 new jobs. Initatives planned for the centre by Train 2000 and the WICED team have already been hailed as “amongst the best I’ve ever seen” by the world’s leading expert on women’s enterprise , Professor Patricia Greene of Babson College, USA who visited Liverpool to review the plans in May this year.Maggie O’Carroll, Executive Director of Train 2000 said:“We are creating the most advanced centre for women’s’ entrepreneurship and economic development in the world - right here in Liverpool. 

It will connect to a global network helping to create the conditions for more sustainable and high growth women’s businesses”. 

“In the 13 years since Train 2000 was set up we have shown how to provide innovative support mechanisms to accelerate the pace of creating and growing women-owned businesses and the WICED centre will only accelerate that process.” 

The new-build project will contain a range of offices, training & conference facilities and incubator space for new businesses.


Deputy Council Leader at Liverpool City Council, Cllr Flo Clucas said:“Liverpool City Council is fully behind the WICED plans and we are delighted that the plans are being internationally recognized for something that will happen right here in Liverpool.

Work on the building which has been designed by Liverpool based architects, Nightingales will begin in October and is expected to be completed in late 2010.

About WICED

The £5m Womens’ International Centre for Economic Development (WICED) will comprise of 2,000sqm located in the heart of Liverpool and is expected to help 3,000 women set up business creating 4,500 new jobs over the next ten years. The WICED will be the hub of international research on female entrepreneurship as well as providing a range of enterprise support services including space for up to 80 business units to help women start and grow their businesses.The new-build project, expected to reach completion in late 2010, will contain a range of offices, training & conference facilities and incubator space for new businesses. It is being jointly-funded by WICED, the North West Development Agency, Future Builders and Liverpool Council. WICED, a registered charity, was re-launched this year with the merge of two organisations, Train 2000 and the Women’s Electronic Village Hall.

Get Passionate about Dance with July's Featured Client

CLARE Roberts has always had a passion for dancing – so it was only natural that she would set up her own business Dance Passion.

The 27-year-old professional dancer opened up the Liverpool-based dance agency in 2007, providing dance training, choreography and performance to dance organisations and individuals of all ages, who love to dance.

“I started ballet dancing at the age of four,” said Clare “and I later went on to learn Latin American. I have always been a dance enthusiast and through my agency, I am now able to pass on my enthusiasm and passion to others.”

Clare, who has danced on the international stage and has represented England at a professional level, is now using her skills, expertise and passion to help other people achieve their dancing dreams.

As a fully qualified dance teacher, prior to starting up her own business Clare was employed at all-girls school Broughton Hall, in Liverpool.

She added: “It was a big decision to become self-employed, but I’m so glad I did it s I am thoroughly enjoying working for myself.

Clare, who lives in the Walton area of North Liverpool, received support through the Step Clever programme and specialist support for women through enterprise agency Train 2000.

“I have been really impressed with all the help and support I have received” said Clare, “with the Step Clever grant I was awarded, I was able to finance my website, a new laptop and some advertising for my business.

“I have also attended a number of training courses through Train 2000 and have found them all to be extremely useful. Not only did the courses provide me with an excellent opportunity to learn all about the business side of things, but attending them has also enabled me to meet other women who are self-employed.”

Clare has also joined the newly-formed Step Clever Women’s Group a network that has been set up by Train 2000 through the Step Clever programme, which enables self-employed businesswomen in the six Step Clever wards to meet on a monthly basis to share ideas, support one another and get advice from guest speakers.

Clare said: “The Step Clever Women’s Group is a real source of inspiration and information and I am particularly glad that this has been set up, as sometimes being self-employed you can feel on your own.
“I am so passionate about dancing and the work that I do, but the business side of things has been much more difficult for me, so the support of the women’s group and the training sessions on areas such as Tax and National Insurance and PR have been invaluable to me.”

At present Clare offers a wide variety of services including choreography and performance to theatres, Latin American dance classes for children, young people and adults as well as a ‘wedding dance’ service.

“There are so many different reasons why people might want to learn to dance” explains Clare, “a lot of people only ever dance for the first time when they get married, so I decided to add to my services support for people with getting ready for their wedding dance.”

Clare is extremely positive about the future of Dance Passion and believes that her business will grow from strength to strength.

“I absolutely love what I do” she said, “I love being self-employed, am really busy at the moment and just seem to have endless enthusiasm for what I do.”

For further information about Dance Passion please call Clare on 07751 240 230 or visit her website at www.dance-passion.co.uk

For more info on Train 2000's StepClever grant follow this link
and for information about the StepClever Women's group go here
Or for general information about the support Train 2000 can offer to women in Merseyside, Cheshire and Manchester call our Engagement team on 0151 236 6601.