From Redundancy to Self Employment Success for Stockport Mums

When facing redundancy friends of 9 years Sharon Edwards and Shelley Garrett saw it as an opportunity. Using their wealth of experience in the field of educational consultancy they set up ‘Quality First Training & Consultancy’ in Stockport and haven’t looked back.

Sharon said “When the government cuts came, Manchester was hit harder than anyone anticipated. Myself and colleagues within the field of education were offered severance packages. It was very daunting the thought of giving up a well-paid job, but the offer of the severance was both a push and a cushion at the same time. The opportunity to work for ourselves was scary and exciting in equal measures.”

Sharon, Shelley and other colleagues who were also facing redundancy and considering self-employment decided to share their contact details so as not to lose touch. Before they knew it they had created their own network of support for their fledgling businesses. Meeting the first Wednesday of the month at Metropolitan Pub in Didsbury, the former colleagues share information, offer emotional support to one another and share their wealth of skills and ideas. The group who also keep in contact via email circulation has proven invaluable for support and was the starting point of Sharon and Shelley finding out about the free business support available through The Women’s Organisation.

“The help from The Women’s Organisation was excellent”, said Sharon. “Our business adviser there Lisa was so clear and organised. We hadn’t really understood the need for a business plan really. I suppose we were just of the mind of ‘go out there and start doing’. But putting together the plan with Lisa’s help has really focussed us. We refer back to it constantly to see if we are meeting our targets, and the blurb that took us time to pull together for the plan we now use in our marketing. So it was well worth it.”

Both Sharon and Shelley’s friends and family have been a great support in helping them develop their business. Shelley’s partner offered support with photography for their promotional materials, Sharon’s daughter is helping them all the way from New Zealand to set up their website, Sharon’s brother in law supported them with accountancy advice and Shelley’s 15 month old son has been offering plenty of supportive smiles along the way.

Sharon said of their journey “We were always very resourceful in our previous employment, so I guess that prepared us for self-employment and learning new skills as we go. Having come through redundancy it’s almost like we rose from the ashes. Things are going well so far and the people who have accessed our consultancy services and attended our courses have given us very positive feedback so we are feeling optimistic about the future.”

Quality First Training and Consultancy offers specialist support in behaviour and attendance, emotional health and well-being and coaching. Between them, Shelley and Sharon bring a wealth of experience. Having both started out as classroom teachers then working as Behaviour Needs teachers they were asked to take on the role of Behaviour and Attendance Consultants. They were then able to roll out the national ‘Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning’ programme to Manchester schools, where their work was recognised nationally. With the added bonus of having worked in both primary and secondary education settings they can fully understand and appreciate all aspects of the day to day issues facing local schools and educational organisations. Quality First Services are broken down into 4 key areas:

• Quality First Consultancy
Offering schools, academies and settings bespoke consultancy in any area of behaviour and attendance.

• Quality First Training
A range of training packages available, e.g. behaviour management, improving attendance, using solution focused approaches, SEAL. These are available for delivery to whole staff or groups during staff meetings, twilights or training days. In addition support can be offered to plan, deliver and evaluate bespoke training events in your workplace and across networks.

• Quality First Behaviour Reviews
Behaviour reviews of various lengths, starting from 1 day, are available tailored to the specific focus identified and / or size of your school, academy or setting. A written report will be compiled with recommendations and discussed in detail at a follow up meeting.

• Quality First Coaching
Whatever your needs Quality First offer skilled and experienced coaches who can provide professional and personal coaching to support you to develop your capacity to find sustainable solutions to your challenges.

For more information on what Quality First Training and Consultancy can offer visit their website at www.qualityfirst.uk.com or contact them on 07415 705653 or info@qualityfirst.uk.com

And if like Sharon and Shelley you are looking for support to develop your own business then why not contact The Women’s Organisation on 0161 833 8800/0151 706 8111 or info@thewo.org.uk for more information on the FREE support available to women.

Stockport's Sian Finds 'Top Venues'

Having gained 10 years’ experience in the hospitality industry working for other people, Sian Pelleschi could see great potential for growth and slicker ways to run things. She said “Working for someone else there are always channels to go through before you can get a full ok on any decision.” Sian decided it was time to take the bull by the horns and set up her Manchester based company ‘Top Venues’.

Top Venues is a free and impartial venue finding service focusing on conferences, exhibitions, training, meetings and incentive events. Ensuring that the “focus is quality”, Sian is keen to let clients know that “we take it seriously. We work with clients from start to finish, find out preferences, budgets, what they are trying to get out of it. We’ve got a lot of good contacts with venues across the UK so can offer really good rates, sometimes better than if the client went to the venue directly. We go out and see the venues ourselves. We have the relationship so we can personally work out any problems. We act as a one point of call for the client, liaising with the venue and the client throughout the whole process right through to confirmation. We take a commission from the venue, which isn’t added onto the rates we quote the client, and even then we don’t leave you hanging. We follow up and see if there have been any issues.”

Having contacted Business Link to find support to start up, Sian was directed to The Women’s Organisation where she met with a business adviser locally to look over her business idea and work on her business plan. She said “It was really good. For the most part I felt like I knew what I was doing as I knew the industry, but I did just need that extra support and expertise in the areas I didn’t know about. I also went on some of the courses with The Women’s Organisation. It was great to meet people at the same stage with their business as me and to bat ideas around.”

It wasn’t an easy decision and Sian knew there were things to weigh up. “The scariest part of stepping out of employment and cutting a salary off was considering that I have a mortgage to pay. But I had lots of support. My family and friends were all pushing me to do it. Sometimes the people closest to you know more than you what your capabilities are. It’s surprising how many people said ‘yes you should go for it’. It’s going well so far and I’ve already started meeting new clients and helping with their events.”

Sian said of running her own business “It is the best thing I ever did. I feel so much more in control. I am able to meet clients personally, visit venues, make decisions of how to push things forward. The part I enjoy most is meeting new people, making contacts. There is a real sense of fulfilment when you can find the right venue for them. I am really looking forward to pushing this business forward, to have the type of company I always wanted to have. That’s the focus and that’s the drive.”

The most important thing to consider when starting a business according to Sian is to “make sure you are clear on what it is that you want to achieve. Prepare yourself for what you need to do, be aware of the legalities, do everything in an order, plan, put a date line in place. You can end up back tracking otherwise.”

As well as venue finding, Sian and Top Venues are branching out to offer full event planning services at an additional cost. If you are interested in finding out more about how you can use Top Venues to help you find the right setting for your event then contact help@top-venues.co.uk 0844 870 9963 or visit the website www.top-venues.co.uk

And if like Sian you are a woman who is interested in starting up your own business please contact The Women’s Organisation for free advice and support on 0151 706 8111 /0161 833 8800 or email info@thewo.org.uk Alternatively visit www.thewomensorganisation.org.uk

The Women's Organisation WICED Development

The Women's Organisation unveiled a first image of the proposed £5.3 m Women’s International Centre for Economic Development (WICED) back in September 2009. Work soon got underway on the development which is located in the Baltic Triangle area of Liverpool, on the corner of St James Street and Norfork Street.

What was a patch of bare wasteland now houses the fantastic new building which will provide a range of enterprise support services, including space for up to 80 business units to help women start and grow their businesses as well as serving as an international research hub for women's economic development.
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. The project has been jointly-funded by WICED, the North West Development Agency, Future Builders and Liverpool Council.

The Women's Organisation have now started to house their first tenants and are happy to show interested parties around the building. Rates for rented office space depend on the size of the room and any additional services required e.g. telephone services. Those interested can express their requirements and receive a quote tailored to individual needs.

The virtual office and meeting room rates start from £15 plus VAT per month to rent a virtual office. Meeting rooms can be rented from £60 plus VAT per day with half day rates also available.

Tenants receive 10% discount on the cost of meeting room hire and by doing business in our new building, you can tap into a wealth of valuable resources including networking and business advice and support.

Call The Women's Organisation on 0151 706 8111 or email info@thewo.org.uk to arrange a viewing.

Photos by www.tonywestphoto.co.uk

Liverpool Woman Turns Photography Passion into a Business

Having worked for 10 years as a photographer for other people, Liverpool resident Emma Hillier took a moment to reflect. Her choices we apparent – either be a manager of someone else’s studio, which would involve less photography and more paperwork or branch out on her own and carry on doing what she loved – taking photographs.

Emma said “The whole thing was quite daunting at first. I didn’t know where to start and, as all the kit I had been using belonged to the studio I was employed at, I needed money for equipment so it was like starting from scratch. But I figured if you don’t try, you’re never going to know if you could do it.”

Not knowing where to begin Emma contacted Business Link for advice who put her in touch with The Women’s Organisation where she was linked with a business adviser. She said “I had a lot of help from my adviser. The whole thing with looking at the business plan was great. It helped me to realise what I wanted to do and put it in order. I could see where I was and where I wanted to go.”

Using her initiative Emma took photographs of friends’ weddings and portraits of friends’ children to start building up her portfolio again and things developed from there. Her friends and family weren’t surprised that she took the bold step to branch out on her own knowing her passion for photography and how keen she was to be behind the camera more.

As a tip to other women setting up Emma advised “You must do your market research – see what your competitors are doing, and you’ve got to be passionate about what you do and motivate yourself. I think being a woman in my industry can give me the competitive edge, particularly in photographing children. In my experience it seems that mums can be more trusting of other women and feel more at ease.”

Emma also took advantage of the FREE courses on offer at The Women’s Organisation around basic book keeping, understanding tax and national insurance and promoting your business online. “It can get lonely working for yourself” said Emma. “I have gone from working in an office with a team of other people to working on my own. That’s why I enjoy the courses and events: it helps you feel less isolated.”
Online networking through sites like facebook Emma has discovered to be invaluable for building links and word of mouth marketing. In fact she said she has gathered more work that way than through any other marketing.

Starting her own business Emma says is “The best decision” she ever made. Emma Hillier Photography specialise in children and family portraits and weddings, also producing landscape images as art for the home. For more information on their services you can search for their fanpage on facebook or get in touch via contact@emmahillierphotography.com or 07919 091 211.

And, if like Emma you are interested in starting up your own business call The Women’s Organisation on 0151 706 8111 and find out about the range of FREE services we can offer. You can also email info@thewo.org.uk or visit www.thewomensorganisation.org.uk

The Women's Organisation Business Club Launches!

Business women from Merseyside and Greater Manchester came together for the launch of The Women's Organisations FREE business club. Held at The Women's Organisations brand new offices at 54 St James street the Business Club offered 'Successful Sales' as the topic for the first meeting.

Jo Copoc of Boomerang Business Solutions who set up with help from The Women's Organisation gave and inspiring talk around winning the 'yes' from customers and improving overall average orders.

Speaking from her experience of dealing with large brands and blue chip companies Jo stepped the women through techniques for making your deisred customers know you exist, getting them to notice your potential and building relationships that lead to sales. Jo says of business:

"As business owners we are walking adverts and our sales ability has to be exceptional to compete in this climate.
Word of mouth is the highest quality lead any business can generate, but in the current climate we are all so busy being reactive to the day to day processes that sometimes we forget our sales strategy and growth areas."

The Women's Organisation business adviser Mike Marsden also offered helpful networking tips to the women who attended including "Don't just meet once at a networking event - follow up with key leads".

Feedback from the event included:

"Lovely to see the new building. Fantastic presentation from Jo. Thanks to all"
"Excellent presentation and tips. Thanks"

For more information on how you can join The Women's Organisations Business Club which offers free networking opportunites to women running their own business in Merseyside or Greater Manchester - please contact our team on 0151 706 8111 or info@thewo.org.uk

Mum's business creates job for teenage daughter Jessie

DEVOTED mum Louise Gillespie has recently started up her own business and one of her main motivations behind this decision was to create a job for her teenage daughter.

“My 16-year-old daughter Jessica is currently completing her GCSE’s” said Louise, “and she wants a part-time job while she studies and moves on to her A-Levels. Jobs are extremely difficult to come by at the moment, so I thought that if I had my own business then I could give her a job.”

So, 39-year-old Louise set up Jessies Jewels – selling costume jewellery which she buys from suppliers in the UK and then sells at house parties, through a variety of events and on Facebook.

And, whilst running the business Louise also holds down a full time as a practice manager at affirm of solicitors, where she has worked for 23 years. “Running this business is like light relief for me” she said, “It’s so nice to get stuck into something which is completely different to my day job, I am a very upbeat forward thinking person so am really motivated to make Jessie’s Jewels a success.”

Louise initially got the idea to set up the jewellery business when she was shopping with her daughter Jessica for costume jewellery. “I couldn’t believe how expensive it was” she said, “and, it just planted the seed in my head – I thought I could sell jewellery much cheaper than this and still make a profit.”

Now Louise, along with some help from her daughter Jessica, sells a wide range of products at house parties, vintage fares, fashion fares and the jewellery is displayed at numerous locations throughout the Knowsley area, including the Knowsley Chamber of Commerce and the Kirkby Unemployed Centre.

Presently products are sourced from the UK but Louise has long term plans to go further afield in the future to the likes of Hong Kong and India where she will be able to import in larger quantities.


“I have big plans for the business” added Louise “and I really think we can make it a success. As part of my job at the solicitors I run the business side of things, so it is really nice to be able to use my business skills for this new exciting project.

“I decided to set up my own business for a number of reasons but definitely one of the main factors was for my daughter. I have only got one child and as a mum, it’s important to me to be able to help my daughter where ever I can and if that means I can create her a job, then that’s all the better.”

Louise’s daughter Jessica Hill added: “I am really pleased that mum has set the business up and I enjoy working on it with her. I am hoping in the future as I get older, that I can take on more of an active role. Being in business at such a young age is a very exciting opportunity for me and I think other mums and daughters should think about doing the same thing.“

Once Louise had decided to start up the business she came along to The Women’s Organisation where she received free help and advice under the business start-up programme.

She said: “I first heard about The Women’s Organisation through Knowsley Chamber of Commerce – and through another woman who had been supported by the organisation to start up her business as well.”

Louise worked on a one-to-one basis with a business adviser who helped put her business plan together.

She added: “I really found The Women’s Organisation to be very useful. Although I am extremely business minded myself I am quite happy to take on any advice that people have got.”

If you would like to find out more about Jessies Jewels please visit the website at https://jessieandco.co.uk/

And, if like Louise you are a woman who is interested in starting up your own business please call The Women’s Organisation on 0151 236 6601 or email info@thewo.org.uk Alternatively visit the website at www.thewomensorganisation.org.uk

Sefton businesswomen launch new range of natural skincare products

BETWEEN them friends and business partners Angela Profit and Lynn Smith have almost 120 years of life experience – which they are now putting to good use through their brand new business venture, making natural skincare products.

“We decided to set up our own business ‘O’Naturelle’ some months ago” said Angela, “Because we knew that many of the skincare products on the market were overpriced and had ingredients with a questionable history. It has taken a lot of hard work and research to set up, but we have finally got there – and now we produce our own range of natural creams and lotions with essential oils such as frankincense, rose and other organic ingredients.

“There is so much that goes in to what we do. For months Lynn has been undertaking research on the ingredients that are used in our products and everything we produce has to be certified by a chemist, so it is a very lengthy process that is involved, for each product to reach our high standard.”

Through O’Naturelle Angela and Lynn, who first became friends whilst walking their dogs, sell a range of natural products including lip balms, oils, creams, gels, moisturisers, cleansers and lotions which are currently available at crafts fairs and markets throughout the area and via their website.

Angela and Lynn decided to start up the business when they were both looking for a new challenge in their lives.

“I wanted to do something different” added Angela, “who had previously worked as a holistic therapist, “And Lynn had been working as a building surveyor but was struggling due to the dwindling property market, so we decided to join forces and work on a new venture together.”

Prior to launching the business Angela and Lynn came along to The Women’s Organisation where they received free help and advice. They worked on a one-to-one basis with a business adviser who helped them put together their business plan and were given the opportunity to attend a number of business-related workshops.

Lynn said: “We found out about The Women’s Organisation through Sefton Invest – and we’re so glad that we did! The help we received was fantastic and the courses we attended were very good too.

“Although I had previously been self-employed The Women’s Organisation was still very beneficial, because there is always something new you can learn.”

Lynn and Angela, who are both mums to their grown-up children, are looking to develop their product range further in the future and are hoping to get their products into retail outlets throughout the area as well as attending markets and fairs every month.

“There is continuous work to be put in” added Lynn, “every time we decide on developing a new product there is just so much research to do and then there is the whole process of making and packaging it. It is both challenging and enjoyable work.”

Angela added: “I can honestly say that I am thoroughly enjoying what I do.”
Anyone who is interested in finding out more about the range of products available through O’Naturelle should visit www.onaturelle.co.uk or should call Angela or Lynn on 07903 033 044 or 07944 553 591.

And, if like Angela and Lynn you are a woman from the Sefton area who is interested in starting up your own business please call The Women’s Organisation on 0151 236 6601 or visit www.thewomensorganisation.org.uk