Success for @54StJamesStreet Tenant Constructing Equality (@ConstructingEq) as Founder Chrissi McCarthy is Shortlisted for Award

Chrissi McCarthy founded Constructing Equality in 2007. Since then, the business has grown to employ seven full time and four part time members of staff, whilst remaining debt free.   Not surprisingly Chrissi's success has put her in the limelight of the local economy as she has been shortlisted for Downtown Liverpool's Women in Business Awards 2014, sponsored by The Women's Organisation.

The business which is based at 54 St James Street, a new development in the thriving Baltic Triangle area of Liverpool,  takes a different approach to consultancy, creating centralised products with industry partners that are tailored to the needs of the construction sector.  Constructing Equality therefore allow companies to get one on one highly specialised consultancy expertise, at achievable costs.

Constructing Equality’s three main products are the creation and delivery of the CITB Be Fair framework, online equality training and the Community value project. All of these products have struck a chord with the sector and have received immense support. So much so, that major construction clients such as Crossrail and HS2 have independently contacted Constructing Equality after receiving outstanding response to the CITB Be Fair framework and training courses, from major contractors such as: Vinci, BAM, Murphy, ISG, Morgan Sindall and Wates.

Before starting Constructing Equality Ltd. Chrissi spent more than 10 years in the Construction Industry, firstly as a Setting-Out Engineer and then as a Site Manager. A Construction Management Graduate and Member of The Chartered Institute of Building she played an integral role in the delivery of numerous projects, including Peckham Library, Manchester Interchange, a range of BSF Schemes, and a school in Uganda for charity.  Together, these projects helped Chrissi to develop a deep understanding of the day-to-day practical challenges faced by teams on site and at head offices around the country.

Passionate about the social and emotional effects of the Construction Industry, Chrissi went on to complete a PGDip in Equality and Diversity, and is now studying for her PhD, which is sponsored by global construction organisation Vinci, in Mainstreaming Equality in the UK construction industry.  Considered one of the field’s leading exponents, she is part of the Fairness Inclusion and Respect Strategic Group that leads the Construction Industry on Diversity.  She imparts lectures on Equality and Diversity at Universities and Conferences, writes for leading Construction Publications, contributes to Government Papers, influences key Industry Figures, and has even spoken at the House of Lords.

Importantly, while her achievements are diverse, they share a common thread – to improve the reality of working within Construction and its reputation among the public. 

Delighted to be shortlisted for an award Chrissi said: "Thank you to everyone who voted for us and as always the brilliant support that we have received from The Women's Organisation and 54 St James street, not only do they support and encourage us but they also provide the modern, professional and friendly roof over our head!"

The Downtown Liverpool Women in Business Awards take place on Friday 14th March at Hilton Liverpool when the overall winners will be announced.  We at 54 St James Street would like to wish Chrissi best of luck!

To find out more about Constructing Equality visit constructingequality.co.uk

If you would like to enjoy a stylish, professional office setting for your business please contact 54 St James Street via venue@thewo.org.uk or 0151 706 8100 to discuss availability of reasonably priced office space in L1, Liverpool City Centre.  

Setting Up In Business Was The Right Fit For Personal Trainer Emma Grogan

Being a very active person, attending classes, going to exercise in the gym and eating healthy has always been a way of life for Emma Grogan. It was only natural that her passion for keeping fit would creep into her work life.

Photo: VGGVart

‘Someone told me that I should become a personal trainer, I laughed it off at first. However, the idea stuck in my mind and I eventually decided to go for it. I did a 2 month intensive course and qualified last year. I haven’t looked back since. I love choosing my own hours.’

Before starting up Emma Grogan Fitness and Nutrition, Emma worked in finance for 12 years. She would work for 6 months then travel for 6 months, only returning to work to earn the money to go travelling again. She told us ‘I was sick of 9-5 lifestyle, it was just a means to an end.’

When Emma decided that self-employment was something she wanted to pursue, she contacted The Women’s Organisation to get business start-up advice and training through their business start-up programme.

‘The Women’s Organisation have been really helpful, I have always worked for someone else so didn’t quite know how to go about starting up my own business. The best bit of help was the business planning, it helped me to focus. The £200 grant boost at the end was great, as it helped towards the equipment I needed.’

‘I also found the Business Club networking events helpful. It gave me the opportunity to meet women who are at different stages that could offer their advice and point me in the right direction.’

The first few months of self-employment were quite difficult for Emma due to the amount of competition, but the Liverpool resident persevered and now her business is going from strength to strength.

‘I do a lot of home training. Working with people who for whatever reason cannot make it to a gym - either mothers with young children or people who work from home and don't have time to travel out but can fit a session in at home. It’s working really well for me!’

As well as supporting people at home, Emma also trains Somali women from a dedicated centre.

‘I find running classes really rewarding. I have been working with the Somali women for 5 months now, most of who are women who wouldn't exercise anywhere else.’

Although the classes are now going well and the women are getting a lot out of them, the cultural differences made it very difficult at the beginning. Emma had to work hard to gain their trust and overcome the language barrier, but her persistence and ‘can do’ attitude has paid off.

After working with such groups, she is now determined to secure more funding to work with the Somali women and other groups that may not naturally feel comfortable with the traditional environment of many exercise classes. ‘I want to help underprivileged people as much as I can.’

Furthermore, Emma is still very keen to continue her 1-2-1 sessions with clients and expand her business in the future, as well as focusing on those harder to reach groups that she is so passionate about supporting.

‘I want to build a business of variety incorporating personal training, classes and nutrition.’

If you would like to know more about the services Emma provides, you can contact her directly on 07414 781 316 / emmagrogan@hotmail.com or find Emma Grogan Fitness and Nutrition on Facebook.

And if you are ready to take your first steps into self-employment and would like some further advice, contact The Women’s Organisation on 0151 706 8111 / info@thewo.org.uk or visit www.thewomensorganisation.org.uk

By Beckie Kinsella

19 Year Old Rachel Gilbertson Tackles Unemployment With Self-Employment and Earns Two Women In Business Award Nominations

After getting tired of knock backs and applications, Sefton based Rachel Gilbertson took matters into her own hands by opening up her own business at the age of 19.

Just 8 months after starting her business, Rachel has been shortlisted for 2 Women in Business awards, run by Downtown Liverpool and sponsored by The Women’s Organisation. The 19 year old has been nominated for Entrepreneur of the Year and Young Entrepreneur of the year.

Her journey began at The Rotunda, Kirkdale, where she attended a course based around setting up a business which she thoroughly enjoyed. Combined with her growing frustration of unemployment and her enjoyment of the course, Rachel was inspired to take her first leap into self-employment.

Putting her naturally creative personality and National Diploma in Graphic Design from Southport College into use, she opened Roxiie’s Treasures in May 2013, a business that provided jewellery, bags, scarves and accessories at that time.

‘The best thing about running my own business is being my own boss. You get to make all the decisions. I enjoy what I do and I love meeting new people and building relationships with my customers. I also like the fact that I have the opportunity to give something back to the community and help local charities.’

Whilst starting up, Rachel approached The Women’s Organisation, where she met with a business advisor to discuss her business idea and plan her next steps.

‘I went on a few courses at The Women’s Organisation including bookkeeping, tax & national insurance and how to promote your business online. I felt really happy as I didn’t know what to do before. I found the support I received very helpful and everyone was very welcoming.’

She continued: ‘There was so much help which I got and it made me feel confident that I was going to get where I wanted to be’ which is exactly what she did.

Since opening in May 2013, Roxiie’s Treasures has expanded from online selling and craft fairs, into a shop space based on College Road in the wonderful Crosby Emporium. Now Roxiie’s Treasures not only sells jewellery, bags, scarves and accessories, but also candles, gifts and household items.

When discussing how far Rachel and the business have come, the 19 year old commented: ‘I am proud of what I have achieved so far and it makes me want to achieve more and build my business even further.’ She plans to do this by eventually moving into the property market and opening up a shop of her own.

For Rachel, being in business is simply about doing something that genuinely makes you happy. ‘If you believe in something and want it, you will achieve it but you have to stick to it and focus on what you want in life.’

If you would like to know more about Roxiie’s Treasures you can contact Rachel directly by emailing her on roxiiestreasures@live.co.uk 

You can also check out her wonderful items on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/roxiiestreasuresliverpool and Twitter:@RoxiiesTreasure

And if you have an idea or a hobbie you would like to turn into a business, contact The Women’s Organisation on 0151 706 8111 / info@thewo.org.uk 

or visit www.thewomensorganisation.org.uk

by Beckie Kinsella

Mother of 3 Fowzia Makes Modest Clothing for Women Fashionable

Prior to starting up her business, Mother of 3 Fowzia Suleman was a youth worker for 15 years. Although she really enjoyed this, the time came when she felt that a change was needed.

Photo: VGGVart

‘I always wanted to have my own business, I just didn't know what. All I knew was that I wanted to be self employed.’

After having her children, she found it increasingly difficult to find modest yet fashionable clothing. Finally, Fowzia found a niche gap in the market for modest clothing, this became her idea for a business that she was genuinely passionate about. The result of this is Maryan.

Currently Maryan offers bespoke, fashionable and modest clothing for women, handmade by Fowzia herself. However, the business is looking to have designs manufactured due to the overwhelming demand. 

The Liverpool resident sat on the idea of self-employment for over a year, giving her time to do ‘lots of research and connections with individuals in the industry because it is vital to the success of your business.’

‘After years of watching my mother sewing, I discovered that I had unknowingly been absorbing those same skills when I started taking classes.’   

These natural skills, a supportive family and lots of market research made the journey into self-employment very smooth. Knowing her market inside out meant that she didn't encounter any barriers whilst starting up. Fowzia also received further support and advice from The Women’s Organisation to ensure that the journey was as smooth as possible, 

‘My business advisor was really helpful. She gave me so much information and it was all relevant to my business. I also sat on the courses, Business Planning, Tax & National Insurance, E-marketing and Basic Book Keeping, which were so easy to understand and made things simple.’

Almost a year on, Fowzia is really pleased with the progress her business has made and is excited for the coming year. She has already been part of a few fashion shows and at present is working on showcasing her latest designs online, as well as plans to do more work in London.

‘There is a very big Muslim community in Liverpool and they are very loyal customers of my business. I am really enjoying it, it’s so rewarding to do something you’re so passionate about.’

When asked what advice she would give to someone considering starting up their own business, Fowzia replied: ‘Go for it! Do plenty of research and make sure that you learn your market inside and out. I can’t tell you how much those months of research helped me.’

The mother of 3 one day hopes to expand her business and open up a shop here in Liverpool, and later on in London, where she already has an established customer base. For now she is working on a website to showcase her work for next year.

To find out more about Maryan, email Fowzia directly on fowzia_suleman@hotmail.com

And if you'd like to move forward with an idea you've been working on for a while or would like to know more, contact The Women's Organisation on 0151 706 8111 / hello@thewo.org.uk or visit www.thewomensorganisation.org.uk

By Beckie Kinsella

Bollyfit UK: Three Years On

Three years after starting her Bollyfitness business, Pooja Saini tells us how her first few years as a business woman have been and what she hopes for the years to come.

Photo: VGGVart

Bollyfitness is a Bollywood dance based work out, combining the artistic elements of Bollywood film dances with classical styles, designed to keep you fit.

Inspired by the dance moves seen in Bollywood movies and shows, Pooja has always been very passionate about dance. When unable to find a place that ran Bollywood dance classes, she saw the opportunity to do it for herself. She trained as a choreographer and fitness dance instructor, equipping her with the tools to move forward with her vision. She also received help from The Women’s Organisation in the initial stages of setting up her business.

‘The Women’s Organisation helped me to put a business plan together and allowed me to focus on my marketing and run a business.’

The mother of 3 began running the classes by herself, but the business has since expanded and is now offering Bollyfitness training and licences to instructors across the UK. 

‘I approached gyms across the country and took the criticism and positive feedback on board and worked on it. As it was a new business, I was in a learning process and there is still so much to learn.’

Bollyfitness now has 5 licenced Bollyfitness instructors, both independent and gym based, who Pooja has personally trained up. Anyone who attends a training workshop and passes the assessment will receive full brand training, choreography, music and a starter pack. So far, the licenced instructors include Francesca MacDuff-Varley, from BBC’s hit show The Apprentice.

‘I offer on-going support for all of my instructors who did pass the assessment, but also for the ones who didn’t. I plan to bring all of the instructors together and do a giant master class session to build the brand and offer further support where I can.’

For those who are interested but unsure on whether or not to start the training, Pooja runs regional master classes which allow those interested to find out everything about Bollyfitness first hand. It is also a great opportunity to meet other potential and current instructors, to ask for advice and share experiences.

‘I’m aware that Bollyfitness isn’t for everyone, so I designed these master classes as a taster to help instructors make an informed decision. I try to support new instructors as much as I can, by helping them find venues and giving them access to branding and merchandise.’

BollyFit UK is expanding every day and Pooja has now introduced 4 other areas to the company: Bollykids, Bollymoves, Bollyoga and Bollyhealth. The company is a sponsor and will be exhibiting at the MOVE IT 2014 dance event this year. You can pop along and try out the Bollyfitness master classes which will be running twice daily and learn more about the dance moves and props used in these unique classes.

On International Women’s Day 2013, Pooja attended a Business Club Networking event at The Women’s Organisation and left feeling inspired by the guest speakers. ‘I left thinking that I want to be one of those women presenting. Since then, I have done 6 presentations, including one at The Women’s Organisation.’

Along with growing her own role, Pooja has managed to expand her business whilst working full time in health research and raising a family. She explained: ‘It can be hard to balance both at times. I am a mum with 3 children so I have to be really organised. I have very good support from my family and husband, and it also helps that my job is flexible.’ Surprisingly, she is most relaxed when working on her business. ‘It is still my hobby and passion, I love what I do so for me that is relaxing.’

However, after feeling like she has taken on too many things at once, the Liverpool resident hopes to include all things under one umbrella, by including her business into her research. She plans to incorporate Bollyfitness into a government project to improve health and well-being in ethnic minority communities. For this she has received a £10,000 project grant from The Big Lottery Fund.

‘I want to use my own cultural identity and education to empower and educate others. I want to find out why Asian people in particular don’t come forward to get health treatment and take part in exercise activities on offer to them. Most of all, I want to do good through my work and make a difference to people’s health and well-being.’

If you are interested in taking part in Bollyfitness classes, or would like to know more about becoming a licenced instructor, visit http://www.bollyfituk.co.uk/ for more information. You can also contact Pooja directly on pooja.saini@bollyfituk.co.uk or 07946 169 335

And if you'd like to take your first steps into self-employment, contact The Women's Organisation on 0151 706 8111 / hello@thewo.org.uk or visit www.thewomensorganisation.org.uk for more information on the FREE business support, training and £200 grant available to women in Merseyside 

Ruth Marcella Brings Out The Beauty of Business With Orchid Blush

Starting in 2009, Ruth Marcella wanted to give clients the celebrity experience and since then her business has gone from strength to strength. Now with over 40 fully qualified and highly experienced freelance make-up artists and hair stylists, Orchid Blush is one of the leading providers of make-up and hair services in the North West.

Photo by VGGVART

Before becoming self-employed, Ruth studied Fashion Promotion then moved to the North West to start a family. She was working full time in merchandising when the idea of setting up a business came to her. ‘I wanted more flexibility as a mum, self-employment just made sense.’

The move into self-employment was quite an organic process for the mother of 3. Very few problems were encountered, ‘everything seemed to naturally fall into place.’ Originally a stylist, she later moved to make-up, as she realised that is what she was more passionate about.

‘I always enjoyed doing make up so I did a short course and went from there.’

Ruth looked for any business start-up support available and came across Train 2000, now The Women’s Organisation. She attended a range of courses including business planning, bookkeeping and understanding tax & national insurance to help her get Orchid Blush up and running.

Orchid Blush provides a mobile service for all occasions that will travel to any location in the North West. They also have a professional media team who specialise in commercial events such as television, red carpet and photo-shoots.

The business has attracted a number of high profile clients, including EMI Records, Sky 1, Kellogs, Honda, Channel 4, Peroni and Microsoft. Despite this, she still finds it surreal when a big client calls her up.

Ruth recently attended a series of EBEL master classes run by The Women’s Organisation, including ‘Using Linked in for business’ and ‘Marketing planning’. Although she has a background in marketing, she still found the courses very helpful and informative. She explained: ‘You have to appreciate the opportunities given to you on your journey, like courses and networking opportunities.’

For her, the best thing about being self-employed is that she enjoys her job. ‘I never dread going to work. I get to be creative and find the beauty on someone’s face, instead of putting a look on them. I really enjoy finding their look and seeing their reaction when they see how beautiful they are. I love giving people confidence, especially for special events like weddings.’

Another perk of being self-employed is having her own identity. ‘I feel fortunate to be able to be at home with my children, but then go to work and have an identity away from being a mother.’

Currently, Orchid Blush covers the whole of the North West but Ruth aims to expand the business in the future and break into the Midlands. With the business going strong and continuing to attract high profile clients, she hopes this will be sooner rather than later.

To see the amazing work Ruth and her team do, visit www.orchidblush.co.uk or contact them at info@orchidblushbeauty.co.uk  

You can also find Orchid Blush on Twitter: @OrchidBlush

And if like Ruth the flexibility and control of self-employment appeals to you, contact The Women’s Organisation on 0151 706 8111 or info@thewo.org.uk for free business start-up advice and support.

Business Psychologist and Coach Sarah Connell Proves That A Positive Attitude Can Be Life Changing

Sarah Connell is a Business Psychologist and Coach. In 2013 she founded MindingMe Psychologists with the support of The Women's Organisation.

After finishing her degree in Psychology, Sarah Connell was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) at the age of 22, a neurological condition affecting the nervous system.


















Before receiving the news, Sarah was considering doing a Masters degree and despite having doubts she decided that the condition was not going to get in her way. The following year she moved to Liverpool and completed her Master of Science (MSc) in Occupational Psychology.

At first her symptoms were limited, making it possible for her to take a full time consultancy job in Manchester. Unfortunately over the 5 years her symptoms progressed and although her employer was very supportive, Sarah began to question how much longer she could continue in full time employment.

‘My symptoms were getting worse and I was starting to feel anxious about the future. Would I be able to continue working in a full time job? One of the things it is important to ensure with MS is that you manage your symptoms by following a healthy lifestyle, which includes getting enough rest… I was finding it harder and that’s when I started to think about starting my own business.’

It was the flexibility that self-employment allows that appealed to her the most and although the idea was daunting, her friends and family were very supportive of the idea. However, she felt that she didn’t know where to start and needed more help.

By chance, the Liverpool resident came across a leaflet in LEAF on Bold Street about the services The Women’s Organisation can offer to women in Merseyside wanting to start up their own business.

‘It was scary at the start… It took me a long time to accept myself as a business woman. I felt like I needed to make more connections so contacted The Women’s Organisation. I thought that it looked exactly like the kind of thing I was looking for… They provided me with a business advisor who gave me lots of helpful advice. I also attended a number of helpful workshops about Tax and NI, marketing using a social media strategy etc.’

She continued: ‘At first I didn’t understand why a business plan was necessary but it helped to give me a structure, recognise and articulate my strengths and weaknesses and gave me a sense of being a proper business.’

Although Sarah considered her MS as a weakness at the start, she now feels that it has helped give her a different outlook on life…

‘Having a condition like MS is scary but I have overcome big barriers myself and that gives me the confidence to work with others doing the same thing. I am passionate about this and want to help other people to get the most out of their lives’

It was that confidence and optimism that allowed her to open MindingMe Psychologists as a Business Psychologist & Coach. Her unique selling point is that she has over 10 years’ experience working with high profile clients from the private, public and voluntary sectors, including NHS and Macmillan.

Sarah understands the psychology of coaching from a cognitive-behavioural perspective and applies a range of advanced coaching techniques to business, health, performance and life coaching. MindingMe offers clients an objective, supportive and non-judgemental way to help them overcome challenges and achieve their goals, which is completely tailored to the individual’s needs.

‘I work with people to help them reach their potential. I can help to improve their self-awareness, identify when their thinking is impacting on their performance and their ability to move forward in their lives, offering suggestions and strategies to help challenge any negative or unhelpful thinking.’

The most common issues MindingMe deal with include confidence building, overcoming procrastination, dealing with anxiety and stress, clarifying where people are going in their lives and their career.

The main message Sarah aims to get across is that ‘we are sometimes faced with big challenges in life that can feel overwhelming, but we don’t have to let them take over. We can take steps that will allow us to move forward in a positive way. People have the answers within themselves; I’m here to hold up a mirror to help find them.’

With these beliefs, MindingMe is currently going strong with a steady stream of clients and a very impressive 100% return rate. The long term aim is to grow the business further by opening up her own office and employing staff to help more people across Liverpool and the North West of England.

Sarah is a great example of what people can do when they work to keep a positive outlook and are open to the opportunities that arise from both positive and negative situations.


If you are looking to change an aspect of your life that you’re unhappy with, or would just like to find out more, you can visit http://www.mindingme.co.uk or contact Sarah directly at sarah@mindingme.co.uk or 07784 574 482.

And if you feel it's the right time to move forward with that idea you've had for a while, there is free support available from The Women's Organisation. Call 0151 706 8111 or email info@thewo.org.uk for more information.

By Beckie Kinsella