Liverpool businesswoman gets active with BollyFit

DANCER and choreographer Pooja Saini has brought a touch of Bollywood to Liverpool with her brand new business BollyFit.

The 31-year-old has been delivering BollyFit classes to schoolchildren and adults throughout the area and is delighted with how well her business has taken off.

“The programme is not just about losing weight” said mum-of-two Pooja, “it’s about keeping fit, improving stamina, endurance, strength and most importantly improving people’s physical and mental wellbeing.”

Pooja, who is experienced in many genres of dance including, ballet, jazz, salsa, ballroom, bhangra and bollywood - set up her business after the birth of her second child when she decided to just ‘go for it’.

She said: “I had thought about becoming self-employed for a while and after I had my second baby I decided it was the right time.

“The BollyFit classes have really taken off. I have been asked to conduct workshops in schools with Year Four pupils and taught them routines to Bollywood dances, which they loved. I have also been running my fitness classes at sports centres and gyms throughout the area and everyone who attends seems to really enjoy them and get a lot out of it.”

Pooja, who is a huge fan of Asian music, is also running BollyFit parties for children and adults which seem be a huge success.

“I really think they could take off” she said, “ The party involves dressing up with various Indian accessories, dancing and a performance at the end of the party.”

Aside from her passion for dance Pooja is also a trained psychologist, and is currently completing her PhD specialising in mental health. Long-term she plans to use dance to help people improve their mental well being.

“In the past I have done work with young people in secure units” she added “and I have seen firsthand how dance can be used as a tool to help them tackle their problems and work as a form of therapy.”

Pooja’s ultimate goal is to combine both her psychology and Fitness Dancer/Choreographer skills which are both about individuals’ well-being to develop dance therapy workshops.

Prior to starting up her business Pooja came along to The Women’s Organisation after she was referred by Business Link. She received free help and support and worked on a one-to-one basis with a business adviser to put her business plan together.

She said: “My adviser Huda was extremely helpful. She got me to think of all the aspects involved in running a business and she gave me some excellent advice.”

“I would certainly recommend The Women’s Organisation to other women who may be thinking about starting up their own businesses.”

Pooja said that as well as enjoying being her own boss, working for herself fits very well around bringing up a young family as her two children are currently aged just ten months and three years old.

Anyone who is interested in finding out more about Pooja’s BollyFit classes or BollyFit parties should contact her on 07946 169 335.

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

Train 2000 renamed 'The Women's Organisation'

As we head towards 2011 we would like to let you know that Train 2000 has changed its name to The Women’s Organisation.

We feel it captures what we do, who we are and everything that we stand for.

We also believe it is a perfect fit for our identity, values and ethos – as we continue to encourage and champion women’s economic development; influence policy and perception and pioneer new ideas.

As we move forward our continuing commitment centres around having a positive impact on women’s lives and we look forward to working with you as The Women’s Organisation.

To find out more or to get a copy of our new flyer email info@thewo.org.uk or call our usual number 0151 236 6601.

And, watch this space for our brand new website coming soon.

Stockport businesswoman launches new events company

ON November 28 this year mum-of-two and founder of RDA Events Anna Stocks will host ‘Mothers Instinct’ in Manchester – the latest of her hugely successful events which she has single-handedly pulled together.

“I am just so passionate about what I do” said 29-year-old Anna, who started the events business up earlier this year, “I love organising events, promoting them, getting people on board and turning an event into a real success.”

Stockport resident Anna, who also works as a part-time customer services manager got the idea to start up her own event management company when the recession hit.

She explained: “I pick a theme such as mothers instinct which is my forthcoming event and the entire event will be themed around everything for mums, babies and toddlers. I have got some leading companies coming along such as baby premier, kids unlimited, run of the mill, family magazine, Gulliver’s World and many more.

“Other event organisers charge a huge amount to exhibitors but I charge just a minimum fee to entice them along. And, because there is a recession and companies don’t want to pay huge amounts to exhibit they are happy to pay a smaller fee and it is an excellent way for them to promote their products. Although the price is very reasonable we never compromise the quality of the event or the amount of marketing undertaken.

“Visitors to the event can also enter free of charge. Mothers Instinct promises to be fantastic; I have got all areas covered; nurseries, photography, baby clothes, children’s entertainment, beauty; everything that could possibly be wanted by mums with young babies and toddlers.”

Anna has a degree in fashion marketing and has worked in the retail sector for more than ten years now – and is able to use these skills in her new venture.

And, for the New Year Anna is already planning her New Year New You event. Later in the year Anna will also be bringing Mothers Instinct to Liverpool in March and to the Wirral during June.

She added: “I have got so many ideas for future events, I am really driven and am thoroughly enjoying the challenges and opportunities that running my own business brings.”

Anna, who has two children aged three and six, says that running her own business allows her greater flexibility around being a mum. Once she had decided to become self-employed Anna set to by looking on the internet to see what business support would be available to her.

“I couldn’t believe it when I came across Train 2000” she added, “I didn’t know that there was organisation that provided free business advice to women, so when I saw it on the internet I made an appointment and went along to meet with an adviser.

“Mike was extremely helpful, he gave me lots of support and was extremely enthusiastic about my business idea and helping me to push my business forward.”

Anna received help and advice under Train 2000’s business support programme where she received one to one advice from a business adviser as well as help with putting her business plan together.

“I know it sounds a cliché but I really couldn’t have done with without Train 2000” said Anna.

Mothers Instinct takes place on Sunday November 28 at the Waterside Hotel, Didsbury in Manchester. Anyone who is interested is in finding out more should call Anna on 07791 070 457 or email annastocks@hotmail.co.uk

To find out more about RDA Events visit www.rdaevents.co.uk

And, if like Anna you are a woman from the Stockport area and area and are keen to start up your own business please call Train 2000 on 0161 833 8800 or visit www.train2000.org.uk

Liverpool businesswoman launches unique furniture collection

UPHOLSTERER and designer Kirsty Hull loves nothing more than to re-upholster and restore vintage chairs transforming them into something truly special – with this in mind she decided to start up her own business.

“I offer a bespoke service” said Kirsty, who recently founded Kirsty Hall Ltd, “all of my chairs are upholstered using traditional methods and materials, with tied springs and hand embroidered covers. This includes my ‘collection’ of repeatable designs and my ‘vintage’ collection of one off restorations.

“I also offer a full re-upholstery service and due to the traditional way I work, I can alter designs and fabrics to suit the needs of the customer.”

Kirsty has put a lot of time and dedication into developing her collection of handcrafted furniture and uses her unique creativity and craftsmanship combined with traditional methods of upholstery to produce her work.

“I am really pleased with the work I have produced so far,” added Kirsty, “I know I am producing unique pieces that will last a lifetime and I am delighted that I will be exhibiting at the Liverpool Design Festival this year, where I one of my vintage chairs is being offered as a prize to visitors. This will be a fantastic opportunity to gain further exposure for my work.”

Prior to starting up her own business 28-year-old Kirsty was working as a recruitment consultant and with bosses urging her to go for promotion she knew it was now or never to start up her own business.

Kirsty said: “I was working long hours in recruitment, but earning a good living from doing so. It reached the point where I was expected to further my career and as much as I enjoyed my job my heart wasn’t really in it, I knew I wanted to return to something more creative.

“I left my job, which was a big gamble, not knowing what my income would be. As soon as I decided I wanted to start the business I knew I had to do it ASAP, before I lost my nerve! I still can’t believe I took the risk but am so glad I did.”

Back in 2004 Kirsty graduated from the Glasgow School Art and went on to train in traditional upholstery with AMUSF, the Association of Masters of Upholsterers. It was always her intention to use the skills she had learned along with her natural creativity and it was this that spurred her on to start up her own business.

“I absolutely love what I do now” says Kirsty, “and I have been very lucky to have a supportive partner and family. I feel fulfilled now that I am doing something I really wanted to do and already I have been asked to complete some really interesting pieces of work including re-upholstering and restoring a 200 year old day bed.

“It’s amazing to be able to take an old piece of furniture and completely transform it so that it fits in with contemporary design. I live in a very modern apartment but have a vintage dinning table and odd, oak and mahogany chairs all upholstered in different vibrant fabrics, the contrast with the contemporary building looks fantastic.

“My work is quite unusual and it is starting to get noticed, I’m hoping that more people will hear about what I do through word of mouth and showing at exhibitions like Liverpool Design Festival.”

Once she had decided to start up her own business Kirsty came along to Train 2000 after finding the organisation online. Kirsty accessed free help and advice under the business start up programme.

She said: “Train 2000 was fantastic, I came away £500 better off after receiving the Liverpool Vision grant. Huda, my adviser was extremely helpful and she looked at all areas of my business plan with me.

“I also attended a number of the one day courses on offer and they proved to be very useful. It’s daunting striking out on your own but the support offered by these courses can really improve your knowledge and confidence, filling in the gaps around tax, accounting, PR etc. and making your ideas achievable.”

To find out more about the unique, creative work of Kirsty Hull you can visit her website at www.kirstyhull.co.uk or email info@kirstyhull.co.uk

And, if you’re a woman in the Merseyside area and are interested in starting up your own business call Train 2000 on 0151 236 6601 or visit www.train2000.org.uk

Anfield businesswoman launches 'Off Your Cake'

FORMER Bank worker Rhonda Carney had always wanted to start up her own business and at 47-years-old she decided ‘it was now or never’ and that’s when she set up Off Your Cake.

Now, the Anfield resident has opened up her very own bespoke cake shop on County Road offering delicious and original cakes which she lovingly creates and designs herself.

"I have always wanted to work for myself" said Rhonda, "I have always had a flair for making cakes but it has only ever really been a hobby. It got to the point in my career where I thought if I am really going to do this, I need to do it now and that’s exactly what I did."

She added: “My instinct was to hand in my notice at the bank and live the dream.”
Rhonda, who is mum to her four children, opened the shop up in July and she says that already business is doing extremely well.

She said: “I will design something completely unique for my customers or they can chose from an extensive one off range.

"I specialise in caricatures, so if a bride and groom give me a photograph I will do a caricature of them on their wedding cake.

Rhonda continued: “It’s great to be given artistic licence and to let my imagination run wild. I have been asked for all kinds of designs including a giant fish, the statue of liberty, toy story cake and many more.

“My flavours are extensive too. I pride myself on the home baked cake, everything is prepared fresh on my premises.”

Prior to starting up the business Rhonda worked as a Customer Relations Manager at Barclays Bank. She gave up her job in March this year then came along to Train 2000 where she received help and support in starting her business up, under the business start-up programme.

"The support I received from Train 2000 really did help me" said Rhonda, "it was really useful to have some one to sit down with to put my business plan together and to know that I always had somewhere to turn to if there were any questions I needed answering."

Rhonda also received a business start up grant from local enterprise initiative Step Clever which supports residents in six wards across South Sefton and North Liverpool.

She added: "I was so pleased to receive a start up grant from Step Clever. It really helped with my initial business start up costs and made a massive difference to me."

"I love working for myself" said Rhonda, "I really enjoy what I do now and I look forward to going to work. Being self-employed is definitely a challenge as you have to run all aspects of the business, but I will never look back."

To find out more about Rhonda’s cakes you can either drop into Off Your Cake at 180 County Road, Walton or visit her website at www.offyourcake.com

And, if like Rhonda, you are interested in starting up your own business then please call Train 2000 on 0151 236 6601 or visit www.train2000.org.uk

Business is booming for female plasterer Stephanie

WHEN single mum Stephanie Kilshaw was made redundant last December the search for a new job became almost impossible – so after four months of unemployment she decided it was time to take a new approach.

And that’s when she took the decision to start up her own business – as a plasterer.
“I had always worked in an office environment within Human Resources” said 34-year-old Stephanie, “but when I was made unemployed and couldn’t find a new job I decided to turn my hand to plastering and set up my business The Pink Plasterer.

“I love plastering and have plastered for friends and family in the past, so I decided to give it a go. I went along to the DIY School in Stockport which supports women doing careers like; plastering, tiling and decorating and I gained the qualifications I needed to run alongside my experience.”

Then Stephanie came along to Train 2000 where she received free help and advice under the business start-up programme, which included one-to-one support in putting her business plan together and the opportunity to attend a series of one day workshops.

“I honestly could not have done this without Train 2000” said Stephanie, who is from West Derby, “It felt very daunting going into a male dominated area as a plaster and I didn’t know if I was doing the right thing. But the staff at Train 2000, were so encouraging and made me believe in myself and that I could make it work.

“I had never done a business plan before and the help I got was just brilliant. I have been on a couple of courses including the tax and national insurances ones and they have made me feel so much more confident about the financial side of running my business. Train 2000 was fantastic and I would certainly recommend it to other women.”

And, since starting up the business Stephanie has literally been inundated with work and is currently working a six-day week to keep up with demand. She has even taken on a labourer and plans to increase her workforce over the forthcoming months.

She said: “The fact that I am a woman is really working in my favour. A lot of my customers are the over 60’s who say they feel happier having a woman in the house and they think I will be tidier than a man! A lot of builders are also using me to do their plastering because they believe women are more meticulous.”

Stephanie says that when she first started up the business a lot of her friends were amused by the fact that she was a female plasterer and that men in particular would joke about her line of work – but she says that once they had seen her plastering they joked no more!

Stephanie, who is mum to her four-year-old daughter Meg, added: “I absolutely love what I do, being self-employed is great and I can’t ever see myself working for anyone else again. And, being a mum, it means that I can manage my work around my little girl.”

Over the next three years Stephanie has plans to develop a Merseyside-wide women’s DIY service and is looking to take on women in other areas such as painting and decorating, tiling and much more.

“I really think there is a call for this kind of service” said Stephanie, “I have seen how popular my plastering work is and the response I get to adverts because I say I am a female plasterer is astounding. I definitely plan to build the business up further – and although it was hard at the time, I’m now glad I was made redundant otherwise I may never have had the chance to do what I’m doing now. Every day I look forward to going to work and I really love what I do.”

If you would like to speak to Stephanie or to get a quote for some plastering work please call her on 07861 702 463 or email thepinkplasterer@gmail.com

And, if you’re a woman from the Merseyside or Greater Manchester area and are interested in starting up your own business please call Train 2000 on 0151 236 6601 or visit www.train2000.org.uk

Recruitment success for Stockport businesswoman

WHEN the firm Lyndsey Meredith was working for underwent a huge restructure it was just a matter of time before she took the steps to become her own boss and now she says ‘there is no going back.’

At 26-years-old the Sociology graduate, who now runs her own recruitment consultancy, Meredith Consultancy Services is delighted with her new venture which she officially launched on 1st June, making substantial profits in just her first month.

“I am very focussed and keen to do well” said Lyndsey, who formally worked as a branch manager for Reed, “already I am in-undated with clients looking for work and have got a lot of businesses on my books.”

Having worked in Stockport since graduating from Manchester University Lyndsey has already built up good contacts in the area which she says is helping immensely with her new business.

She now offers her recruitment consultancy services throughout Stockport, Cheshire and the North West, across numerous sectors such as HR, accounts, administration, IT and many more.

She said; “Previously I worked as a branch manager and was managing a team of seven. Now that I run my own business I get to do all aspects of the job including management and recruitment. I am thoroughly enjoying being my own boss and can’t ever imagine returning to employment again.”

After leaving Reed following a restructure of the organisation, Lyndsey moved on to work for a small recruitment agency in Salford Quays – but left in April this year to start up her own business.

“It’s been a busy few months” said Lyndsey, “I left my job in April and then got married in May and went on my honeymoon. Since then I have been doing everything to make a success of my business including advertising, cold calling, sales and the hard work has really paid off.”

Prior to starting up her business Lyndsey came along to Train 2000 after a former colleague, who had also become self-employed, recommended the organisation to her.

Lyndsey received free help and advice from Train 2000 under the business start-up programme.

“Train 2000 really was a great help to me” said Lyndsey, “although I had previously put together business plans in my jobs, I had a lot of questions about the financial side of running my own business and my adviser really helped me with this.

“I also went on the Tax and NI course which Train 2000 runs and this really did teach me a lot.”

Lyndsey says it is nice to know that there is always somewhere to turn if she needs a question answering and she has also attended a number of networking events with Train 2000.

Lyndsey has great plans to move her business forward and by the end of the year hopes to take on two new members of staff.

If you would like to find out more about Meredith Consultancy Services please email Lyndsey at enquiries@meredithcs.co.uk or visit her website at www.meredithcs.co.uk

And, if you are interested in finding out more about the free business support services being offered to women in the Stockport area please visit www.train2000.org.uk