Mentoring support from Enterprise Hub 'absolutely brilliant' for Natalie Holden Interiors.

 

 

This week we caught up with Natalie, founder of Natalie Holden Interiors, who says that the help of Enterprise Hub gave her the support she needed to grow her interior design business.

 Hi Natalie – what is your business all about?

Hi – we are Natalie Holden Interiors, and we are an interior design company, working on both residential and commercial projects including, show homes, full house renovations, house extensions, holiday homes and Airbnb's, boutique hotels, retail, cafés and restaurants. Our mission is to help our clients create authentic spaces that they feel proud of, enjoy spending time in and reflect their personality or brand.

What did you do prior to setting up your own business?

I worked for a couple of other companies for a number of years gaining varied experience on both commercial and high-end residential projects. It was invaluable and allowed me to develop a wider skillset that is essential to be both a great designer and business owner.

 

What made you decide to set up in business and choose the type of business you run?

I wanted to make a change in the industry and to be able to showcase how interior design can benefit people’s lives on a deeper level. I believe interior design should not just be about creating a fancy space to impress others. A well-designed space can be of real value to our lives; to inspire us, reduce stress, increase sales, increase ROI, improve our health and wellbeing, create community, keep us motivated and productive and it can even save us money amongst many other things.

Where is your business based?

We work on projects across the entire North West; mainly on the Wirral, Manchester and Cheshire. It’s great because it keeps the job interesting!

Once you had decided you wanted to set up a business, what steps did you take to get the ball rolling and how did you feel?

I started my business on the side of my full-time job working on a few show home design and styling projects. After gaining lots of contacts in the property industry I decided to take the plunge as I thought it was either now or never. I felt a complete mixture of emotions when I first handed in my notice; I felt completely empowered and excited to be able to fully focus on my dream, but I was also slightly terrified of not knowing where my money was going to come from each month!

What is unique about your business?

We’re making a conscious effort to source more sustainably, and we have a design approach that prioritises wellbeing just as much as form and function. The pandemic and what we have gone through over the past 12 months has only amplified this.

Did you face any barriers to starting up, or did you find any aspects of it particularly daunting?

The hardest thing about setting up my own business was the loneliness of running something by myself initially and the pressure of having to spin so many plates. Luckily, I was very organised and had a strong business development plan which helped me transition into getting regular work quite quickly.

What different roles do you juggle around running your business, and how do you manage that?

I currently don’t have any children which makes things so much easier, but I do have a fur baby (a chocolate cockapoo called Theo who turned 5 this year). He is the best dog ever and keeps my spirits high. He helps me to maintain more of a work life balance by reminding me when it’s time for walkies!

Did you train at any local colleges or Universities?

I studied at Liverpool John Moore’s University and graduated in 2010 with a First Class Honours Degree in Interior Design. We are currently now on their internship programme hosting an intern for a month!

What support did you receive from Enterprise Hub programme?

I attended the start-up business workshops on offer and had one on one appointments with a business mentor. It was absolutely brilliant and helped me to stay informed and on track.

How are things going so far with your business, and how has it grown since you worked with Enterprise Hub?

I launched the business three years ago and things have gone from strength to strength. We now have a small team and are undergoing an exciting re-brand and website update which will be launching very soon.

What is the best thing about running your own business?

I love that I have full control over my day and have the flexibility to adapt to client’s needs without having to get approval from anyone else. My business doesn’t feel like work to me – it's more of a passion project and my aim is for that feeling to shine through to the client’s we work with, so that they get just as excited as us on the projects we work on together.

If a friend of yours was looking to set up their own business, based on your experiences and the things you have learned, what advice would you give them?

I would say be prepared to work hard as you have to invest a lot of time and energy at first, so it’s really important to look after yourself. Running a business is exciting but it doesn’t come easy, and it can often feel like you are on an emotional rollercoaster day in day out for a period of time. It’s so important to have a good support network around you during this process.

What advice would you give someone looking to grow their business from your experience?

I’d definitely recommend finding a business coach or mentor! Having someone to give me business advice, encouragement, and to act as a sounding board to bounce ideas off has been the most helpful thing for me to push my business forward.

How do you feel about what you have achieved so far?

I feel really proud of myself because I didn’t much confidence when I was younger. As a young woman, I didn’t think I’d be capable of running my own business or think I'd be taken seriously. I actually believed that everyone I knew would just laugh the moment I told them. Luckily times are changing and women have just as must encouragement and support to start their own business’ as men.

 

How many people do you employ?

I now have 1 employee working 3 days a week and a couple of freelancers that work ad hoc.

 

What lessons have you learned or interesting highlights have there been in your journey.

I've learnt that listening is one of the most important skills to have when creating a design for a client. You can be a great designer, but if you don’t listen and understand the brief, it’ll get you nowhere!

 

Is there anything else you would like to add about yourself, your journey, your business and your future plans?

 I’m mixed race; half Chinese and half English and it was quite a challenge growing up being in a minority group that didn’t really fit into any boxes. I always felt like the odd one out and embarrassed about my heritage, so I never wanted to draw attention to myself in case I was teased. I also used to be really shy and quiet in school and struggled with social anxiety! Starting my own business was quite a big achievement for me because of this, as I had no role models in similar circumstances. I hope that I can be a role model for any women who feel out of place or not confident enough to achieve their goals and show that it is possible!

 How can someone find out more about your business or get in touch?

Our website is www.natalieholden.com and my email is info@natalieholden.com - we offer a free initial consultation to find out how we can help with a project.

Follow us on Instagram for behind the scenes @n_h_interiors

 

Open Letter: I left my first meeting with a clear set of actions...

Mikaela Kind started her own business - The Unwaste after redundancy, and with help from The Women's Organisation has never looked back! Read her open letter below to see how we can support you.

Mikaela King, Founder of The Unwaste

I found myself at a career junction when a redundancy opportunity came along having worked at a major retailer for over 20 years -all of my working life. I was really confused and unsure about what my next chapter would look like but I knew one thing for sure, I was enjoying seeing life through a different lens and I wanted to explore what a different work life could look like. 

The Unwaste business model just popped into my head and I mentioned it to a few people and one friend suggested contacting the Women's Organisation for help and advice. I’d always been a massive advocate of anything that helps give women a leg up in the male dominated world of business, so I got in touch without hesitation.   

I had no confidence in my own ability to start a business let alone the business idea itself. I warmed to Jacqueline from the minute we met, she made me feel welcomed, supported and listened to. I left with a clear set of actions to help me figure out how I was going to make this work. And here I am now with my business launched, orders have started to come in and I’ve got a clear plan on what I need to do to keep building my business. 

Having Jacqueline to support, motivate and guide me was invaluable. When I had a wobble in my self confidence, when I hit a brick wall, when I didn’t know what I was doing, when I lacked motivation, Jacqueline helped pick me up, show me the way and offered advice, contacts and ideas to get me back on track and keep momentum going. The training sessions were excellent at helping to ease you into being a business owner without startling you with information overload. The trainers were delightful and the courses enjoyable, plus it was a great opportunity to meet other people in the same boat and to share ideas and help each other. 

There were several moments over the last few months where I was ready to throw in the towel, I was ready to give up because it just felt too hard but knowing I had not just Jacqueline, but the entire Women’s Organisation there to fall back on, made it seem okay to carry on… so I did and I’m so glad and so grateful and would highly recommend them to anybody who is thinking of starting up their own business.

Mikaela King

The Unwaste

For more information about the support available to help start or grow your new business through Enterprise Hub, please contact 0151 706 8113 or enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk.

Open letter: From when I first registered until now the ease of access to the support has been brilliant...

Leanne Cretney has recently taken over Beer EnGin Micro pub and is working with The Women's Organisation to build her entrepreneurial skills to grow the business. She wrote an open letter about the support she had received to help her on her journey...

Leanne Cretney recently took over Beer EnGin Micro-Pub

Since starting my business journey, the business advisors have been so supportive, very knowledgeable and the advice has been invaluable to me. Nothing is too much trouble and everything i've asked has always been answered. The support provided when completing my business plan was immense and thanks to the input, my start-up loan was approved straightaway due to having an excellent business plan.

The courses provided by The Women's Organisation have been brilliant, very well organised and full of really useful information. They are practical and the tools provided set you up to run your own business, this takes away a lot of  the stress when setting up to be self-employed. All of the facilitators have been very knowledgeable and run the sessions in such a relaxed way, you learn more as they encourage discussion and debate. It has been a great opportunity to network and support other new business owners. 

When the COVID-19 crisis hit all scheduled course moved to Zoom so we could still learn and keep in touch. You personally sent me all the links to the Government support for small businesses so I was fully informed. 

All of the admin team make sure they respond to your query in a timely manner and signpost you to the right person.

The support you provide as an organisation is not only technical and practical but you go over and above to ensure the well being of your clients I can't thank you enough for everything.

Leanne Cretney

Beer EnGin Micro-Pub

For more information about the support available to help start or grow your new business through Enterprise Hub, please contact  enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk.

Natalie Reeves-Billing: Author to Social Entrepreneur with help from Enterprise Hub

Starting a business in an unfamiliar industry can be a tough step to take. It might feel like a risk to begin with, but many entrepreneurs have come out on the other side shining.

Author and founder of Split Perspectivz – Natalie Reeves-Billing has just released her debut children’s book ‘My Mummy Is A Monster’, the first in the series of her Monstrous Me collection. With books published on Amazon, her online store and a following of over 27,000 people on social media, you might find it hard to believe that just a couple of years ago she was a newbie to the industry. 

Natalie Reeves-Billing

A jack of all trades – Natalie began her career as the lead singer of a signed touring band before moving on to run an electronics and textiles recycling plant. She also spent her time working on a slew of projects that got her entrepreneurial cogs turning. 

Her light bulb moment came when she realised there was one part of those projects she loved doing.

She told us: “I had many projects on the go, from developing soundtracks to creating new bands. I finally had a revelation when I realised it was the writing part of it, I loved, coming up with ideas and the creativity – that really charged me up”

She began her journey into Children’s writing after having her two children – and although she had been a songwriter and poet for many years, she still felt like she had a lot to learn about children’s publishing.

Struggling with structure and planning, she decided it was time to seek out business support to push herself further.

Approaching the Business Clinic at Liverpool Central Library, Natalie had the opportunity to present her Bubs book collection, a series about furry creatures with magic powers, who help children learn how to read. There she met Ali McGrath from The Women’s Organisation.

Natalie told us: “As soon as I met Ali, I knew I was in safe hands. Before discovering The Women’s Organisation, I was still trying to find my feet in a new industry”

Working with The Women’s Organisation, she was able to make huge leaps in her self-confidence as a new author by formulating long term goals and asking the right questions to the right people.

Natalie explains that by having her business advisor, Ali, to meet up with, she was able to build connections through a network of new people. 

She said: “I like the informal manner of conversation and advice. I feel like you are spending time with a wise friend. That dynamic allowed me to open up and admit my vulnerabilities, revealing the weak spots in my business model

“I found the sessions on SMART very useful and have recently applied it to a PR company I engaged with to do some work on my behalf. It meant that at briefings, I was asking the right questions and setting joint monthly goals”

Together with the programme of support from the The Women’s Organisation and Writing on the Wall, Natalie has gone on to debut her first children’s book and start a new social enterprise with an aim to provide free, enriched education.

“Split Perspectivz will use storytelling as a tool for healing and growth, and empower youngsters by discovering who they really are, through story.

I decided to set up a social enterprise after speaking to a dear friend who is also a social entrepreneur, I realised this was my way of giving back – I wanted to make a real difference”

In the future, Natalie hopes to visit schools in Merseyside to deliver workshops on creativity, emotional wellbeing, and literacy.

“Having this pause has allowed me to take stock of the advice I have been given, and to start putting them together into solid plans and strategies. The team at Women’s Organisation have been a great help to me at this challenging time.

The Monstrous Me Collection is now available on on Amazon or through Natalie's online store. 

Facebook: /natalieRbillingauthor

Twitter: /billingReeves Instagram: /natalie_reeves_billing

For more information about the support available to help start or grow your new business through Enterprise Hub, please contact enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk.

Laura’s Business Soars To New Heights

With a Biomedical Science Degree and a background in retail, Laura’s career path was hurtling in a particular direction with her future already mapped out for her. However, sometimes life throws us a curveball and after facing a series of health issues, Laura was given the opportunity to re-evaluate her life and question the direction it was currently taking her.

It was during one of these periods of recovery that Laura decided to take stock and make sure that she was going to live her best life, be the mistress of her own destiny and spend time doing something that she enjoyed. This was the starting point for her new business ‘A Little Pop of Sparkle’.

Being a naturally creative person, Laura had always enjoyed making trinkets and decorations for friends’ birthdays and family occasions. She even created all of her own decorations and favours for her own wedding, wowing guests with her creativity and imaginative designs.

When a chance meeting gave Laura the opportunity to buy a friend’s balloon stock off her, her business burst into life and before long she was offering everything ‘balloon’ – from backdrops to clusters, towers to garlands. She’d finally found her niche product and was ready to fly!

So what words of wisdom would Laura have for anyone wanting to start their own business?

 “You’ve got to do something that you enjoy and have a passion for, and you have to be willing to learn and accept that you won’t know everything”. She added that coming on the Enterprise Hub programme “built up my confidence in my product and in myself. The workshops were an excellent source of information and the one-to-one sessions really homed in on specific things that I needed – like tailor-made spreadsheets and appreciating the need to cost my time!”

So what does the future hold for A Little Pop of Sparkle? Since coming on the Enterprise Hub programme, Laura has gained a contract at the popular Birkenhead venue The Lauries, where she now supplies all the balloon decorations for their events and parties.  Her private bookings for weddings, parties and baby showers continue to thrive and she has aspirations to expand into the corporate scene in the near future.

Laura adds, “A few months ago, if I had a flurry of bookings, I used to bribe my mum with a McDonald’s breakfast to get her to help me out, but if things carry on the way they are, I’ll have to think about taking on extra staff!”

For more information on Laura’s business, you can follow ‘A Little Pop of Sparkle’ on Facebook and Instagram, or contact Laura directly on: alittlepopofsparkle@hotmail.com

Originally posted by Wirral Chamber of Commerce: http://www.wirralchamber.co.uk/Press-and-PR/News/Lauras-Business-Soars-To-New-Heights/

 

Jeane sets her designs on tackling pickpocketing

After becoming victim of pickpocketing while away on holiday, Jeane Melbourne is on “mission invisible” to combat the crime through her innovative new clothing line. Jeane designs and sells anti-digital pickpocket clothing online, specifically designed to combat the problem when visiting large cities.

Wanting to find out how to take her new business, Tarsius Creations Ltd, to the next level, Jeane joined us for our ‘Boost Your New Business’ course. We caught up with her to find out more about the business and how things have changed since we last saw her…

  

If you’ve been on a city break recently, then you will may have been wary of watching your personal belongings when moving through the hustle and bustle of busy streets. Sound familiar?

Entrepreneur Jeane Melbourne has developed a solution to this growing problem with her unique clothing range. Her answer comes in the form of invisible pockets with multi-layers of security. This means that that it is impossible to access the pocket from one side and two hands are needed to access the secure inner pouch. Creating a handy, safe-space to keep your money, credit card or mobile phone.

That’s not all.

Jeane explains that as technology advances, more and more pickpocketing crime is becoming electronic. The digital thief can easily steal private data from unsuspecting passers-by, simply by carrying a Near Filed Communication (NFC) device to transmit data from mobile phones, credit cards, biometric passports or any ID embedded with microchips.

During her time working for a surveillance and ground recognition company in Luxembourg, Jeane developed a knowledge in radio frequency technology – she had an ‘eureka’ moment. Why not combine a Radio Frequency ID (RFID) blocker with her designs? This meant that Jeane was able to develop a fully anti-digital pickpocket range, tackling electronic pick pocketers too.

Never before seen on the market, Jeane tells us where it all began: “I spotted a gap in the market when I became a victim of pickpocketing in Paris. On the same trip I saw another victim who was sitting right in front of me on the train - it happened in just seconds. Loosing your passport, wallet or mobile phone can be very stressful, especially if you’re in a country where you don’t speak the language.

“Since then, I became obsessed in finding anti-pickpocket clothing, but I couldn’t find any on the high street or online. I saw some in the USA, but none in the UK or Europe, and in all of the designs I found the pockets were still visible. None of these satisfied me so I asked myself, ‘why not make this a business and fill the gap in the market?’.”

Wanting to turn her idea into a reality, Jeane first came to Enterprise Hub back in January 2017. Working with our business advisor, Francine Taylor, Jeane was able to explore her idea and get Tarsius Creations Ltd ready to launch. Taking full advantage of the courses and training on offer, Jeane received support with her business planning, bookkeeping and understanding tax and national insurance.

She says: “I contacted The Women’s Organisation as I had known about them for a while and thought they will put me in the right direction, and they did! All those steps really helped me to move forward with my business.”

One year on and Jeane decided it was time to see what further support was available to her. Keen to take her business to the next level, jean came on Boost Your New Business two-day programme.

Talking about her experience with Enterprise Hub, through The Women’s Organisation, Jeane said: “I’m so thankful and feel blessed to have the support of The Women’s Organisation. I’ve been able to attend, 1-2-1 meetings, courses and workshops which I’ve applied to every aspect of my business.

“Boost Your New Business was a very useful programme. My trainer Bernie was very professional, energic and positive. I came away with areas to improve, especially around developing my marketing strategy. I’m now reviewing some of my content and building up my social media platforms.

“Their slogan that “when a woman is empowered, women are empowered” it truly reflects their work and dedication to supporting women.”

Jeane explains that finding the Enterprise Hub was the push she needed to follow her business dreams.

“I had been wanting to explore the business for some time, but I have been suffering with severe back pain and neck pain. When it flares it can be really painful, which created doubts in my mind about whether I could do it. My positive mental attitude made me challenge myself and channel it in a positive way. I asked myself ‘can I do this?’ and I said loudly ‘YES I CAN’. As the old adage says, ‘where there is a will there is a way’ and here I am today making it possible.”

Now with plans in the pipeline for a Liverpool city range and her sights set on collaboration, we’re sure we’ll be seeing more of Jeane and her creations.

To find out more about Tarsius Creation, you can contact info@mission-invisible.co.uk or visit www.mission-invisible.co.uk. You can also find them on Facebook.

If you’ve been inspired by Jeane’s story and would like to see how Enterprise Hub can help you boost your new business, then get in touch with us. Email hello@thewo.org.uk or ring us on 0151 706 8111.

"I Am Now a Business-Owner Running My Own Editorial Business" - The Only Way Is Up For Catharine!

Having left her teaching job due to illness in 2011, Catharine was more or less unemployed for 7 years and feeling unable to access the support she really needed to pursue her business dream. And that's where Better Off Finance and Enterprise Hub came in ..  

Catharine joined the Better Off Finance programme, which supports people to improve their financial capability and prepare and progress into sustainable employment, or access training opportunities. Regaining control of her personal finances, Catharine felt empowered to begin thinking about employment opportunities and the next step forward.

Contacting The Women's Organisation, Catharine said: “I had a couple of business ideas but didn’t know where to start. My adviser helped me to see that I have skills that can be utilised in a home business and gave me confidence to know that I could do it. She was fantastic at explaining the nuts and bolts of how to start a business and how to market yourself on social media.”

Coming out of the other side, she is now an editor and proof-reader able to bring written work to publishing standard. She has edited documents for a variety of academic journals and textbooks and written several educational textbooks for children learning English; “I am now a business-owner running my own editorial business from home – Enterprise Hub has allowed me to achieve this in less than a year”. The biggest mark of success for Catharine is that she will now be able to buy her own house, a dream she had once given up on when claiming benefits.

To read more of Catharine's story, head to The Women's Organisation blog. If you’d like to find out more about Catharine Ramage Editorial, head to her website or Facebook.

If you’d like to find out more about Better Off Finance or Enterprise Hub, contact us on 0151 706 8111 and speak to a member of our Engagement Team.

Key Takeaways from Last Week's Business Start up Conference

Enterprise Hub Partner The Women's Organisation played host to this month's Enterprise Hub Business start-up Conference, providing opportunity for men and women thinking of starting a business to understand what is involved.  

Joanne & Sara with event host Bernie Cox (in the centre)

Two brilliant businesses joined us at the event to share their stories and Bernie Cox Training Coordinator at The Women's Organisation hosted the evening. 

Sara, Joanne & Anna Preparing to Speak

Engaging double act Joanne and Sara from children's hair salon Ava and Harrison were first to share their story.  Quite new in the world of business, Sara told us that things are going so well that ""By the end of week one we had to employ someone else. Our second week, another staff members.  Our estimate for week twelve is that we will be up to a team of 7". 

But how did they go from idea to thriving business in such a short space of time?  Here are some key takeaways from their talk

• Social Media is Key - Joanne told us how getting their page up on facebook has been a godsend as the second they put their shop sign up, a local mum took a photo which was shared on a 5,000+ member strong facebook group of mums saying how excited she was to 
• Involve Your Client Group in the Branding Process - Naming their business after Sara's daughter and Joanne's nephew is a great story that appeals to their customer base.  Sara recounted though how her daughter Ava was key in the design process. Joanne ran all design ideas past Ava to ensure they had a child's eye view on it.
• Follow Your Dream - Having talked about their idea for a few years it was Joanne who started the catalyst for change by quitting her previous job.  While waiting to push the new business forward Joanne had started offering mobile hair and beauty, but remembers she questioned "What am I doing? Why am I delaying this? We just need to get that business open". Now they have Sara and Joanne have no regrets seeing how quickly it has all come together
• Get advice - Joanne and Sara managed to access start-up loans to get their business off the ground, but realise without the right advice they may not have known that this fund was available, wouldn't have had their business plan completed and wouldn't have had a supportive person to bounce their ideas around location and strategy off. 

Next up was the impressive young Anna Slater of Northwest Linen.  Having started her business thanks to investment through Merseyside Special Investment Fund and her family, Anna's story reads almost the complete opposite to that of Ava and Harrison.  Diving in without much advice Anna picked up a business she had watched her father run successfully back when she was 8 years old motivated by "Feeling out of control" of her own destiny. 

Anna's starting point was renting a laundry in the evening while still working in education and relying on her father to drive her around her first customer's 3 locations. Anna reflected that "It hasn't been easy" but she has achieved her core objective of once again feeling in control of her destiny.  Key takeaways from Anna's story included

• Choose a marketing strategy that works for your business - Anna confessed she barely does any marketing for her business.  While she felt compelled to put her business on facebook, in hindsight she realised her core customer base of large hotel chains or restaurants are unlikely to be browsing facebook when choosing their linen service supplier. Anna has instead grown her business through recommendation from clients, but has achieved this through a personalised customer care strategy which has essentially been her core marketing tool.  Beyond that Anna's marketing investment has been using Google Adwords to ensure when those who don't know her business are searching online, her business comes top of Google search. This shows that marketing strategy that works for one business doesn't necessarily work for another, so you need to consider your customer. 
• Pace Your Growth - While Anna grew her staff team to 15 and expanded her customer base to make her business a high growth enterprise, Anna's strategy has been very measured.  It was as she was growing that she came across The Women's Organisation and took advice.  Anna recognises that at this point she is in a position where she could take on more and more contracts, however her current strategy is one of "consolidation". Anna advised that sometimes you can grow too fast and lose control of the business, so it is important to take some moments to step back and get everything you are already doing well fully consolidated before taking on more and potentially spinning out of control.
• Know Your Why - Anna told us that when deciding on what business to open she asked herself what she wanted from the experience. "Do I want to be a millionaire? No - Good because this wouldn't be the right industry for that. Do I want to be proud of what I do? Yes - and I can honestly say that I am".  It is important to understand what your end goal is and to evaluate whether that business you are thinking of will help you reach that goal. And think about how to achieve that.  Anna has achieved her goal through choosing an industry that is a family tradition, through building in good customer care strategies, and through carefully evaluating who the people are that will help make that happen. 

From the key points above you can get a flavour for what an inspiring and informative evening we enjoyed.  But you don't need to take our word for it! Here are some of the comments from those attending saying what they thought:

"Presentations were inspirational. Well presented and useful. Thank You."
"Really enjoyed it! Fantastic. Very motivational.  I hope to set up a business now, maybe 2 or 3."
"Great conference and found it very rewarding."
"The energy of the staff and the building were very positive."
"Very informative"
"Really well organised, excellent leader in Bernie, her advice, ethusiasm and honesty."
"Very inspiring guest speakers"
"So glad I came, many thanks."
"Inspirational speakers, Excellent event!"

If you missed out, but are looking for business advice you can contact the Enterprise Hub team on 0151 706 8113 to find out more about the free support available to Liverpool City Region residents through our European Regional Development Fund supported project. 

Hop over to our facebook page too to keep up with latest events on offer. 

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 Enterprise Hub.

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.

When asking Katie what she did to get the ball rolling on her new venture, she said: “Honestly, I did all the wrong things. I left my job as soon as I decided I wanted to set up on my own and then started from scratch building up relationships with agencies, attending networking meetings and using all the connections I had to build my business.

“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!”

Katie also makes it clear that being savvy with your income is essential when starting out in business: “I dropped lucky with some guaranteed copywriting work for a Chester agency - two days a week producing blogs/news stories for websites - but when this fizzled out early this year I struggled to get enough work to keep me afloat. Finding new clients is a slow process, and although for each job I’ve done I’ve had really good client endorsements, I don’t yet have enough work to sustain me so I supplement by income by being a background artist on Hollyoaks.

“The financial side of the business was the most daunting for me, having never been self-employed before, so the support of The Women’s Organisation, with training and meetings with a business advisor has been really useful.” 

With this in mind, Enterprise Hub was able to offer Katie tailored support to give her the skills to manage her cash flow effectively.

And it’s safe to say that Katie hasn’t looked backed since: “I’m really proud of what I have achieved so far and who knows what the future might bring. I love the fact that I’m getting to meet lots of new people and am really enjoying the work that I do. Getting positive comments from clients makes it all worthwhile and I get a little bit too excited every time an invoice is paid too!”  

Any parting words of wisdom for aspiring entrepreneurs out there? “Soak up all the advice available and join the support networks out there within your business sector. Talk about it to everyone you know because you’ll be surprised where your leads come from.

“I had to call a locksmith out the other day, having left my key on the inside of the door, he was quick and efficient so I asked for his card. Turns out that as a new business he hasn’t got any cards, leaflets or a website. So I gave him my card and said “I can help you with that!”.

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

QUIZ! Find out which Enterprise Hub route is right for you

So, you've had a great business idea and need some guidance on what to do next, or perhaps you need some support in your first year of business? The good news is, Enterprise Hub is on hand with expert start-up advice and business support for residents of the Liverpool City Region!

From 1-2-1 start-up advice from our team of business advisors, to our 'Boost Your New Business' programme, Enterprise Hub is here to help you. 

Take our quiz to find out which route is right for you...

If you would like to find out more about the courses and services on offer through Enterprise Hub, contact enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk or call 0151 706 8113 for an informal chat. 

Thinking of starting your own business? Your 5 BIG questions answered…

“I’ve got this idea, but I don’t know where to start…”. Talking about your business ideas out loud for the first time can be very daunting. There are so many questions you want to ask and so much information to unpick.

Jo Mountfort, our business advisor extraordinaire, has worked in the start-up business arena for over a decade. During this time, she has worked with hundreds of clients, supporting them to organise their thoughts and develop their business ideas. We asked her to tell us some of the top questions she’s asked on a daily basis. Here’s what she had to say…

1. “I’ve got this idea, but I don’t know where to start...”

This is probably one of the most common things that clients say to me when we have our first face to face or telephone chat. My response: you’ve taken the first step! Speaking to someone impartial about your idea is really important. Nobody is going to laugh at you. What we will do is help you break it down bit by bit to see if it could work. We can offer 1-2-1 support and a range of training and networking courses to get you thinking.

2. “Do I have to write a business plan?”

No, is the short answer, but you really should! Certain establishments may require to see one – banks, funders etc. But more than that, taking the time out to plan something that could potentially be the biggest step of your life is a no-brainer! A business plan is your handbook to business and is a hugely useful tool. In the start-up research stage it acts as a checklist to all the things you need to think about. There are many different formats that a business plan can take so don’t shy away. The truth is, if you’ve been thinking this idea through then you’ve already started the business plan in your head.

3. “Is there any funding available to help me start?”

Possibly. There are some pots of money available to new businesses but they are often subject to credit and other checks. Some people’s circumstances can make them eligible for financial support but this is something your advisor can support you with. As advisors, we know what funders are looking for so we can do all the correct prep work with you before you submit applications.

4. “I’m going to undercut my competition when I first start-up.”

Don’t do it! Take the time to think about your pricing structure. Don’t just presume that the best way to get customers is have a price cheaper than your competition. Of course, some customers will factor price into their buying habits but not all will. Quality and standard of service will go a long way…

5. “Do you think it’s a good idea?”

This is a really difficult question to answer and it’s not up to us to judge what’s ‘good’ or not. But honestly, I think it’s always down to the individual. You can have two people running exactly the same type of business but running them very differently. Our job is to encourage you to research and think objectively about your idea to help you come to your own conclusion.

Our support is offered via the Enterprise Hub programme which is designed to help explore ideas and develop enterprise skills. We’ve seen and heard it all. So don’t be shy, get in touch and let’s start talking about your business! Or, if you’ve got a friend or a family member who could benefit from an initial chat, tell them to get in touch!

Contact enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk or call 0151 706 8113 for an informal chat.

Meet Anthony and Hannah: the unstoppable catering force taking over the Baltic Triangle

Serial Entrepreneur Anthony Zausmer has been in the catering business for 40 years and knows a thing or two about the industry. But having recently embarked upon his most recent venture, Posh Nosh Catering Kitchen Ltd, Anthony decided to take advantage of Enterprise Hub’s ‘Boost Your New Business’ programme to see if there were any tricks he was missing. 

If Anthony’s name rings a bell, then you have no doubt seen him pottering around the Baltic Triangle where he also partners up with Hannah Cave to run Fodder Canteen in Queen’s Dock Business Centre.

Asking Anthony and Hannah how they met you can see an exchange of cheeky grins as they admit they met through both being a bit daft on a Facebook group – which led to friendship, which led to an unstoppable catering force…

Hannah’s tale of how they launched Fodder goes something like a fairy tale: “One night I went to bed and I literally had a dream that I had a café.  In the café there were lots of people dotted around with sewing machines out and I was just pottering around them serving food.  When I woke up I knew exactly what I was going to do, so rang Anthony and he said, ‘Let’s do it’.”

Stumbling upon the Baltic triangle during Light Night of 2014 the pair “fell in love with the vibe” of the area and were determined to find a home for their businesses there. And the rest was history.

Having made a success of Fodder Canteen Anthony decided it was time to set up a new business focusing on external catering but sharing the Fodder kitchen as a base.

The pair heard about an opportunity through Enterprise Hub to join a free programme tailored to those within their first 12 months of trading: ‘Boost Your New Business’. Anthony thought it would be useful for the new business to see if they were missing any opportunities and to take time out to strategise and reflect on their business plan.

Some of the key lessons they have taken from the training were around re-evaluating who their customer is and pricing strategy.

Anthony said: “While I may have been in this industry for 40 years, it has really made me reassess. Straight after completing the programme we put our prices up, and to our surprise we had people queuing up for the food we were offering and going out of their way to come back for more.”

Hannah added: “Yes, I think we are always conscious of giving value, but sometimes that has meant being too cheap, and we’ve now realised that cheap sometimes puts people off assuming there must be something wrong with what you are offering. We’ve now got the confidence to re-assess what we are doing here and realise ‘I’ve got to be paid for what I’m doing’ and that isn’t something to be embarrassed about”.

The pair told us that they now start the day’s planning for the new business with “well Bernie said…” referring back to what they learned from the training as they found it “so useful”.

They commented: “The course was brilliant. Our trainer, Bernie, really made it personal and created an environment where I could say ‘actually I realise I’ve made a mess of this’.  Everyone is totally free to open-up, which is great as we could learn from one another’s businesses.  The most positive part for us was being able to face up to any problems in the business in a constructive way.”

Hannah and Anthony have been sharing tips across their businesses since attending the ‘Boost Your New Business’ programme and are both feeling really positive about the future. Their next challenge is to use their business lessons to support other food industry start-ups.

To find out more about Anthony’s business, you can contact:

Telephone: 0151 588 1772

Email: info@poshnosh.info

Website: http://www.poshnoshcatering.com/

Twitter: @PoshNoshCo

If you’ve been inspired by Anthony and Hannah’s story and would like to see how Enterprise Hub can help you boost your new business, then get in touch with us. Email hello@thewo.org.uk or ring us on 0151 706 8111.