#LoveYourBusinessWeek – A Week of events to help you start or grow your business

Love Your Business Week is on the way, and we've got an exciting line-up of events to share with you!

Running from 24th - 28th February 2020, this week of training, workshops and events will give you the skills to start or grow your own business.

Through-out the week, you can follow #LoveYourBusinessWeek over on Twitter to stay up to date with whats going on across the Liverpool City Region.

Love Your Business Week 2020 line up...

Monday 24th February 2020

‘Protect your brand!’ trademarks and trademark searching workshop
Where: BIPC Liverpool Central Library
When: 24th February - 18:00-19:00

An essential guide to understanding how trademarks can help your business succeed.

Book on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/protect-your-brand-trade-marks-and-trade-marks-searching-tickets-91639096003

Tuesday 25th February 2020

Enterprise Hub - Business Live Stream!
Where: The Women's Organisation, 54 St James Street, L1 0AB
When: 25th February - 11:00-11:20

Thinking about starting or growing your own business? Our business experts will be hosting a 20 minute live stream answering all your burning questions.


Booking: Live from Facebook 

Wednesday 26th February 2020

Location, Location, Location: Finding the perfect premise for your business
Where: 54 St James Street, L1 0AB
When: 26th February - 13:00-17:00

Delivered by Louise Kissack, Founder of Spaghetti Group, this session will guide you through the process of:

• Identifying your target customer
• Finding the right location for your business
• Understanding your lease and negotiating with your landlord
• Navigating the legalities of commercial property

Booking: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/location-location-location-find-the-perfect-premises-for-your-business-tickets-94660649551

Wednesday 26th February 2020

St Helen’s Chamber’s Enterprise Hub Drop in Clinic
Where: St Helens Chamber, Clickworks, 4-6 Hardshaw St, WA10 1RE
When: 26th February - 13:00-16:00

If you have a great idea for a business but don't know where to start, the drop-in clinic can provide you with advice and guidance.

Booking: https://www.sthelenschamber.com/events/661918-business-start-up-drop-in

Wednesday 26th February 2020

Business Start-Up Conference in partnership with BIPC Liverpool and The Women’s Organisation
Where: BIPC Liverpool, Liverpool Central Library
When: 26th February – 10:00-13:00

This informative half-day workshop will help you consider registering as a sole trader, limited company and the tax implications involved.

Kelly Phillips, Co-Founder of unique arts school for children Connect Studios, as well as Francisco Carrasco and Max Alder from Arts & Cultural Organisation, Luma Creations will be joining us to share their start-up journeys

Book on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/enterprise-hub-start-up-conference-tickets-92338552095

Thursday 27th February 2020

The Business Boost Halton – 1-day Marketing and Social Media course
Where: Halton Stadium, Lower House Ln, Widnes WA8 7DZ
When: 27th February – 09:30-16:30

This 1-day programme will enable you to use different Marketing and Social Media techniques to promote your business both on and offline.

Book on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-business-boost-halton-1-day-marketing-social-media-course-tickets-92173444253

The course is part of the Enterprise Hub programme and is open to newly registered businesses in Halton who have registered with HMRC or Companies House within the last 42 months.

Thursday 27th February 2020

Enterprise Hub Presents: Bookkeeping & Finance with Wirral Chamber
Where: Egerton House, Tower Road, Birkenhead, CH41 1FN
When: 27th February – 09:30-12:30

This informative half-day workshop will help you consider registering as a sole trader, limited company and the tax implications involved.

Book on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/enterprise-hub-presents-bookkeeping-finance-tickets-82577963913

Thursday 27th February 2020

Business Forward: The Innovation & Resilience Clinic
Where:The Women's Organisation, 54 St James Street, L1 0AB
When: 27th February – 09:30-12:30

Whatever support your business needs, we can give you on the spot advice or signpost you to someone who can help you further.

Book on Eventbrite or drop in: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/business-forward-innovation-resilience-drop-in-clinic-tickets-92716271865

The UK has now left the EU, the Local Growth Hub is committed to helping Liverpool City Region businesses be more resilient as they go through the transition period and beyond.

We have created a dedicated page to help you through this period https://localgrowthhub.com/transition/

Thursday 27th February 2020

Entrepreneurial advice with Cllr Gary Millar
Where: BIPC Liverpool, Liverpool Central Library
When: 27th February – 13:00-16:00

Cllr Gary Millar and his team of business experts will be on hand to answer to your business start-up questions in this friendly drop-in session.

Booking: You don’t need to book, just drop in on the day

Thursday 27th February 2020

Patents advice with Dr Les Prichard (Culverstons)
Where: BIPC Liverpool, Liverpool Central Library
When: 27th February – 13:00-16:00

Free, expert patents advice.

book in advance by emailing to libraries.enquiries@liverpool.gov.uk

Thursday 27th February 2020

Business website advice with Digital Config 
Where: BIPC Liverpool, Liverpool Central Library
When: 27th February – 13:00-16:00

Booking: You don’t need to book, just drop in on the day

Friday 28th February 2020

Let's Talk Business - Drop-in for business Start-up advice
Where: The Women's Organisation, 54 St James Street, L1 0AB
When: 28th February – 10:00-14:00

Thinking of starting a business? If you have an idea or a hobby you could turn into a business, drop in for an informal chat with an expert Business Adviser at The Women's Organisation. You'll find out more about the logistics of going self-employed and discover what support is available to you.

Book on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lets-talk-business-drop-in-for-business-start-up-advice-tickets-92341490885

Open to men and women who are thinking of starting a business in the Liverpool City Region. Booking essential. Secure your slot by contacting hello@thewo.org.uk or calling 0151 706 8111.



For more details you can contact us on 0151 706 8113 or get in touch via e-mail at enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk


You can follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using @MerseyEntHub to be the first in the know about #LoveYourBusinessWeek.

5 Years of Entrepreneur in Residence

On 5th February the Liverpool Business & IP Centre (BIPC) is celebrating the fifth anniversary of Councillor Gary Millar becoming its Entrepreneur in Residence.  In this time, he and his team of volunteer specialist mentors have advised over 1,600 individuals starting or growing a business.  Every week at Liverpool Central Library they have provided free, impartial, non-judgemental, practical and inspirational guidance.  It’s been a remarkable commitment from a man as busy as Gary always is.  He is a firm believer, though, in the need to “pay it forward” and let others benefit from his knowledge and understanding of start-ups.

Gary Millar is Deputy Mayor of Liverpool & Mayoral Lead For Business & International Relations.  He was Lord Mayor of Liverpool for the Municipal Year 2013/2014.  After growing his own IT and marketing businesses, he is now co-owner of Parr Street Studios (hotel, recording studios, bars and offices).

When Liverpool’s BIPC was about to launch in January 2015, Gary recognised the need for it to offer the support and mentoring crucial to improving the chances of survival for new businesses.  He offered to become the Entrepreneur in Residence for the Centre and immediately began assembling a team of expert mentors to work with him.  That team has now grown so that there are around ten mentors who regularly come in to the library and another twenty who Gary can call upon to assist the business founders he meets.

When he launched his weekly business clinic Gary explained, “I have a passion for business and a unique understanding of what entrepreneurs and businesses can go through. My role is to listen, inspire, motivate and steer people to hopefully the right kind of support.”

Five years later and over 1,600 people have benefitted from the guidance of Gary and his team.  Feedback from attendees has been overwhelmingly full of praise.  The project’s recently released end-of-year report for 2019 shows that 96 per cent of those who have taken advantage of the free sessions have come away happy and inspired.

Gary Millar’s ability to guide people to the ongoing support needed to launch and grow a business is another key part of the success of his advice drop-in. Research has continually shown that businesses who receive ongoing mentoring and support are much more likely to survive in their early years of trading than those which do not receive such support.

The success of the Liverpool BIPC advice sessions has led to Gary Millar being approached by several others organisations wanting to learn from him about best practice and how to deliver similar services elsewhere.

Cllr Millar said: “It’s been a great year for business in Liverpool and we have been excited to see so many bright, enthusiastic entrepreneurs coming to see us at the library’s Business and Intellectual Property Centre, the BIPC, in search of the boost they may need to get their business grow and under way. Interestingly they don’t just come from Liverpool but as far afield as Yorkshire and Wales! Thank you to them all for taking that bold step in reaching out for help.”

Entrepreneur in Residence drop-in advice session with Cllr Gary Millar and team – every Thursday from 1pm to 4pm,  Liverpool Business & IP Centre (BIPC)

'Menu' of Support with Enterprise Hub

Starting any new business can be daunting, but branching out into the food and beverage world can throw up its own, specific problems. Budding restaurateurs highlight the same key issues when starting out: finance, including VAT and cash flow; legalities; HR procedures and how to grow a ‘dream team’; and marketing. Through Enterprise Hub, our business experts are on hand to help you get to grips with the ins and outs of managing a new food or drinks venture, increase your profits, and create a sustainable business model.

You've got the ingredients, we'll give you the tools you need!

Know your numbers

Our business team provide support to help you to better understand finance and how to access different financing options. Many new restaurant owners underestimate the start-up capital they need to open and run a restaurant, which causes problems in the long run – with 1-2-1 cash flow forecasting and budgeting support, tools to help maximise profitability, plus knowledge on how to register for VAT, our business advisers will help you create the infrastructure for a successful business.

Cross the Ts and dot the Is

The food and beverage industry has some lengthy and complex legalities, with food safety and health and safety regulations to consider. Customers are becoming far more aware of food hygiene ratings, so a thorough knowledge of industry standards is paramount. Our team can provide support with premises considerations and lease agreements, as well as signpost to resources to help demystify some of the industry legislation.

Create and grow your ‘dream team’

Chances are, if you’re running a restaurant, you’re going to have to recruit staff. Hiring the wrong type of people can lead to a high staff turnover rate and bad customer service, which then has a knock-on effect on the rest of the business. Through our support programme, you will learn the practical side of becoming a first-time employer: how to recruit and select the right staff for your business, understand employment contracts, and how to effectively manage people performance.

Make your business stand out!

Consumers are saturated with products and services in today’s climate, so effective marketing is crucial if you want your business to stand out from the crowd. What makes you different? How can you brand yourself to appeal to potential customers? What strategies are you using to put yourself out there? With the help of our business team, you will develop a social media and marketing plan, review which platforms and channels are most suitable for your brand, and curate creative content to promote your business.

These topics are just some of the issues that our business experts can support you with – this isn’t an exhaustive list! Working with you, they will create a tailored programme of support specific to you and your business needs.

This programme, Enterprise Hub Growth Support, is available to any business based in the Liverpool City Region which has been registered with Companies House or HMRC for less than 42 months. Contact us on 0151 706 8113 or enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk to find out more!

Helping Aleksandra get to grips with the beauty of business

Alexsandra Calka's business journey is testament to the importance of hard-work, determination and staying focused on your goals, when it comes to succeeding in those all-important early years of starting a business.

It was always a dream of Alexsandra’s to open her own salon, having previously worked as a beauty and massage therapist, but the timing was never quite right. It was only upon moving to their new home in Southport and falling in love with the hustle and bustle of the local area that she started to see the potential, launching CoCo Beauty Clinic last year.

Alexsandra Kasprzyk, Owner of CoCo Beauty Clinic

Coco Beauty Clinic Ltd is a beauty and skin clinic offering a wide range of treatments from nail and brow treatments, to specialist skin peels and waxing. But Alexsandra really prides herself as a Trichology Expert, specialising in hair loss problems.

Approaching every client individually and catering to their exact beauty and skincare needs, all clients leave CoCo Beauty Clinic having received a unique and personalised experience.

It wasn’t long before Alexsandra managed to build up a supportive client base, largely through word of mouth recommendations. She explains that many of those in her local area of Hillside are small business owners themselves and that the local community take a proactive approach in supporting other independents.

Alexsandra approached Enterprise Hub at The Women’s Organisation to find out what support was available to help grow her new business. She was soon paired with business advisor Yan Miao for 1-2-1 advice and support, alongside access to a range of courses to equip her with the marketing and business skills needed to grow the business.

The training and courses on offer at The Women’s Organisation helped Alexsandra to build her brand and client base even further through developing her marketing skills. From planning a social media and marketing strategy, to getting to grips with the complexities of SEO (search engine optimization).

Alexsandra explains that having her advisor, Yan, on hand to talk through those daunting big decisions and reflect on any mistakes to build a positive plan moving forward was a great support through those early days.

She says: “Yan is just an amazing woman - she was so supportive! The courses I attended were all very interesting and filled with the right information which I could enforce in my salon marketing strategy the next day. Now I can advertise my salon better through social media and work on my website SEO myself without having to pay others. I still have all the print outs and notes so whenever I’m stuck or need some inspiration I go back to these notes - I always find something interesting!

“But the most important element of support for me at that time was meeting other women in the same position and supporting each other. It’s helped me to grow in confidence, and to set clear goals and priorities to be more business focused.”

Together with this programme of support, access to training and the backing of her family, Alexsandra has taken her business from strength to strength.

She added: “Over the last year I have managed to gain a very loyal, regular client base and it’s still growing. From 12 clients and 20 appointments in November 2018, to 80 clients and 112 appointments November 2019!”

Whether it’s the day-to-day management of the salon, carrying out treatments for clients, or simply cleaning and maintaining the salon, Alexsandra wears many hats when it comes to the smooth running of her business. And it’s watching her business grow and develop that she enjoys the most.

So, what’s her advice to anyone thinking about taking the plunge into self-employment themselves?
She says: “the most important thing is to never give up! Stay focused on your goals and keep moving forward, no matter how many hurdles you face.

“I am really blessed with an amazing family. My parents, brother, sister and my husband are very supportive.  I have met so many great people throughout my journey who have helped me in so many different ways.”

CoCo Beauty Clinic can be found online at www.cocobeautyclinic.com/ and on Facebook. Or, you can get in touch with Alexsandra directly via info@cocobeautyclinic.com or by calling 01704569990.

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. 

Macy’s Café is serving up big social impact for the Halton community

For many years, Amanda McDonald had a dream of running her own café. This dream became a reality when she opened the doors to Macy’s Café back in January.

Based in The Grange Community Centre in Runcorn, Amanda has created an authentic space at the heart of her local community.

Amanda McDonald is the face behind Macy's Cafe

Amanda tells us that her food always went down a storm when cooking for family and friends: “I’ve a strong passion for good food and enjoy cooking. I’m well known among family, friends and many people for being an excellent cook - people always loved and enjoyed anything I cook!”

Having worked full time as a Project Development Officer for the Social Services at Halton Borough Council, Amanda decided it was now or never and contacted the Enterprise Hub at The Women’s Organisation to find out what steps to take next.

She says: “Once I made my decision to set up Macy’s café, I put all my thoughts and energy into it and started looking for help.  I got in touch with The Women’s Organisation and started working with my business Adviser, Huda, on business planning and regulation and I also attended specialist workshops.

“I received excellent advice, support, guidance and the encouragement that I needed to start the café, as well as help securing a business start-up loan.”

Since then, the business has gone from strength to strength and is currently employing 3 part-time staff, alongside a volunteer, who are all passionate about working in the café and serving the local community.

Along with serving fresh, quality cooked food at affordable prices, Macy’s café has a strong social objective and provides free hot meals, drinks and essential supplies to those in need.

This is in large part thanks to access to a community fridge and store cupboard which is filled with fresh food products, along with toiletries, sanitary products, nappies and clothing.

The stock receives generous donations from businesses and people alike and is built on an ethos of “take when you need, put back when you can”.

Going that step further, Amanda even provides free hot meals for those in need – becoming a vital lifeline for many in her community.

One man in particular had been living on the streets and depended on regular hot meals from Macy’s café and was provided with fresh clothes, toiletries and a tent, until he eventually found employment and a home of his own. That same man today contributes to the community fridge in support of others and is a regular to the café.

Macy’s café also hosts special social events for fostering teams who bring children and foster carers together and run activities for them.

The impact which Amanda and the team have been having on the local community hasn’t gone unnoticed and they were recently announced as winners of the Social Impact Award at The Women’s Organisation’s Enterprising Women Awards.

So, how is Amanda finding the world of self-employment so far? She says: “I love being self-employed, being my own boss while helping the community and people in need.  We’re trying our best to keep the balance of running a successful business, creating jobs for people and contributing to our local community.”

Macy’s Café can be found in The Grange Community Centre and you can check out their Facebook page here.

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. 

Thousands of entrepreneurs across the Liverpool City Region are set to benefit as Enterprise Hub launches a second phase

Liverpool City Region’s “one front door” access point for business support is extended and expanded in a significant step forward for driving entrepreneurship across the region.

Maggie O'Carroll, CEO of The Women's Organisation (left), with Julia Sweeney,
Director of European Programmes and Local Growth and MHCLG (centre)
 and Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram (right).

Today saw the official launch of the second phase of the Enterprise Hub programme, marking the continuation of support available to those who are thinking about starting or growing a business.

The launch event took place today (26 November) in a special celebration at The Women’s Organisation, which is the lead and accountable body for the Enterprise Hub.

The launch was attended by special guest speaker Julia Sweeney, Director of European Programmes and Local Growth at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), along with the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Cllr Anna Rothery, and Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Mr Steve Rotheram.

Maggie O'Carroll, CEO of The Women's Organisation (left) with
Lord Mayor Cllr Anna Rothery (centre) and Deputy Lord Mayor Gary Millar (right)

Other guests included Enterprise Hub partner organisations, along with business support providers, funding specialists and some of the region’s leading figures in enterprise.

Enterprise Hub coordinates and simplifies the business start-up and growth support available across the Liverpool City Region by bringing together partners to deliver business support, advice and training.

Since launching its first phase in December 2015, Enterprise Hub support has helped to create over 1,060 new businesses so far.

Thousands of budding and early-stage entrepreneurs have benefited from the programme over the last four years, with nearly 6,000 individuals registering for support.

In a change to the first programme, this second phase of support now includes the provision of business growth support for those in their first three years of trade.

This move comes in response to the successful first phase of the programme which showed that there was real entrepreneurial spirit across the region, resulting in the creation of over 1,000 new enterprises. This second phase is now able to ensure the sustainability of those businesses through an ongoing programme of support.

100 guests attended the event

During the launch event reflections were made on the importance of investing in entrepreneurship and developing core entrepreneurial skills to grow our local economy.

Julia Sweeney, Director of European Programmes and Local Growth at MHCLG, says: “I am very pleased to help launch Enterprise Hub 2. Tailored, comprehensive support is really important to SMEs and the Hub will build on the success of Enterprise Hub 1 to enable more businesses to achieve sustainable growth.”

Metro Mayor, Steve Rotheram, says: “I know from personal experience, having set up my own building company when I was in my early 20s, that establishing a small or medium sized enterprise can often be fraught with hurdles and challenges.

“Statistics show that roughly 80% of UK companies fail within their first year – so it’s vital that organisations get the support they need early on – if they are to have a chance of success.

“Enterprise Hub have shown in recent years that they are perfectly placed to provide that support, with their work having led to the creation of over 1,000 local businesses. We’re doing all we can to provide funding support at a regional level for SMEs to start up and scale up – and phase 2 of the Hub’s work will only compliment this.”

Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram speaking at the event

Maggie O’Carroll, CEO of Liverpool charity and lead body of the programme, The Women’s Organisation, says: “We are delighted to be steering the Enterprise Hub programme forward into this exciting second phase. The initiative has so far proved to be a vital resource for those budding entrepreneurs who have an entrepreneurial idea, but not necesssairly the know-how to turn it into a sustainable and profitable business.

“We know that this support has been vital to reducing unemployment, raising aspirations and giving people that all-important opportunity to pursue entrepreneurship. All of which play a key role when it comes to keeping our local and national economy thriving.

“With this refreshed focus on business growth support, we now have real opportunity to build on the first phase and enable the ongoing development of enterprises of real substance. I would urge anyone who has a business idea they would like to explore, or those who might be navigating the tricky early years of self-employment, to get in touch and see what support is available”.

Fully-funded support is available to residents from all corners of the Liverpool City Region, with delivery partners working in Sefton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Wirral and Halton.

Enterprise Hub brings together a network of eight partner organisations to deliver business advice, training and support; The Women’s Organisation, Everton Development Trust, Granby Toxteth Development Trust, Merseyside Expanding Horizons, Wirral Chamber, St Helens Chamber, The Prince's Trust, SAFE Regeneration.

Strategic partners for the project are Liverpool Central Library Business and IP Centre, ComMutual, Plus Dane Housing and Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust. While Writing on the Wall and Liverpool Domestic Abuse Service (LDAS) are community delivery partners.

The Enterprise Hub programme is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which aims to help local areas stimulate economic development by investing in projects, like Enterprise Hub, which support innovation, business growth and job creation.

Local social enterprise, The Women’s Organisation, is the lead and accountable body for the programme as well as the managing agent, providing management and compliance support to the programme.

Smiles all round for Julie and the Dental Hygiene Studio

After over two decades working as a dental hygienist, Julie Fisher decided it was time to take the plunge and launch her own studio.

Working with our partners at The Women’s Organisation Julie launched The Dental Hygiene Studio earlier this year – Wirral’s very first drop-in dental hygienist studio.

We caught up with Julie to find out the story behind her business and how things are going so far…

They do things a little differently at the Dental Hygiene Studio.

A recent change in the law means that you no longer have to see the hygienist at your own dental practice - you can see a hygienist of your choice anytime, anywhere.

This was a business opportunity Julie didn’t want to miss out on. She says: “With today’s busy lifestyles, it can be quite difficult to book and appointment with the dentist, then wait for another appointment with the hygienist, so we wanted to do things a bit differently.”

As well as booking people in for set appointments, Julie and the team offer walk-ins too. Meaning it will be much more convenient for people to fit in around work, childcare and other aspects of our busy day-to-day life.

Julie Fisher, founder of the Wirral's
first drop-in dental hygiene studio

So, where did the journey begin for The Dental Hygiene Studio?

Having qualified as a dental hygienist with the army back in 1996, Julie has long had a passion for helping people with their dental health.

When the dentist she was working alongside announced her retirement last year, Julie found herself at a crossroads in her career.

Seeing similar services open in the North West and with her youngest son due to start high school, giving her more time to devote to the business idea, Julie began to wonder if the time was right for her to take the plunge.

She says: “I was inspired and intrigued about whether or not it would be a possible business idea for me too. I did lots of market research and with the help and guidance of Enterprise Hub, I finally decided it was something I couldn’t put off any longer.”

Things started to fall in place from there.

Julie tells us there’s quite a story behind finding her venue in her home town Wallasey: “My husband and I had been out for a few viewings and having seen nothing suitable we were on our way home. We were sat at some pedestrian lights just around the corner from where we lived and we both looked across at this quite derelict corner shop which had been empty for about 10 years. I said to my husband, Andy, ‘it’s a shame we can’t have that really isn’t it? It would’ve been perfect’.

Before! The derelict shop before Julie and Andy transformed it

“I decided to walk round and ask the shop next door if he knew who owned it and if they wanted to sell? He said ‘as far as I know, she’s not interested in selling, but I’ve got her number if you’d like it?’  So, I rang the owner and she said that she wasn’t interested in selling, so I thought that was that. We went on looking for a few weeks but still couldn’t find anything suitable, so I decided to ring her back. To my utter surprise, she said she’d given it lots of thought since our first conversation and she was happy to sell to us!”

Thanks to support from her husband Andy, who is a chartered building surveyor, Julie was able to tackle the building work – not to mention the tree growing up through the brickwork - and create the perfect venue for her business.

And after! The Dental Hygiene studio today

And their hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed in the community.

Julie says: “It’s been such a transformation that local residents have asked to come and have a look as we’ve been renovating. We have a photobook of the renovations in the waiting room so share our journey with patients.”

Julie and husband Andy celebrating the opening of The Dental Hygiene Studio

As with any new entrepreneur just setting out in business, Julie wasn’t without her doubts.

She says: “After 24 years’ experience I’m most comfortable in my scrubs treating patients and although I’ve been self-employed, I’ve never had a business to run. I’ve never been ‘a boss’ before or even had to manage staff.

“Not only that, but securing the funding, doing a business plan, sorting out change of use for the premises and planning permission were all things that needed to be organised. It’s been such an exciting and exhilarating experience so far, but there have been days I’ve wondered what I was thinking!”

Accessing support from The Women’s Organisation, through the Enterprise Hub programme, meant that Julie was able to work with the team of expert business advisors to turn this idea into a reality.

Speaking about the support she received, Julie says: “Quite simply, without the Enterprise Hub programme, I wouldn’t be in this position now. The help and support from the programme is incredible. I walked into my advisor Claire’s office and didn’t know where to start. I was anxious, nervous and quite unsure of myself. I knew what I wanted to do but I didn’t know how to start doing it.

“Attending various courses helped me to gain more practical knowledge, and Claire and I sat for hours and hours tweaking my business plan until it was perfectly right. With Claire’s help and dogged determination, I was finally in a position where I felt ready to embark on such a daunting process.”

Julie also worked with Enterprise Enabler, Ali McGrath. Julie says: “Ali is a force of nature! Her enthusiasm is infectious, and she absolutely gets things done. Her knowledge, contacts and genuine love for what she does is easy to see. She is funny and kind and reassured me beyond belief. She organised me, advised me and basically I feel she ‘held my hand’ through the whole process.”

What Julie has created with this support is today a friendly, professional and ethical dental hygiene studio, providing patients with an outstanding level of care in a modern and accessible way.

Julie at work in the studio

So, what advice would Julie give to someone looking to start a business? She says: “Start-up advice is invaluable. I remember Bernie, who ran a start-up course I attended, said that businesses who take start up advice are much less likely to fail in their first year. I can honestly see why. If I have any concerns, questions or things I’m unsure of, The Women’s Organisation is always my first point of contact!”

Understandably, Julie is very proud of what she’s achieved so far and she explains that the venture has been very family orientated so far, helping her to achieve that work-life balance she’s always wanted.

So, what’s next for Julie and the Dental Hygiene Studio? Julie says: “The plan for the future is to grow into the upper floors of the building to include a dentist, a periodontist and an implantologist to become a specialist centre of excellence. After that, maybe world domination!”

You can find The Dental Hygiene Studio online at www.dentalhygienestudio.co.uk and the team are also on Facebook, twitter and Instagram. If you’d like to get in touch you can call 0151 6397 939.

If you have a business idea you’d like to explore and are based in the Liverpool City Region, then get in touch to see what fully-funded support might be available to you. You can reach us on 0151 706 8113 or e-mail enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk.