tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45314586473022168192024-02-19T17:01:14.887-08:00Enterprise HubThe Women's Organisationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13732990548189172646noreply@blogger.comBlogger245125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4531458647302216819.post-56229751720441956762021-05-25T05:45:00.002-07:002021-05-25T06:52:04.583-07:00Mentoring support from Enterprise Hub 'absolutely brilliant' for Natalie Holden Interiors.<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2iz6V3RQKL2v0rcKlKP-9ngV3h113c6RV71htd0VM4aMrxixjiH2ZwHTb79kBMRqglHhrQX9hNwuyZ74Bjf_ZP1RFvcPaGeBakRBQiEXfSTtr1hYWz8LxeLUYJ4WtixvnoaMmPrdjCrhH/s737/natalie+holden+1.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="737" data-original-width="534" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2iz6V3RQKL2v0rcKlKP-9ngV3h113c6RV71htd0VM4aMrxixjiH2ZwHTb79kBMRqglHhrQX9hNwuyZ74Bjf_ZP1RFvcPaGeBakRBQiEXfSTtr1hYWz8LxeLUYJ4WtixvnoaMmPrdjCrhH/w342-h472/natalie+holden+1.png" width="342" /></a></div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">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.</span></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span><b>Hi Natalie – what is your business all
about?</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Hi – we are Natalie Holden Interiors, and
we are an interior design company, working on both </span>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.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>What did you do prior to setting up your
own business?</b></p><p class="MsoNormal">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.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>What made you decide to set up in business
and choose the type of business you run?</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Where is your business based?</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>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?</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>What is unique about your business?</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Did you face any barriers to starting up,
or did you find any aspects of it particularly daunting?</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>What different roles do you juggle around
running your business, and how do you manage that?</b></p><p class="MsoNormal">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!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Did you train at any local colleges or
Universities?</b></p><p class="MsoNormal">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!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>What support did you receive from
Enterprise Hub programme?</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>How are things going so far with your
business, and how has it grown since you worked with Enterprise Hub?</b></p><p class="MsoNormal">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.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>What is the best thing about running your
own business?</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnlCVTYXIx8oNjyyogE-r_SFN9k-Rcp_BxIUyf40XmhIaRCMUgme3eJTZt-iZ6VfggpuJxykcEyqBb-ZAQNfPWkuTxVJJl8eQoXGzrwcuRwWoj2J6GcApWATXheMYFivizIaloZs8SMPR/s2048/natalie+holden+3.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTnlCVTYXIx8oNjyyogE-r_SFN9k-Rcp_BxIUyf40XmhIaRCMUgme3eJTZt-iZ6VfggpuJxykcEyqBb-ZAQNfPWkuTxVJJl8eQoXGzrwcuRwWoj2J6GcApWATXheMYFivizIaloZs8SMPR/s320/natalie+holden+3.png" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><b>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?</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>What advice would you give someone looking
to grow their business from your experience?</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>How do you feel about what you have
achieved so far?</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">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.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>How many people do you employ?</b></p><p class="MsoNormal">I now have 1 employee working 3 days a week
and a couple of freelancers that work ad hoc.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>What lessons have you learned or
interesting highlights have there been in your journey.</b></p><p class="MsoNormal">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!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Is there anything else you would like to
add about yourself, your journey, your business and your future plans?</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span>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!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></span>How can someone find out more about your business
or get in touch?</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Our website is <a href="http://www.natalieholden.com/">www.natalieholden.com</a> and my email is </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">i<a href="mailto:nfo@natalieholden.com">nfo@natalieholden.com</a> - we offer a free
initial consultation to find out how we can help with a project.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Follow
us on Instagram for behind the scenes @n_h_interiors<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>The Women's Organisationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13732990548189172646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4531458647302216819.post-51978124851841141852021-05-12T07:43:00.001-07:002021-05-12T07:54:37.022-07:00The Sicilian Way Is On The Way Up for Daniel!<p> <strong style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">When you have the Sicilian family heritage and connections that Daniel D’Ambrogio has, then it’s no surprise that the food products he will be importing through his new company, The Sicilian Way, are of the highest quality. But where did it all start?</strong></p><p><strong style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></strong></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46GKQppMdJ2FtPjs00Nkpf4sjGE4NEM9NNq0IKL6nVvA_Pv0rBwVguYeVRcAwDSl5GZYXFubD5DjJMuNw-Ov-eKLXnGi_2a0cOxqJSO6wA2e4YhB73V36w0xn376AsDn5aAnDLUXqjP7C/s1426/img70753.1426x713.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="713" data-original-width="1426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46GKQppMdJ2FtPjs00Nkpf4sjGE4NEM9NNq0IKL6nVvA_Pv0rBwVguYeVRcAwDSl5GZYXFubD5DjJMuNw-Ov-eKLXnGi_2a0cOxqJSO6wA2e4YhB73V36w0xn376AsDn5aAnDLUXqjP7C/s320/img70753.1426x713.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><strong style="color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></strong><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">As one of The Wirral Enterprise Hub’s youngest clients, 21 year-old Daniel has had an entrepreneurial flair from a young age. Taking inspiration from his dad, who runs his own law firm, Daniel acquired the taste to ‘be his own boss’ whilst working for the family firm, gaining some invaluable business skills such as website design, sourcing of products and customer service. Despite having the opportunity to continue within the family business, Daniel was determined to hone his skills and energy into something he had a passion for – and which person with Sicilian blood doesn’t have a passion for Mediterranean food? It was a no- brainer, it had to be done ‘The Sicilian Way’.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">So, what products does The Sicilian Way import? Initially, these will be extra virgin olive oil, garlic, anchovies, salami and cheese!! Now this is where the family connections come in, Daniel says, “A lot of our products come surrounding towns where my family come from, this means that we have local suppliers that we have known for years and have complete trust and faith they make truly incredible product”. Having the inside track on local Sicilian suppliers and an in-depth knowledge of Sicilian produce, the business will ensure that the products are not only of the highest quality, but taste fantastic too! As the company motto states: “The Sicilian Way – All About The Taste!” Daniel continues, “We import handpicked, taste tested products to make sure they are second to none. We quality control our Olive Oil to make sure it is true authentic Extra Virgin Olive Oil. We want to make sure we are sourcing and offering only the best to ensure we give our customers the true Sicilian experience”.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">Daniel has big plans for the future too. As well as collaborating with other businesses and looking to become a regular at local farmers’ markets, he eventually wants to have his own premises. He would also like to expand his product range to include quality wines, the perfect accompaniment to all those fine cheeses! </p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">So, what advice does Daniel wish to share with us? “Focus on believing,” he says. “I’ve always had big dreams and when I’ve been unsure, I’ve thought ‘just try it!’ If it works, great, but if not, at least I’ve given it a shot.”</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">And how did Enterprise Hub help? Daniel responds by saying: “The Enterprise Hub has helped me incredibly and Heidi’s huge knowledge in business has supported me throughout. They offered me amazing free courses and one-to-ones where I gained so much valuable information. Also, Wirral Chamber have been very supportive through Louis in the International Trade Team helping me with my commodity codes and not to mention Independent Wirral, a great marketing platform for local businesses like myself.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">If you would like to get in touch with Daniel at The Sicilian Way, you can e-mail him at <a href="mailto:info@thesicilianway.co.uk" style="color: #ed1849; text-decoration-line: none;">info@thesicilianway.co.uk</a>, visit the website at <a href="http://www.thesicilianway.co.uk/" style="color: #ed1849; text-decoration-line: none;">www.thesicilianway.co.uk</a> or contact via social media at Instagram – <a href="http://www.instagram.com/thesicilianwayltd" style="color: #ed1849; text-decoration-line: none;">www.instagram.com/thesicilianwayltd</a> or Facebook (<a href="http://www.facebook.com/The-Sicilian-Way-104094818411225" style="color: #ed1849; text-decoration-line: none;">www.facebook.com/The-Sicilian-Way-104094818411225</a>)</p>The Women's Organisationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13732990548189172646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4531458647302216819.post-4037877459050746142021-04-19T03:27:00.003-07:002021-04-19T03:27:31.126-07:00The Sky’s the Limit for Carl, with his new business Jetset RC <p> <b style="font-family: arial;">Carl Rafferty, Owner of Jetset RC has built his business
through the pandemic with the help of Enterprise Hub and St Helens Chamber.</b></p><p><b style="font-family: arial;"><br /></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJOTUuKYoVVMUPg-oxaZ47obvP7Nbr_y3Sxvz2xCHaFpLQN1PF1eiPBMTA9VgfKN8GuCuwELk840xg60oU-MAX6rdqSqOltUWxIuTt1mRMrw7B9gt3yqJpaz4HK4h_TleHzPvadqS44rt/s5472/jetset+rc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="5472" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrJOTUuKYoVVMUPg-oxaZ47obvP7Nbr_y3Sxvz2xCHaFpLQN1PF1eiPBMTA9VgfKN8GuCuwELk840xg60oU-MAX6rdqSqOltUWxIuTt1mRMrw7B9gt3yqJpaz4HK4h_TleHzPvadqS44rt/w400-h266/jetset+rc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><b style="font-family: arial;"><br /></b><p></p>
<p class="Standard"><span style="font-family: arial;">With a website set up for sales and a shop in St Helens,
Jetset RC is a one stop shop for everything drone and aviation customers need;
offering a range of services that no other business in the UK can offer to
customers.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Standard"><span style="font-family: arial;">Carl explained: “Jetset RC supply and build all types drones
and model aircraft; we sell for two of the largest drone manufacturers in the
world. If customers are looking for something which isn’t on the market yet, we
will build it to their specifications too.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Standard"><span style="font-family: arial;">“Alongside selling drones and aircraft, we are one of the
only businesses in the UK who can give people commercial licencing to fly
drones. We take care of commercial training and licencing, repairs and more.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Standard"><span style="font-family: arial;">After becoming one of the youngest private pilots to qualify
in Europe aged seventeen, Carl worked overseas for a few years before starting
a role in Ibiza for a music brand. Carl decided to return to his hometown of St
Helens to continue his career, and found it difficult to find a role similar to
the roles he’d held abroad.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Standard"><span style="font-family: arial;">Carl explained: “When I came back from Ibiza and I was in a
rut. There was no work available which was similar to what I’d already been
doing, so I found it quite hard to settle back into life in the UK. While I was
looking for work I’d been building my own drones, so I thought that this could be
an avenue to explore.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Standard"><span style="font-family: arial;">“I rang up St Helens Chamber and enrolled on the Business
Start Up Workshop, and took it from there. I wasn’t planning to start up right
away and just wanted to get the information, but once the pandemic hit I
realised I couldn’t go back abroad and now was the perfect time to get
started.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Standard"><span style="font-family: arial;">Carl opened his shop in December, but was only able to open
for a few weeks before the pandemic took hold. Despite this, Carl’s
determination has meant that the business was still able to grow through his
website.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Standard"><span style="font-family: arial;">Carl commented: “The shop opened in December, and it gave me
confidence because we had we had a good turnout for our opening, the response
locally was fantastic; and we got a few sales too.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Standard"><span style="font-family: arial;">“Through St Helens Chamber, I was able to complete a digital
marketing course. I wasn’t too savvy on digital marketing but this course
increased my confidence. I’ve even built my own website since and have
continued to sell my drones through the site. All the courses I attended were
brilliant, you don’t realise how useful they are until you get into business
and are able to use what you’ve learned like I did.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Standard"><span style="font-family: arial;">St Helens Chamber is part of Enterprise Hub, the enterprise
gateway for business start-up support in Merseyside. Offering expert
advice and support to anyone thinking about starting a business, including help
to:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Standard"><span style="font-family: arial;">Understand the process of starting a business<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Standard"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />
• Research a business idea<br />
• Build a comprehensive business plan<br />
• Develop a marketing plan<br />
• Create financial forecasts to understand the costs of running your business
and potential income<br />
• Identify sources of finance to get started<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Standard"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />
Enterprise Hub is funded by the European Regional Development Fund.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Standard"><span style="font-family: arial;">Carl received a range of support through St Helens Chamber’s
start up team, and worked closely with them to get his business started.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Standard"><span style="font-family: arial;">Carl commented: “The start-up support from the Chamber was
amazing. I mainly dealt with Steve who was fantastic, I couldn’t have done this
without him. You can ask him anything and know he’ll get back to you with the
answer. Everyone has been lovely and so supportive.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Standard"><span style="font-family: arial;">“All the courses were really useful too, like the digital
marketing course and the bookkeeping course. The tutors made it really simple
to understand and I noticed even when there was 20/30 people on the course it’s
still really personalised, which you wouldn’t expect. Each point was directly
related to everyone’s business so it was really good, rather than just giving
information they helped us understand.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Standard"><span style="font-family: arial;">“I couldn’t recommend it enough, its 100% worth it.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Standard"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="Standard"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">To find out more about
Carl’s business, Jetset RC visit </b><a href="https://jetsetrc.co.uk/"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">https://jetsetrc.co.uk/</span></b></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Standard"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">To find out more about
Start Up Support, visit </b><a href="https://www.sthelenschamber.com/startup"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">https://www.sthelenschamber.com/startup</span></b></a></span><o:p></o:p></p>The Women's Organisationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13732990548189172646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4531458647302216819.post-70519338133958939112021-03-31T06:22:00.000-07:002021-03-31T06:22:15.207-07:00MAT Recruitment - The agency with ethics and values<p><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial;"><b>Education recruiters Marie Tormey and India Kapur felt large recruitment firms were serving schools and children poorly, so they set up their own venture in Liverpool.</b></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJLg0WXYcdksywMqXMdd-tP7JTs4y__9hv9_kVBc1u3K8X3jZWLANonNSMZn47xhdT3XuVbuytH_kV4VDos0i4Ig3_5ltsQNu0b4PYWE5Nyn0dP68XXkgKqKHsfPY8dKvEvk6TuEH3OPu/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img data-original-height="509" data-original-width="750" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJLg0WXYcdksywMqXMdd-tP7JTs4y__9hv9_kVBc1u3K8X3jZWLANonNSMZn47xhdT3XuVbuytH_kV4VDos0i4Ig3_5ltsQNu0b4PYWE5Nyn0dP68XXkgKqKHsfPY8dKvEvk6TuEH3OPu/w400-h271/IMG_4422.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marie Tormey (right) and India Kapur</td></tr></tbody></table></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial;">Most large recruitment companies will insist they work hard to match the right person to the right job in terms of experience and qualifications.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u>And, for the most part, that is probably technically true. But when your job is to hire teachers for schools the bar is raised and comes with a wider social responsibility, or at least it should be. As Marie Tormey says: You are looking for teachers who will inspire, engage and enthuse children.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u>Marie is co-founder of Liverpool-based MAT Recruitment along with India Kapur. Between them the pair have amassed 28 years working in the education recruitment sector, mainly for larger corporates. And they felt the way they were having to work could sometimes lead to standards being compromised.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u>India explained: “When you work for a large organisation you are too often driven by KPIs (key performance indicators). There was a lot of pressure to satisfy the client from the organisation by finding any teacher to fill the role. But it meant that we didn’t feel like we were always making the right ethical decisions.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u>So in February 2018, they took the plunge and launched MAT Recruitment. And, despite a few early setbacks, the business has gone from strength to strength with support from Liverpool City Region Enterprise Hub via The Women’s Organisation in Liverpool. It’s a venture that is aware of its wider responsibilities to society.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u>Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, MAT has grown headcount with four people, including Marie and India, now in the business. Rather than just putting bums on seats, MAT will go the extra mile to ensure the right teacher is being placed in the right school.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u>“We would rather say to a school ‘I’m sorry I don’t think we can help you on this occasion’ rather than taking their money,” she said. “We don’t comprise on our standards. Our philosophy is always the same – profit with purpose. We are, and we will always strive to be, a values-led ethical business.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u>“You often hear of good teachers leaving the profession altogether. It doesn’t always have to be like that. Too often the problem is they are not in the right school. Most of the time, people don’t leave jobs that they are happy in.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u>MAT works with individual schools and academy trust across the UK. It helps to place teachers as well as other educational staff such as HR, finance, facilities and support staff. It offers a personalised service to candidates. Time and care is taken to understand their career history and own aspirations.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u>India said: We take considerable time to discuss challenges they may have faced in their careers. We write a personalised profile for each candidate that highlights their key achievements and successes. Writing this profile gives confidence to the candidate that we understand who they are as a person and a professional.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u>The COVID-19 pandemic has had a severe impact on the education system with children away from their classrooms for weeks and months at a time due to multiple lockdowns. This has led to fears of long-term effects on young people.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u>Both Marie and India acknowledge but add they have found the resilience and adaptability of both schools and children to be awe-inspiring. Both are active school governors in Liverpool and can offer insights on the education sector from multiple perspectives.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u>“Schools and children have done a fantastic job in adapting to the pandemic,” said India. “During the first lockdown there was a gap between the children who were getting access to teaching and those that weren’t.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u>“However, that has now changed significantly. This time around, schools are much better organised and they are offering online structured timetables. They have really upped their understanding of what the technology can do.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u>“At MAT we have provided a fully-staffed virtual school with tutors across a number of subject areas for a large multi academy trust. This has been specifically aimed at year 11 students and is helping to fill gaps in knowledge. It has been a really big piece of work for us.”</span></p><figure class="wp-caption alignnone" id="attachment_75671" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; width: 750px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial;"><img alt="teacher, classroom, school, pupils" class="size-full wp-image-75671 b-loaded" height="500" src="https://lbndaily.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/IMG_4413-e1612884769749.jpg" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; height: auto; max-width: 100%; vertical-align: middle;" width="750" /></span><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 15px; margin: 5px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial;">MAT Recruitment says it takes placing the right teacher in the right school very seriously</span></figcaption></figure><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial;">Although both Marie and India were experienced and accomplished professionals in their field, there is much more to starting and running a business which is where the support of Enterprise Hub proved invaluable.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u>India said: “Enterprise Hub helped us a lot with structure. Both Marie and I know our stuff when it comes to recruitment but there are other things you have to consider – marketing, accounts etc. It helped us to step back and look at areas we needed to focus on. There were things we probably would have got around to but with their help we got there sooner.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial;">"We
had recently grown the business in terms of headcount, but we were conscious of
ensuring that we therefore increased our turnover and managed the team
effectively, making use of their skill set. Also, we wanted to set a clear
direction for our ambitions and goals and have them formulated into some sort
of structure. </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial;">"<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt;">We found
the training sessions with our team to be really useful; this is where we
identified the range of services we offer and how we are different to our competitors
in regard to the level of service we provide. Our employees were able to see
our USPs which has helped when talking to candidates and explaining to them why
they should work with us. "</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u>And, talking about the learning curve of starting a business, Marie added: “We went into this with our eyes open. We are self-funded and we had a clear budgeting strategy to enable growth and sustainability.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u>“I think you have to have faith in your own abilities and be prepared to learn from your mistakes. We have certainly had our setbacks. Those situations test your resolve but we have always kept the faith in what we do, and refused to compromise on our principles and standards”.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial;"><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u><u style="box-sizing: border-box;"></u>“Both India and I bring different skill sets to the business and we have a lot of confidence in the two people we have taken on. They have really bought in to what we are trying to achieve. We are two hard working professionals who had a dream and wanted to create something unique within our industry. Our aim is to ensure that our values continue to drive the growth of MAT Recruitment.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans"; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial;">Originally published in LBN Daily: https://lbndaily.co.uk/ethics-values-drive-growth-recruitment-venture/ </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><b style="color: #6b6b6b; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;">If you have been inspired by Marie and India's story and would like to see how Enterprise Hub can help you start or grow your own business, then get in touch with us. Email enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk </b></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"><b style="color: #6b6b6b; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px 0px 17px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUsxXSRwS8qNmm3Tmvkg-_sdkZYzArbGQDWbdXnjVSK5FOBepQ0r0L2OBnoK_ds-Jtaly1SrRyB31elE1Fx2RMB-e4n7DSdksebtPGM5gOkiuBm3NvO4-_Kli7PECxZ1Avn18y2shNtSR/s2000/LogoERDF_Col_Landscape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUsxXSRwS8qNmm3Tmvkg-_sdkZYzArbGQDWbdXnjVSK5FOBepQ0r0L2OBnoK_ds-Jtaly1SrRyB31elE1Fx2RMB-e4n7DSdksebtPGM5gOkiuBm3NvO4-_Kli7PECxZ1Avn18y2shNtSR/s320/LogoERDF_Col_Landscape.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b style="color: #6b6b6b; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;"><br /></b><p></p>The Women's Organisationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13732990548189172646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4531458647302216819.post-47714805604338813672021-03-22T05:29:00.002-07:002021-03-22T05:29:15.875-07:00Philippa and Neil Build their Own Careers with BC Bespoke Furniture<p> Phillipa and Neil have turned their passion into a
successful business with BC Bespoke Furniture. Starting out fixing and
customising their own home furnishings, both Philippa and Neil recognised that they
could create unique pieces for customer’s homes by setting up their family
business.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gmMeCLj64HtTh0nIe4pWBai1IZ787I0jCG5_ixHagjt1A71U_Ky14fhtR2G5HGKLLGfWsyJaNzSwSkg2cev8ri_JicWDulJd71htT0CjBAZkhLSDJ7DThhRWnV4S0o9q_RmsCCMqc9Dg/s1024/bc+approved.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="686" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4gmMeCLj64HtTh0nIe4pWBai1IZ787I0jCG5_ixHagjt1A71U_Ky14fhtR2G5HGKLLGfWsyJaNzSwSkg2cev8ri_JicWDulJd71htT0CjBAZkhLSDJ7DThhRWnV4S0o9q_RmsCCMqc9Dg/s320/bc+approved.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Philippa explained: “The business has really evolved from
where it started. BC Bespoke Furniture actually started when our puppy ruined
our dining room table! I knew what type of table I wanted but I knew I wouldn’t
find it in a shop, so I set about making it myself.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I have a quirky style when it comes to furniture, and my
vision was to have something unique. I made the table from scaffold boards and
tubes and the finished product was exactly the look I was going for.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">From their dining room table, the couple also realised that
during the pandemic they needed extra desk space as Neil was now working from
home.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Philippa commented: “When COVID started, Neil ended up
working from home and using my desk, so we needed extra desk space to
accommodate us both. We made a new desk
ourselves, then some shelves for the living room and it grew from there.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Philippa and Neil clearly had a passion and talent for
creating bespoke and unique furniture, but after relocating from Northampton it
wasn’t until their young family was settled into St Helens that the pair took
the next steps towards setting up BC Bespoke Furniture.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Philippa explained: “I moved from Northampton nearly 5 years
ago and I had tried to go back to work when I came to St Helens. At the same
time, we were going through the diagnosis process with my son who was diagnosed
with ADHD at age 14; so, trying to work for someone else and get him into
school moving was too much of a juggle for us. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Once the whole family was settled, it felt like a great
time for me to get back into work. I realised that setting up our own business
would give us the flexibility we needed to balance family life with our work
lives. Unfortunately, Neil was made redundant too, but this ultimately helped
us decide to set up on our own and we started looking into the premises and
machinery we would need.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Once they had decided that the time was right for them, both
Neil and Philippa set about researching what they would need to set up their
business – enlisting the help of St Helens Chamber’s Start Up team.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Neil commented: “We had some conversations about starting up
properly, and we knew we needed machinery and that our current workshop was far
too small. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It took us around 8 months to get the website built, find
our new premises and commission the workshop, but now we are all set up and
operating safely.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">BC Bespoke Furniture now make a range of different products,
all unique and bespoke. Each product is created with passion and the business
has now evolved further into making bespoke Garden Rooms.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Philippa explained: “Now we have the machinery we need we
are creating these amazing garden rooms. There’s a full range to suit all
different sizes and matching all budgets. We actually use one of the garden
rooms ourselves as an office in our workshop.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“These rooms have electricity, UPVC doors, cladding and add
a really useable space to your garden. Once lockdown has been lifted we are
planning to have a collection service from our workshop and we will allow
people to come in and see one of our garden rooms fully set up so they can get
a feel for it before they buy.” <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Through Enterprise Hub, St Helens Chamber’s Start Up team
supported Philippa and Neil while they created their business plan and will
continue to support them as their business grows.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Neil commented: “Steve was really helpful. He put a
framework together for us and showed us everything we needed to consider while
setting up our business. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Steve then helped us with our business plan, he gave us
lots of helpful feedback whenever we sent him the plan and helped review our
cost plans. He’d often come back with questions we’d not thought of, which was
really helpful when starting out.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">St Helens Chamber is part of Enterprise Hub, the
enterprise gateway for business start-up support in the Liverpool City Region. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Enterprise Hub is part funded by the European Regional
Development Fund.</span><div><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Now BC Bespoke Furniture is set up and business is growing,
they have become Chamber Members. Chamber Membership helps them enjoy great
links with local businesses and plenty of other benefits.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Philippa commented: “The factsheets I requested were really
helpful – they helped us know what to consider when it came to health and
safety, we had one on social media marketing too. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Anything we needed like business insurance etc we were able
to go through Chamber Members and felt much more secure going to someone who is
associated with St Helens Chamber. All the support has been great, from the
start up team to our Chamber Membership”.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">To find out more
about BC Bespoke Furniture visit: </b><a href="https://bcbespoke.co.uk/"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">https://bcbespoke.co.uk/</b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">To find out more
about Start Up Support, visit </b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.sthelenschamber.com/startup">https://www.sthelenschamber.com/startup</a></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">To access support to start your business contact the Enterprise Hub team on 0151 706 8113 or enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUsxXSRwS8qNmm3Tmvkg-_sdkZYzArbGQDWbdXnjVSK5FOBepQ0r0L2OBnoK_ds-Jtaly1SrRyB31elE1Fx2RMB-e4n7DSdksebtPGM5gOkiuBm3NvO4-_Kli7PECxZ1Avn18y2shNtSR/s2000/LogoERDF_Col_Landscape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUsxXSRwS8qNmm3Tmvkg-_sdkZYzArbGQDWbdXnjVSK5FOBepQ0r0L2OBnoK_ds-Jtaly1SrRyB31elE1Fx2RMB-e4n7DSdksebtPGM5gOkiuBm3NvO4-_Kli7PECxZ1Avn18y2shNtSR/s320/LogoERDF_Col_Landscape.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><br /></span></div>The Women's Organisationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13732990548189172646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4531458647302216819.post-24197960877557186122021-03-15T04:16:00.002-07:002021-03-15T04:16:36.880-07:00Redundancy gives James the Opportunity to Realises his Dream of Setting Up his own Business <p><span lang="EN-US">After being made redundant, James Hunter decided
it was time to follow his ambition of starting his own business. With the
support of St Helens Chamber and Enterprise Hub, he started mobile valeting
company, </span><span class="Hyperlink0"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://highdefinitionmobilevaleting.com/"><span style="color: black; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black;">High Definition Mobile Valeting</span></a></span></span><span lang="EN-US">.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLWGhipv5v-S0f8HJOqxuqS6CznGNMkeJPK-ssIM3BvXcap-fhZnv9MuyG4YJF4jezxmV9SXz_XPx4NegOh8Bg_UeAC6XVCVu9qunDZTweyumczcr2HfKGwUlQUo1zrG1tIPayNqke37m/s2048/james+hunter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLWGhipv5v-S0f8HJOqxuqS6CznGNMkeJPK-ssIM3BvXcap-fhZnv9MuyG4YJF4jezxmV9SXz_XPx4NegOh8Bg_UeAC6XVCVu9qunDZTweyumczcr2HfKGwUlQUo1zrG1tIPayNqke37m/s320/james+hunter.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">High Definition Mobile Valeting</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span lang="EN-US">James explained: </span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS", serif;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>“</span><span lang="EN-US">High
Definition Mobile Valeting is based in Newton Le Willows, but we cover most of
the North West. I valet cars and other vehicles too; offering a range of
services from full valets, to showroom valets and even a disinfecting mist
service which kills 99.9% of germs.</span></p>
<p class="Body"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ansi-language: AR-SA; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>“</span><span lang="EN-US">The misting service has gone down
really well at the moment as people are much more conscious of keeping their
cars clean and free of bacteria. I also offer a carbon clean too which is good
for the engine maintenance, so I help people take care of the inside of their
car as well as the outside!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">After being made redundant, James was keen to
get his business off the ground. However, after talking to St Helens Chamber</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span><span lang="EN-US">s
Start Up team he slowed things down to make sure all of the relevant funding
and business plans were in place.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">James commented: </span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ansi-language: AR-SA; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>“</span><span lang="EN-US">I
knew once I took redundancy that I wanted to start my own business with the
money. I thought it was a great way to turn something which was quite stressful
into something good; and its worked out really well.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ansi-language: AR-SA; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>“</span><span lang="EN-US">I wanted to finish my job on the Friday
and go straight into the new business on Monday. After speaking with my
Business Adviser Steve, he advised me to take a step back and look at a business
plan; which really was the best thing I could have done.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">James didn</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span><span lang="EN-US">t just benefit from the support of the
Start Up team, he took every opportunity to train with St Helens Chamber and
boost his skills – all completely free of charge.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">James explained: </span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ansi-language: AR-SA; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>“</span><span lang="EN-US">The
support has been superb. Steve slowed things down for me and gave me a new
perspective, he advised me about different funding available and then he helped
me access relevant training. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ansi-language: AR-SA; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>“</span><span lang="EN-US">I took advantage of some of the courses
on offer like </span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>‘</span><span lang="EN-US">Getting started with LinkedIn</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span><span lang="EN-US"><span dir="LTR"></span><span dir="LTR"></span> and I did a Bookkeeping
course which was really useful. With me handling money I wanted to know I was
doing everything right, so this really helped.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">High Definition Mobile Valeting is going from
strength to strength and business is growing even through the lockdown.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ansi-language: AR-SA; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>“</span><span lang="EN-US">The timing of me starting in the middle
of the pandemic wasn</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span><span lang="EN-US">t ideal, but once we came out of the first lockdown we really hit
the ground running. In particular, Facebook has been really good for us lots of
bookings come through Messenger. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ansi-language: AR-SA; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>“</span><span lang="EN-US">I wasn</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span><span lang="EN-US">t sure whether the business was going
to take off through the pandemic but it really had and I</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span><span lang="EN-US">m so pleased. I work nearly 7 days a
week and we</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span><span lang="EN-US">re really busy which is great. I</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span><span lang="EN-US">m establishing my business so it</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span><span lang="EN-US">s
great to have so many bookings coming through.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US">Steve Mather, Business Start Up Adviser at St
Helens Chamber, added: </span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ansi-language: AR-SA; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>“</span><span lang="EN-US">It</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span><span lang="EN-US">s fantastic to see James</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’ </span><span lang="EN-US">business
doing so well through these tough times, I</span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL" lang="AR-SA" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS",serif; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span dir="RTL"></span><span dir="RTL"></span>’</span><span lang="EN-US">m looking forward to continuing working
with him and seeing how his business will grow in the coming months.” <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Body">Enterprise Hub is funded by the European
Regional Development Fund.</p><p class="Body"><span lang="EN-US"></span></p><p class="Body"><b><span lang="EN-US">To find out more about High Definition Mobile
Valeting, visit </span></b><span class="Hyperlink1"><span lang="EN-US"><a href="https://highdefinitionmobilevaleting.com/"><span style="color: black; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black;">https://highdefinitionmobilevaleting.com/</span></a></span></span></p>
<p class="Body"><b><span lang="EN-US">To find out more about Start Up Support via St Helens Chamber,
visit </span></b><span class="Hyperlink1"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black;"><span style="color: black; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black;"><a href="https://www.sthelenschamber.com/startup">https://www.sthelenschamber.com/startup</a></span></span></span></span><b><span lang="EN-US"> </span></b><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="Body"><span class="Hyperlink1"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black;"><span lang="DE" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black;">Or for general Enterprise Hub enquiries contact EnterpriseHub@TheWo.Org.Uk or 0151 706 8113.</span></span></span></p><p class="Body"><span class="Hyperlink1"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUsxXSRwS8qNmm3Tmvkg-_sdkZYzArbGQDWbdXnjVSK5FOBepQ0r0L2OBnoK_ds-Jtaly1SrRyB31elE1Fx2RMB-e4n7DSdksebtPGM5gOkiuBm3NvO4-_Kli7PECxZ1Avn18y2shNtSR/s2000/LogoERDF_Col_Landscape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUsxXSRwS8qNmm3Tmvkg-_sdkZYzArbGQDWbdXnjVSK5FOBepQ0r0L2OBnoK_ds-Jtaly1SrRyB31elE1Fx2RMB-e4n7DSdksebtPGM5gOkiuBm3NvO4-_Kli7PECxZ1Avn18y2shNtSR/s320/LogoERDF_Col_Landscape.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span lang="DE" style="color: black; mso-ansi-language: DE; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: black;"><br /></span><p></p><br /><p></p>The Women's Organisationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13732990548189172646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4531458647302216819.post-65797910553781848182021-03-08T03:47:00.000-08:002021-03-08T03:47:11.838-08:00Meet the engineer turned businesswoman who is making a name and badge for herself and others, online<p><span style="font-family: arial;"> Krystina Pearson-Rampeeare is an Aerospace Engineer who
turned a common observation about her day job, into a profitable business.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">“You don’t look like an engineer!” It’s a comment Krystina
and many other women in jobs traditionally associated with men, have heard 100
times or more. As a Flight Systems Engineer at BAE Systems, Krystina decided to
mix her love of pin badge collecting with an important message about equality
and possibilities. In 2020, she launched AviateHer, an Etsy shop which stocks
and sells her inspired pin badges.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjof9Xs4e-QXoMlepBUBRn19sXG7XB6f7lNwAi3yzchgQv9GGo-GA9Hnf24QQaPO9zkvb3BJXrXSD7VhOXvQMvraAHpX-_oJCCx5t30jp38Lh814zunRdiBqcZx0Sn8Weg6boiclCqzJ98d/" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="695" data-original-width="745" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjof9Xs4e-QXoMlepBUBRn19sXG7XB6f7lNwAi3yzchgQv9GGo-GA9Hnf24QQaPO9zkvb3BJXrXSD7VhOXvQMvraAHpX-_oJCCx5t30jp38Lh814zunRdiBqcZx0Sn8Weg6boiclCqzJ98d/" width="257" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Krystina Pearson-Rampeearee</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">“I initially came across The Women’s Organisation on social
media and attended a few talks at 54 St James’s Street. When I started my
business during lockdown, I contacted The Women’s Organisation to see if they
could offer me any support with setting up a business. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Before she contacted The Women’s Organisation, Krystina said
she was looking for support to progress her idea, she said: “As someone with
little business experience I was hoping to gain insight on how to run a
business and what I needed to be aware of. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">“I balance AviateHer with my day job where I have worked for
seven years after graduating from university with a master’s degree in
aerospace systems Engineering. I live in Liverpool with my husband, 2-year-old
boy and our dog, and in my spare time I volunteer as a STEM Ambassador and
mentor.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">AviateHer is a one-woman operation as Krystina uses her
creative flair to design and sell enamel pin badges to highlight diversity in
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) careers. She sells them
online via Etsy and hopes to launch her own website in 2021.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9X3tUMJwlqbRSM7HfSXpVawkE0F9OrmFBwAbFcbXTKrmTdGhBvpXkO6vFtMvzOph2CtJFs562SuL-3R1tOBhkZLFxmFDFFghQKmnlZibOcrvFz_0edHozWLyLtlcALsys6ED7wUySeyw5/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9X3tUMJwlqbRSM7HfSXpVawkE0F9OrmFBwAbFcbXTKrmTdGhBvpXkO6vFtMvzOph2CtJFs562SuL-3R1tOBhkZLFxmFDFFghQKmnlZibOcrvFz_0edHozWLyLtlcALsys6ED7wUySeyw5/" width="180" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">“The advice that I got from The Women’s Organisation was
invaluable. I was asked questions during sessions with my business advisor Huda,
about my products that I hadn’t considered. She really opened my mind to
possibilities and approaches to help my business succeed. I had regular
sessions which helped me to remain accountable to the running of the business.”
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Krystina feels proud of her new skill set as she manages the
inventory, product design, photography, packing and marketing herself. Her
Enterprise Hub business advisor also helped with setting monthly targets which
Krystina says improved her management of inventory and to plan. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">“I wish we could have met in person, but the remote meetings
did enable more flexibility with balancing work and family life.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Now a small business owner who has raised over £1000 for
various charities since opening her online shop, Krystina has received more
than 500 Etsy sales since going live in July 2020 and lots of positive reviews.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">“The response was better than I ever expected, I started
with a pin badge for Engineers and due to requests, have expanded to include
further careers such as Scientists, Pilots, Coders and Mathematicians, with
more to come! <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">“Part of the proceeds from each pin badge goes to charity
which has been a great way for me to give back. I’m looking forward to the
future and seeing what comes next by expanding AviateHer further and setting up
a Community Interest company which aims to benefit women in STEM.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">To find out more about
AviateHer you can </span></b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/AviateHer"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">check out the Etsy Shop link here</span></b></a></span><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">. </span></b><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">If you have been inspired by
Krystina’s story and are interested in starting or growing a business of your
own, then Enterprise Hub could help!</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">Get in touch if you are
thinking of starting a business in the Liverpool City Region or have a new
business under three years old. You can speak to our team via </span></b><span style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;"><a href="file://thewo-storage/Company_Data/Projects/Project%20Enterprise%20Hub%20Phase%202%20Consortium%20Management/Monitoring%20&amp;%20Performance/Case%20studies/Pre-start/AviateHer/enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk%20"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;">enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk</span></b></a></span><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"> or 0151 706 8113.</span></b></span><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>The Women's Organisationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13732990548189172646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4531458647302216819.post-43863522910718788632021-02-12T07:30:00.002-08:002021-02-12T07:30:07.968-08:00The Fermentation Station offers 'ordered chaos' on a plate <div><br /></div><p style="margin-bottom: 18.75pt; margin-left: 18.15pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 18.75pt 18.15pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Starting a business can be daunting. Starting a business in the middle of a global pandemic takes courage, determination and support. The Fermentation Station has done just that and following a huge surge in business at Christmas, owners Amy and Sam are now developing hands-on workshops and a bounty of Spring products.</b></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 18.75pt; margin-left: 18.15pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 18.75pt 18.15pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0aCyhOl1DrCRVwZp6f03m7t0pRwivq7HxCi1_WK7WGJoZISlTPCYAs0FoBQXyMNzOerOROUffoKb5PRAczsYKCbOuWrem9Ervwod6UVtHHgj0szKRxVdVmBQpOeLcRTcanSG70uFCyb87/s4032/IMG_2767.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0aCyhOl1DrCRVwZp6f03m7t0pRwivq7HxCi1_WK7WGJoZISlTPCYAs0FoBQXyMNzOerOROUffoKb5PRAczsYKCbOuWrem9Ervwod6UVtHHgj0szKRxVdVmBQpOeLcRTcanSG70uFCyb87/s320/IMG_2767.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amy with some of their products</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 18.75pt; margin-left: 18.15pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 18.75pt 18.15pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The process of fermentation has been around for centuries and is practised around the globe. You've probably heard of sauerkraut and kombucha, but there are so many more healthy, vegan, dairy and gluten-free products on offer. </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 18.75pt; margin-left: 18.15pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 18.75pt 18.15pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Liverpool-based business The
Fermentation Station (TFS) was established in 2020 with support from The Women's Organisation and Enterprise Hub. Specialists in creating probiotic food and drink which are healthy, delicious, diverse and sustainable, we caught up with owners Amy and Sam to find out more. </span></p><div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 18.75pt 18.15pt; text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-family: arial;">"Our business grew out of a passion for what had originally been a hobby at home. During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, we were presented with more time to explore and expand upon the art of fermentation. </span></span></div><p style="margin-bottom: 18.75pt; margin-left: 18.15pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 18.75pt 18.15pt; text-align: left;"><span><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="text-align: left;">"As time went on and our following grew on social media, people’s interest in our ferments and the products we were producing led us to deciding to establish it as a legitimate business."</span></span></span></div><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 18.75pt; margin-left: 18.15pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 18.75pt 18.15pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Drawing on previous experience, Amy and Sam were able to manage some of the basic aspects of setting up a business. Having registered with Companies House, they contacted The Women's Organisation which connected them with Enterprise Hub and a dedicated business advisor for additional support.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 18.75pt; margin-left: 18.15pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 18.75pt 18.15pt;"><span><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifK-A1furFXiIX3JO9Hjr06LwihGFLke_edAdOMKkJk0o-ZY7EEblnFgJrijFNwEaxrjzePnZdqUwHiWo9c2ZfZZPd-xd7Yyu4WIVTwKlTLnzAoVpn2usmwf26LGDPg5ZcJpNjJbgKRMLg/s1024/TFS+group+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifK-A1furFXiIX3JO9Hjr06LwihGFLke_edAdOMKkJk0o-ZY7EEblnFgJrijFNwEaxrjzePnZdqUwHiWo9c2ZfZZPd-xd7Yyu4WIVTwKlTLnzAoVpn2usmwf26LGDPg5ZcJpNjJbgKRMLg/s320/TFS+group+.jpg" /></a></span></span></div><span><span style="font-family: arial;">"I have had a number of different support points from the Enterprise Hub through The Women’s Organisation. I have had access to a business advisor and also virtually attended a number of support event with them including, social media strategy and business planning. </span></span><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 18.75pt; margin-left: 18.15pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 18.75pt 18.15pt;"><span><span style="font-family: arial;">"All of which have been helpful in establishing TFS, but I’ve found being able to ask my business advisor any queries particularly helpful."</span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 18.75pt; margin-left: 18.15pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 18.75pt 18.15pt;"><span><span style="font-family: arial;">The Fermentation Station start up process wasn't all plain sailing. Amy and Sam faced a number of barriers that affected them both professionally and personally.</span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 18.75pt; margin-left: 18.15pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 18.75pt 18.15pt;"><span><span style="font-family: arial;">"The greatest barrier for any business is the growth vs money dichotomy. My business partner is also my life partner and so we are currently running a household on limited income and the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic is very real for us all right now. We are having to adapt as the landscape dictates." </span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 18.75pt; margin-left: 18.15pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 18.75pt 18.15pt;"><span><span style="font-family: arial;">I think everyone juggles many different responsibilities. I run a home with a very energetic working dog in it who requires a lot of time, attention and exercise. In addition, prior to Christmas 2020, I was a carer and granddaughter to Nan, who was 95 and lived with a genetic eye disorder which left her blind. Unfortunately, we lost her in December 2020, so we are all currently functioning and living with our grief."</span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 18.75pt; margin-left: 18.15pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 18.75pt 18.15pt;"><span><span style="font-family: arial;">The Fermentation Station is currently run from home with additional kitchen facilities located at a family members home, where the duo manufacture their products. <br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 18.75pt; margin-left: 18.15pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 18.75pt 18.15pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">"Here at The Fermentation Station we believe
in showcasing the diversity of fermented foods through traditional and
sustainable methods. Educating, inspiring and connecting communities to create
positive health outcomes and food waste solutions." </span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 18.75pt; margin-left: 18.15pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 18.75pt 18.15pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">"Fermentation is what we call 'Ordered Chaos' and we want our products to be fun from start to finish. From the love and creativity we put into our ferments to the delicious dishes and drinks our clients make with them."</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLlmqg1V2d9xZF7mcyZiyR1e83ok6z-3mNle38Y6y7mZ4PC63ETp3Hc9M3wT7oNb5-j3YkYYHRsycCkkyGOMMeTf76Oukuv7aMTMMaMfyNn_lxvAu517zginlK0q6cKogdvVLBjog6i7O/s1776/49BF5292-1383-4EF1-AAE9-E3C01456C375-21112-000003EB15D52AA9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1184" data-original-width="1776" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLlmqg1V2d9xZF7mcyZiyR1e83ok6z-3mNle38Y6y7mZ4PC63ETp3Hc9M3wT7oNb5-j3YkYYHRsycCkkyGOMMeTf76Oukuv7aMTMMaMfyNn_lxvAu517zginlK0q6cKogdvVLBjog6i7O/s320/49BF5292-1383-4EF1-AAE9-E3C01456C375-21112-000003EB15D52AA9.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 18.75pt; margin-left: 18.15pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 18.75pt 18.15pt;"><span><span style="font-family: arial;">There are many things that are unique about the business. The Fermentation Station is at the forefront of a new trend in the food and beverage industry that is set to grow. We have a number of unique aspects of our business model too, including our seasonal sustainability, subscriptions, social conscious and collaborations. </span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 18.75pt; margin-left: 18.15pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 18.75pt 18.15pt;"><span><span style="font-family: arial;">As COVID-19 measures took hold, The Fermentation Station was unable to sell at as many venues as markets as it planned. However, positives include an increase in social media activity and 'phenomenal' sales in December. </span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 18.75pt; margin-left: 18.15pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 18.75pt 18.15pt;"><span><span style="font-family: arial;">The business is going well. There are many positives to running your own business. The biggest one is being your own boss, having the autonomy to decide the direction of your business and what your values are. </span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 18.75pt; margin-left: 18.15pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 18.75pt 18.15pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">I’m proud of us, our determination and our ability to do this in the middle of a pandemic. Starting a business is big and scary at any time and being able to reach the level of success we have so far and given the challenges I am immensely proud."</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 18.15pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> Website: <a href="http://www.thefermentation-station.co.uk/">www.thefermentation-station.co.uk</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 18.15pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> Email: <a href="mailto:info@thefermentation-station.co.uk">info@thefermentation-station.co.uk</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 18.15pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> Facebook: @TheFermentationStationUK<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 18.15pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> Instagram: @thefermentationstationuk<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 18.15pt; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 18.15pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b style="color: #6b6b6b; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Get in touch if you are thinking of starting a business in the Liverpool City Region or have a new business under three years old. You can speak to our team via enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk or 0151 706 8113.</b></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 18.15pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b style="color: #6b6b6b; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 18.15pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUsxXSRwS8qNmm3Tmvkg-_sdkZYzArbGQDWbdXnjVSK5FOBepQ0r0L2OBnoK_ds-Jtaly1SrRyB31elE1Fx2RMB-e4n7DSdksebtPGM5gOkiuBm3NvO4-_Kli7PECxZ1Avn18y2shNtSR/s2000/LogoERDF_Col_Landscape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUsxXSRwS8qNmm3Tmvkg-_sdkZYzArbGQDWbdXnjVSK5FOBepQ0r0L2OBnoK_ds-Jtaly1SrRyB31elE1Fx2RMB-e4n7DSdksebtPGM5gOkiuBm3NvO4-_Kli7PECxZ1Avn18y2shNtSR/s320/LogoERDF_Col_Landscape.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><b style="color: #6b6b6b; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><br /></p>The Women's Organisationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13732990548189172646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4531458647302216819.post-44289073338565600212021-01-29T06:46:00.006-08:002021-01-29T06:46:49.769-08:00Enterprise Hub Client Wins National Podcasting Award<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A business owner from the Wirral who received support from Enterprise Hub has won a prestigious Podcasting for Business Awards.</span></h3><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAYAlEYlBWvaObkhqNhPSDqGhK8TewUE58ULy7DMU5qpYpJSSoY6SMfOzb6KNW2ufIeTbMjyyxC4uRiDFYp-FyZguSuHdD2Yops5Iu7F8AsoQ6N3Y_L_STENxs0NGFCrKlHQgFrIb8U0U/s2048/Gaby+Mendes+-+Best+Education+Podcast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1376" data-original-width="2048" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWAYAlEYlBWvaObkhqNhPSDqGhK8TewUE58ULy7DMU5qpYpJSSoY6SMfOzb6KNW2ufIeTbMjyyxC4uRiDFYp-FyZguSuHdD2Yops5Iu7F8AsoQ6N3Y_L_STENxs0NGFCrKlHQgFrIb8U0U/w400-h269/Gaby+Mendes+-+Best+Education+Podcast.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Gaby Mendes, winner of the Best Education Podcast Award</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Gaby Mendes, 25, was shortlisted from hundreds of entries and won in the Best Education Podcast category of the inaugural Podcasting for Business Awards. The awards were announced in a fun, virtual online ceremony on the 26th of January, 2021. “As a former teacher, and considering how young the podcast is, winning an award for the Best Education Podcast has truly made my year” said Gaby, who is the host of the Talk Twenties Podcast.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">The awards are the brainchild of Lynsay Anne Gould, who is a top-rated podcaster, podcast agency owner and business coach. The Podcasting for Business Awards’ main aim is to celebrate the creativity of new and seasoned podcasters and help them reach a wider audience. Podcasting has taken off globally with Apple currently hosting over 1.68 million podcasts and there are over 10 million weekly podcast listeners here in the UK.<a href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1"><sup>[1]</sup></a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Founder of the Awards, Lynsay Anne says, “A big congratulations to all the winners. The PFB Awards are a celebration of all independent podcasting and we love sharing the amazing achievements of podcasters across many different genres. A big thank you to all our judges and sponsors who made the 2021 awards a massive success.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">“We absolutely love showcasing indie podcasters and their shows in the awards and we will be hosting the event annually. I am passionate about getting more diverse voices and ideas heard via the marvellous medium of podcasting.”</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">To find out more go to <a href="https://www.lynsayanne.com/pfbawards">https://www.lynsayanne.com/pfbawards</a></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1"><sup>[1]</sup></a> https://www.inpublishing.co.uk/articles/podcast-growth-continues-but-publishers-need-to-be-clear-why-they-are-podcasting-15678</span></p>The Women's Organisationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13732990548189172646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4531458647302216819.post-62366418971331000612020-12-17T03:58:00.004-08:002020-12-18T02:40:17.419-08:00SME Investment readiness during a pandemic: how to access CBILS and funding support before March 31st<h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />As we exit the second national lockdown of the year and enter strengthened
Tier 2 restrictions, businesses are continuing to feel the strain of the pandemic.
It therefore remains vital to know your options around the financial support
that could help your business to recover and prosper post-pandemic, and how
best to approach providers of finance.</span></h3><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">MSIF Investment Manager, Sue Chambers, discusses the importance of
investment readiness and how best to prepare for funding success during a time
of elevated uncertainty.</span></h3><h3 style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_3e37VbEqjiXFHZ5dqht_zNJwA4qFyivtU-V8kmoqG4FkZDaRfCNe8DJxXCLVAdAJmlW2lvWf0QNORghK70nVPIJPHkNYYnJxSl0bKzXuBTlmW7lNydgf-IAECigLtBh89B7Z1u_mKT0/s2576/Sue_Chambers.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1220" data-original-width="2576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_3e37VbEqjiXFHZ5dqht_zNJwA4qFyivtU-V8kmoqG4FkZDaRfCNe8DJxXCLVAdAJmlW2lvWf0QNORghK70nVPIJPHkNYYnJxSl0bKzXuBTlmW7lNydgf-IAECigLtBh89B7Z1u_mKT0/s320/Sue_Chambers.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sue Chambers, MSIF Investment Manager</td></tr></tbody></table></span></h3>
<h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Knowing your options</span></span></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">When applying for funding, you should ensure that you have
explored all opportunities for <br />financial support during this time. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Firstly, you should be utilising any free resource that is
available to you as a small to medium-sized business. We would encourage you to
approach your local chambers of commerce and business growth hubs as they have
a plethora of connections to best help your business, in addition to the latest
advice derived from central government sources. The <a href="https://growthplatform.org/">Liverpool City Region Growth Platform</a> is
a great place to start for any businesses situated within the LCR as the site
also includes the latest information on any localised grants that may be
available.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Be sure to check what government grants you may be eligible
for as a company as well as ensuring you have utilised the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-job-retention-scheme">Job
Retention Scheme</a> where appropriate to help both sustain your business and
preserve jobs via the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/">gov.uk</a> website.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">If government and/or local support is not sufficient to get
your business through the winter, you may want to consider a <a href="https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/ourpartners/coronavirus-business-interruption-loan-schemes/bounce-back-loans/">Bounce
Back Loan</a> (BBLS) if you are looking for funding up to £50,000 - or alternatively,
a <a href="https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/ourpartners/coronavirus-business-interruption-loan-scheme-cbils-2/for-businesses-and-advisors/">Coronavirus
Business Interruption Loan</a> (CBILS) if you need more than that. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you have already taken out a Bounce Back Loan, you may be
able to top this up to £50,000 and you should contact your original provider
for further information. You can have either a BBL or a CBILS but not both.
CBILS can also be applied for and used to repay a BBL. If you want to apply for
either of these loans you need to do this <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>before
the schemes end on 31st March 2021</u></b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">In the first instance, our best advice is to try your own
bank first for CBILS/BBL support. If they are unable to help, then you can
apply to other providers. <a href="http://www.msif.co.uk/">MSIF</a> as an
example is able to support businesses with a CBILS loan through both their
dedicated <a href="https://www.msif.co.uk/funding-msif/259-coronavirus-business-interruption-loan-scheme-cbils">Coronavirus
Recovery and Resilience Fund</a> in addition to the <a href="https://www.npif.co.uk/">Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund</a> - NPIF
Microfinance, jointly managed with <a href="https://businessfinance.growthco.uk/">GC Business Finance</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>
<h2><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Investment readiness</span></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Before you look to access external funding, make sure you
have a full business plan ready – including an explanation of how your company
has been adversely affected by the Coronavirus pandemic, your plans for
recovery and what you intend to use the funds for. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Cash flow forecasts also need to be incorporated and be as
realistic as possible. For example, if your business is connected to the
hospitality and retail sector, you may want to assume that there could be a
further delay before trading is back to normal. It will also be useful for a
funder to see a sensitised version of your forecasts that takes account of
possible further lockdowns or slower recovery – say reducing revenues (and
associated costs) by a prudent percentage per month. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCCsRBAyXdQPRDl_V57pGhWNSWitHcfYvlMhqCXiyUuzIJO95nhs3bhexaw6omkhUb4B0CoLj7W2evUHuKW8ef-b3K2PA9u9dvZJLz332sCgOWBlupvXKL_idJ3BwOJBEDhWe2TJFE5vg/s2048/SME+investment+readiness+blog+-+stock+photo.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1367" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCCsRBAyXdQPRDl_V57pGhWNSWitHcfYvlMhqCXiyUuzIJO95nhs3bhexaw6omkhUb4B0CoLj7W2evUHuKW8ef-b3K2PA9u9dvZJLz332sCgOWBlupvXKL_idJ3BwOJBEDhWe2TJFE5vg/s320/SME+investment+readiness+blog+-+stock+photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The cash flow forecast will serve to both highlight the
amount required, building in some headroom as it is only a forecast, and help
to evidence ability to meet the loan repayments. It is also important to detail
any assumptions you have made in the cash flow. At a time when funders can’t
get together face to face to discuss your financial workings it is crucial that
you explain how you have arrived at the amount of loan you are looking for.
Communication is key!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>
<h2><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Benefits of funding</span></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">There are some real benefits of securing funding during this
time. It can help create additional headroom and breathing space for your
business, but you need to be sure to apply for sufficient funds to get through
the next 6 months and beyond. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Additional funding can also help with the retention of staff
and could avoid the need to retrain new staff in the future if unnecessary
redundancies are made.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Of course <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>some
businesses are seeing growth</u></b> opportunities during the pandemic and as
long as they can show they have been adversely impacted by COVID in some way,
then BBLs and CBILS can also be used for investment purposes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Overall, you are best preparing yourself to hit the ground
running when Covid restrictions are eventually eased and we can all return to
‘normality’. Now is the time for recovery and resilience. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you are successful in applying for BBL or CBILS funding
the government will cover all fees and interest costs for the next 12 months
allowing you breathing space to focus on getting your business back on track.
You can also use the funding to repay any delete ‘any’ existing funding if it
will help put your business on a more stable financial footing, but lenders do
have a limit attached to the amount they can refinance in this way.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p>
<h2><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Implementing new finance
into your business</span></span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Only you, as the leader of your business will truly
understand what your priorities are and where the extra funding will be needed
most. This will vary from business to business, including covering business
rates and rent, paying suppliers and, despite best efforts from the government,
staff costs. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The key thing is to ensure that you have explored all
options to make the most out of any assistance available.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">By having these conversations, you are not only best
preparing your business to re-start or continue to operate, but you are putting
yourself in the best position possible for success when applying for additional
funding. Make sure you have a clear plan of where that money needs to be
deployed, to mitigate the risk of asking for too little or too much investment.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Be open and be honest in your conversations with any
potential funders, during a time of continued and increased social distancing.
It is imperative you include as much detail as you can to supplement your
application. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Yes, there is light at the end of the pandemic tunnel but we
need to be prepared for the financial challenges 2021 may present as a result. </span><o:p></o:p></p>The Women's Organisationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13732990548189172646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4531458647302216819.post-11418927166544963512020-12-03T05:39:00.000-08:002020-12-03T05:39:00.774-08:00Mia’s Cocktails are shaking up the lockdown<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b>For Mia Williamson, the national lockdown in March could not have come at a worse time. Having worked in the bar industry for 5 years, she had decided that 2020 was going to be the year of change for her, and had just packed in her full time job to concentrate on her newly registered business ‘Shaker Shaker’ specialising in a bespoke mobile bar service. She had joined the Enterprise Hub programme at the Wirral Chamber and was busy working on her business plan when the announcement came.</b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xuryfYxY1aXrbmolF2t4km8_klH2jm9SkR2U0eh2Q1r1r49xn1-aT78MyX7rrpKG4-xHwXaWVS7xG3ml7ikT3MajAdmuFZ9LAG7Nmwly7wDyKfWnQv_l-QQJX-tmuRg3XrBibXbzs9WW/" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="230" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xuryfYxY1aXrbmolF2t4km8_klH2jm9SkR2U0eh2Q1r1r49xn1-aT78MyX7rrpKG4-xHwXaWVS7xG3ml7ikT3MajAdmuFZ9LAG7Nmwly7wDyKfWnQv_l-QQJX-tmuRg3XrBibXbzs9WW/" width="173" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Mia up and running</span><span style="color: #666666; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">Mia was faced with two choices, to call last orders on her new business or to take the plunge and adapt to survive. Fortunately she decided on the latter and, realising that her target customers were now confined to their homes and unable to socialise, she took to social media and launched #14CocktailsIn14 Days. “I decided to capitalise on my cocktail-making skills and post a video a day for 14 days showing people how to make a different cocktail each day!” By keeping people’s spirits up – literally – and posting engaging content, Mia soon saw her number of followers increase. She says, “I totally underestimated the power of social media. Initially I found it very daunting taking and posting videos of myself, but I soon realised that my posts were triggering engagements and people wanted to see what I was up to each day!’</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">Having built up a healthy following on social media, the ease in lockdown restrictions enabled Mia to launch her cocktail delivery service. ‘I announced it on the Wednesday’, says Mia, ‘and by Friday my week was fully booked’. Unlike other competitors, Shaker Shaker’s delivery service provided DIY cocktail kits containing all the ingredients and instructions, so clients were buying the experience as well as the drink – and this quirky twist went down a storm.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">The combination of her products and her social media activity soon attracted the attention of other businesses within the catering and events sector and Mia found herself networking and collaborating with other local independents who provided support, cross-referrals, re posts and friendship during the difficult summer months.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">Mia’s advice to other start-up businesses would be ‘to focus on the journey and not the destination, move out of your comfort zone – challenge yourself and explore every opportunity!’ She admits that when she first started, she didn’t know how to run a business but through the Enterprise Hub programme she not only enjoyed the workshops that were on offer but felt that she particularly benefitted from bouncing ideas around in the one to one sessions and the encouragement she received from the advisers Heidi and Paul.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">So what does the future hold for Mia and Shaker Shaker? Well the support she received over the summer from her client base and fellow independent businesses has left her in no doubt that it is only a matter of time, when restrictions regarding gatherings are lifted, that the full potential of Shaker Shaker will be realised. She already has bookings for next year for her all-inclusive mobile bar package and cocktail making classes, but in the meantime, she’s back to her DIY cocktail deliveries – adding a bit of sparkle and fun to her client’s lives!</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;">For more information on Shaker Shaker you can contact Mia on: <a href="mailto:info@shakershaker.co.uk" style="color: #ed1849; text-decoration-line: none;">info@shakershaker.co.uk</a> / 07708 777 990 or follow her cocktail making antics on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/shakershakerbar" style="color: #ed1849; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.facebook.com/shakershakerbar</a> or her Instagram page.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><b style="color: #6b6b6b; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;">Get in touch if you are thinking of starting a business in the Liverpool City Region or have a new business under three years old. You can speak to our team via enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk or 0151 706 8113.</b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><b style="color: #6b6b6b; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 20px;"><b style="color: #6b6b6b; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #6b6b6b; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif41ZBB_sNR5ZNAeoVfF3cctWp49asMz69Z0TeffRDYCPVknvDfC15e2Q-3PhC9QXxT1l2x3_ZGqXCyFfqvA4ODXURIKafAIk0JB4gxKMJrQs8cy3fOCmhY_ewF_TeyfC-x9ZbIkl3Ucrx/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="72" data-original-width="320" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif41ZBB_sNR5ZNAeoVfF3cctWp49asMz69Z0TeffRDYCPVknvDfC15e2Q-3PhC9QXxT1l2x3_ZGqXCyFfqvA4ODXURIKafAIk0JB4gxKMJrQs8cy3fOCmhY_ewF_TeyfC-x9ZbIkl3Ucrx/" width="320" /></a></b></div><b style="color: #6b6b6b; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; text-align: justify;"><br /><br /></b><p></p>The Women's Organisationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13732990548189172646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4531458647302216819.post-83537599245072488492020-11-27T03:19:00.003-08:002020-11-27T03:36:08.484-08:00Ellie gets creative with new business Ellie Francesca Design<p><b>When the UK lockdown restrictions were announced in March, life and business changed as we know it. For many aspiring entrepreneurs, lockdown gave them the opportunity to knuckle down and work on their enterprise ideas. This was the case for Ellie Francesca Watson who in October launched her e-commerce shop <i>Ellie Francesca Design</i> </b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR7xCi2m7-cyNsCl597_ku3rU6pc697WAZwnfXmaj7szQJ1m9_VjRxaoVemyW6qsY2fWUwFvJ3gQveL5j6Hl-RO5tToWpTQ8vXbR11e7NuAG0yJ6p_XLfBLqEKX1J6Lieclp4Aq0SLX_3G/s1280/ellie+watson.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR7xCi2m7-cyNsCl597_ku3rU6pc697WAZwnfXmaj7szQJ1m9_VjRxaoVemyW6qsY2fWUwFvJ3gQveL5j6Hl-RO5tToWpTQ8vXbR11e7NuAG0yJ6p_XLfBLqEKX1J6Lieclp4Aq0SLX_3G/s320/ellie+watson.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh942jGrwQY30JgYgZUG4kT2wjloVO6xvwguyGiIQtk7H4p4_88lxEMVq-kuR8e1koJV4BvYDdophr9t7RwCo2JJxBoA6_FQMiMhNfSG1SdgHc-p_TjeLv4KH-1447xaxgfLpc4sBpfKEOk/s1080/ellie+artwork.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh942jGrwQY30JgYgZUG4kT2wjloVO6xvwguyGiIQtk7H4p4_88lxEMVq-kuR8e1koJV4BvYDdophr9t7RwCo2JJxBoA6_FQMiMhNfSG1SdgHc-p_TjeLv4KH-1447xaxgfLpc4sBpfKEOk/s320/ellie+artwork.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Working as a freelance artist, Ellie was making income through commissions and funding from community projects and workshops whilst working a part-time job at a Chinese takeaway. To gain steady income well into the future, she started to devise a plan to commercialise her work and open her own e-commerce shop.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Instead of taking a step back during the lockdown, Ellie used her time at home to focus on opening her own Etsy shop. Following a recommendation from a fellow artist at the Hazlehurst Studio, she decided to investigate The Women’s Organisation and what support could be offered to her. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">She was set up with business advisor Jo Mountfort who got straight to work helping Ellie reinvent herself and her work as a brand. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">She told us: “Every time I spoke to Jo, she really engaged and involved herself with my concept and vision. She fully understood who I was marketing my products at and has been a crucial step in both promoting and expanding my range at the shop. She was also really great at suggesting webinars and programmes that would be beneficial to me”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">The Women’s Organisation gave her the opportunity to attend a range of webinars and business training – something that Ellie took advantage of during the initial stages of lockdown. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">She continued “The Women’s Organisation really helped the process become less overwhelming, the webinars gave me a reason to get up and focus, at a time when it would have been easy to lose motivation. I’ve really enjoyed the networking and hearing stories from other Liverpool based entrepreneurs, especially the ones nearer my age group”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Ellie Francesca Design officially launched in October, selling hand drawn portrait prints and greetings cards of iconic and well-loved musicians through an e-commerce shop on Esty. A self-confessed old soul, Ellie has used her love of music and record collecting to inspire the artwork she creates.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Starting a business during a pandemic is not the only hurdle Ellie has had to overcome, making it all the sweeter that she can now call herself a business owner. In 2018, she faced the most challenging year of her life when her health began to decline, resulting in her having to drop out of university and take a step away from her art. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The physical challenges from her health condition left her suffering with the performance in both of her hands - every creatives worst nightmare. After a diagnosis Rheumatoid Arthritis in the spring of 2019, and time out to recoup, things started to look up. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Ellie told us “I’m actually thankful that my personal circumstances were a little rocky for a while, in the long term it has driven me forward and taught me to become more resilient!”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">With sales and commissions rolling in, Ellie is now thinking about new ventures such as series for pioneering women and work to pay tribute to NHS workers across the country.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">What has Ellie learned from starting her business?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">“The business is still very new and it’s very much a learning process, but I’ve learned now to fixate and worry about the small details that can always be resolved. I have probably written enough names down in my notebook to keep me sketching away till I am 80! Thanks to the Women’s Organisation, who’ve helped me get my business up and running, I’m now in a position where I feel the possibilities are endless and the skies the limit.”</p><p><b>To find out more about Ellie Francesca Design you can check out her <a href="https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/EllieFrancescaDesign">Etsy</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ellie.francesca.design/">Instagram </a>& <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EllieFrancescaDesign/">Facebook</a></b></p><p><b>If you have been inspired by Ellie’s story and are interested in starting or growing a business of your own, then Enterprise Hub can help!</b></p><p><b>Get in touch if you are thinking of starting a business in the Liverpool City Region or have a new business under three years old. You can speak to our team via enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk or 0151 706 8113.</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUsxXSRwS8qNmm3Tmvkg-_sdkZYzArbGQDWbdXnjVSK5FOBepQ0r0L2OBnoK_ds-Jtaly1SrRyB31elE1Fx2RMB-e4n7DSdksebtPGM5gOkiuBm3NvO4-_Kli7PECxZ1Avn18y2shNtSR/s2000/LogoERDF_Col_Landscape.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUsxXSRwS8qNmm3Tmvkg-_sdkZYzArbGQDWbdXnjVSK5FOBepQ0r0L2OBnoK_ds-Jtaly1SrRyB31elE1Fx2RMB-e4n7DSdksebtPGM5gOkiuBm3NvO4-_Kli7PECxZ1Avn18y2shNtSR/s320/LogoERDF_Col_Landscape.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>The Women's Organisationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13732990548189172646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4531458647302216819.post-81410290036923321412020-11-11T05:37:00.005-08:002020-11-11T05:37:55.698-08:00Search launched for LCR Tech Climbers 2021<p><b>The search is on to find the stars of Liverpool City Region’s digital sector for inclusion in the LCR Tech Climbers 2021 list.</b></p><p><b>Following the success of the inaugural list in 2019, the second list promises to be even bigger and better and will showcase the top performing technology-led businesses that make Liverpool City Region one of the UK’s most exciting tech destinations.</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FSNWXLL1yiFP-LweOd-RpdsM02IpEDsRv-9JA-S868fIMvOXwucm1NAMNNSEt3Y00f74v7B8ynYbrnv-Y8AwfkNfSIvEd_WlD7CAopbPNanQJYim91s_PI83b99U_EW-HoKYc2B4AK-V/s2048/IMG_1237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FSNWXLL1yiFP-LweOd-RpdsM02IpEDsRv-9JA-S868fIMvOXwucm1NAMNNSEt3Y00f74v7B8ynYbrnv-Y8AwfkNfSIvEd_WlD7CAopbPNanQJYim91s_PI83b99U_EW-HoKYc2B4AK-V/w400-h266/IMG_1237.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>The list is being run in association with BusinessCloud and will be unveiled at an exclusive event in 2021 and published online.</p><p>Entries to the 2021 list will be judged on:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The impact of the technology or service;</li><li>Innovation and IP development potential; and</li><li>Investment potential of the technology.</li></ul><p></p><p>Entries close on December 14th and will be revealed at an exclusive launch event on January 28th, 2021.</p><p>The partners for LCR Tech Climbers 2021 are Growth Platform, Brabners; MSIF; Invest Liverpool; ZUT Media; and Gather.</p><p>Piers Dryden, partner at Brabners, said: “Brabners Technology Sector Group is passionate about supporting the region’s innovative businesses and is delighted to be part of LCR Tech Climbers 2021.</p><p>“The region has a vibrant technology ecosystem and it’s exciting to see so many smart and innovative businesses developing solutions and services that fuel economic, social and commercial growth. They will shape our collective future as the region emerges from the shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond.”</p><p>Helen Cross, digital and creative champion at Growth Platform said: “We set Tech Climbers up to showcase the brilliant people and products behind the growth and resilience in the region. There are so many great stories of leadership and tenacity emerging from the technology community at the moment, and I’m really proud that with our partners we’ve made this happen again in 2021.”</p><p>David Walters, investment manager at MSIF, said: “We are thrilled to be part of this year’s LCR Tech Climbers – celebrating the best of the region’s scale-up and early stage technology talent.</p><p>“In 2021 the investment teams at MSIF are becoming even more focussed on supporting tech in the region through equity and loan vehicles as well as our extensive eco-system of technology thought leaders.</p><p> “The LCR is becoming a beacon for rich IP and product-led tech whether that is AI, digital or increasingly Immersive technology companies.</p><p>“Tech Climbers is a great way to further showcase the remit of talent the LCR holds and will further demonstrate why Liverpool is one of the UK’s best tech destinations.”</p><p><b>For more and to enter details go to <a href="http://www.techclimbers.co.uk">http://www.techclimbers.co.uk</a></b></p><div><br /></div>The Women's Organisationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13732990548189172646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4531458647302216819.post-37178037308602923002020-10-30T03:13:00.001-07:002020-10-30T03:13:06.478-07:00Paul’s New Business Is Standing Tall! <p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Is there anything more annoying than having nowhere convenient to hang your belongings close-by when out at a venue, particularly if you have to use the floor? Well, Paul Morris’s new business, Small Stands, now offers a simple and attractive solution to this age-old problem.</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-eO_xfUi_ljyQ0xNYYo8UGhFbceYfZ30eLFqoL2KL9yp-De2zaREMn81rsPWcsIJR9WSeeFJARs0xFUKvRQwICSvOAA7jpu993-56nEbogkIgs-aBbj1vljINaE7eaEhPUNzMl-xsBRy/s535/Wirral+Paul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="528" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-eO_xfUi_ljyQ0xNYYo8UGhFbceYfZ30eLFqoL2KL9yp-De2zaREMn81rsPWcsIJR9WSeeFJARs0xFUKvRQwICSvOAA7jpu993-56nEbogkIgs-aBbj1vljINaE7eaEhPUNzMl-xsBRy/s320/Wirral+Paul.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul Morris, founder of Small Stands<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;">But before his dream of becoming his own boss came true, Paul worked in the education sector, the NHS and finally, Lever Brothers, where he worked as an IT manager. What started as a 4-year plan ended up as 20 years of service, and once he’d achieved all that he could and with IT work slowing down, he decided to leave employment and start up his own business - right in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic! </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Not great timing for some, but Paul was determined to make a living out of a hobby of making things and doing something he enjoyed. And it was during a trip to Mexico City that Paul kept seeing these curious, but very popular, pieces of table-side furniture in the restaurants, and this became the inspiration for Small Stands!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">So, what is “Small Stands” and its products? Well, imagine individual smaller-scale coat stands, tailor-made in a variety of attractive finishes and colours, ideal for any commercial business that operates from premises. Then imagine that with these products, the business is then able to offer its customers a secure, clean and convenient close-by alternative to the traditional tall coat stand, back of a chair or dirty floor that they would normally have to use! And with the current pandemic in everybody’s mind, there’s the added benefit that these small stands, if regularly sanitised, can prevent cross-contamination from other people’s belongings. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Paul will initially be looking to establish a market for ‘Small Stands’ on Wirral, but with three models on offer already and with more product ideas to follow, he has every intention of expanding his business further afield. In addition, Paul is keen to eventually have his own premises with a view to taking on some additional staff should the business grow sufficiently enough for him to do this.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">And as someone who has never started his own business before, Paul’s advice is very practical: “Put a timeline against your start-up plans, then double it! Then stick to that!”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">And having gone through the Enterprise Hub programme at Wirral Chamber, how did he find the experience? </p><p style="text-align: justify;">His response is very positive: </p><p style="text-align: justify;">“The Enterprise Hub has helped me enormously and I wouldn’t be at the stage I am without them. They have a wide range of knowledge which helped me understand the whole start-up process. They also have a huge network to draw upon, helping me source suppliers and reaching out to experts in the field. I also joined many webinars such as finance, website design and social media (which I needed!). But mostly the one-to-ones where invaluable, the team at Enterprise Hub are fantastic at giving guidance and helping you to make your own decisions and giving you direction.” </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>So if you’re a business that operates from a venue and would like to know more about how Small Stands can improve your customers’ experience, ring Paul Morris on 07434 641 927, e-mail him at paul@smallstands.com or visit his website at www.smallstands.com </b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Get in touch if you are thinking of starting a business in the Liverpool City Region or have a new business under three years old. You can speak to our team via enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk or 0151 706 8113.</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUsxXSRwS8qNmm3Tmvkg-_sdkZYzArbGQDWbdXnjVSK5FOBepQ0r0L2OBnoK_ds-Jtaly1SrRyB31elE1Fx2RMB-e4n7DSdksebtPGM5gOkiuBm3NvO4-_Kli7PECxZ1Avn18y2shNtSR/s2000/LogoERDF_Col_Landscape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUsxXSRwS8qNmm3Tmvkg-_sdkZYzArbGQDWbdXnjVSK5FOBepQ0r0L2OBnoK_ds-Jtaly1SrRyB31elE1Fx2RMB-e4n7DSdksebtPGM5gOkiuBm3NvO4-_Kli7PECxZ1Avn18y2shNtSR/s320/LogoERDF_Col_Landscape.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>The Women's Organisationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13732990548189172646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4531458647302216819.post-65358993129057047152020-10-29T05:42:00.000-07:002020-10-29T05:42:27.777-07:00Debbie Helps People Train and Develop with Purpose at Nurture Training<p><b>Debbie Richards, Owner of Nurture Training LTD, is providing vital training to people all across the region. After falling into the role of Assessor, Debbie decided she had enough experience to set up her own business, and hasn’t looked back since taking the leap into self-employment over a year ago.</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJ8K6LgDxHg8GcHStMxstII0MwMfzl_qgpj3sHTFWKaUu02IlTtZh-lK43ajm-FbwgQhUESfbHEhTQ33l61gcGBgbxyAvfQdondY6gL9V9jRD8WWsGed-QujTFnOjNdR0NA3LWdt_7cn2/s2570/652b2f_aebcc466515b4c859c44b74b44179483_mv2_d_3501_1667_s_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="2570" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJ8K6LgDxHg8GcHStMxstII0MwMfzl_qgpj3sHTFWKaUu02IlTtZh-lK43ajm-FbwgQhUESfbHEhTQ33l61gcGBgbxyAvfQdondY6gL9V9jRD8WWsGed-QujTFnOjNdR0NA3LWdt_7cn2/s320/652b2f_aebcc466515b4c859c44b74b44179483_mv2_d_3501_1667_s_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Debbie explained: “I ended up falling into the role of assessor and worked through to management roles. While I was working in various educational roles, I just fell in love with the sector. I loved everything about it; enrolments, the admin, the processes – everything!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">"I’d worked with a number of providers so I had quite a lot of experience, and I thought I could go this alone and have my own training company. So, I approached the Chamber to find out more about how I could go about starting up.”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Debbie approached St Helens Chamber’s Start Up team, who can provide support for people looking to start their own business; with everything from writing a business plan to accessing funding.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Debbie continued: “Once I had it in my mind to set up my business, I called the Start Up team and booked an appointment with Steve to start putting everything in motion. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">“I’d actually approached the Start Up team the year before, but I decided I wasn’t ready at that point. But, this time I knew I was ready to take the leap!”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">With the support from St Helens Chamber’s Start Up team, Debbie set up Nurture Training. Nurture Training have an extensive list of training courses, with the aim to “Train & Develop with Purpose” and allow people to gain deep insights into the areas they are studying in.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Debbie explained: “I’m extremely passionate about the adult education sector, so setting up Nurture Training has allowed me to pass on this passion.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">“I’ve always been committed to my own professional development, so this combined with my passion for education means I can deliver a range of professional and industry qualifications.”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">St Helens Chamber’s Start Up team worked closely with Debbie to help her become more business-minded, and have continued to support her as her business grows.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Debbie commented: “The Support was fantastic, Stella and Steve were both very informative and even now they still get in touch to check in on me and see how I’m doing. They are really invested my success - Steve is getting in touch to help me with growth and marketing soon too which is great.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">“It’s nice to have that followed up and know the support is still available even after I’ve set up. The support is outstanding - I’m really pleased it’s there.”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">St Helens Chamber is part of Enterprise Hub, the enterprise gateway for business start-up support in Merseyside. Offering expert advice and support to anyone thinking about starting a business, including help to:</p><p>• Understand the process of starting a business</p><p>• Research a business idea</p><p>• Build a comprehensive business plan</p><p>• Develop a marketing plan</p><p>• Create financial forecasts to understand the costs of running your business and potential income</p><p>• Identify sources of finance to get started</p><p><b>To find out more about Business Start Up Support visit https://www.sthelenschamber.com/startup</b></p><div><div><b>Get in touch if you are thinking of starting a business in the Liverpool City Region or have a new business under three years old. You can speak to our team via enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk or 0151 706 8113.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUsxXSRwS8qNmm3Tmvkg-_sdkZYzArbGQDWbdXnjVSK5FOBepQ0r0L2OBnoK_ds-Jtaly1SrRyB31elE1Fx2RMB-e4n7DSdksebtPGM5gOkiuBm3NvO4-_Kli7PECxZ1Avn18y2shNtSR/s2000/LogoERDF_Col_Landscape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUsxXSRwS8qNmm3Tmvkg-_sdkZYzArbGQDWbdXnjVSK5FOBepQ0r0L2OBnoK_ds-Jtaly1SrRyB31elE1Fx2RMB-e4n7DSdksebtPGM5gOkiuBm3NvO4-_Kli7PECxZ1Avn18y2shNtSR/s320/LogoERDF_Col_Landscape.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b></div><div><br /></div></div>The Women's Organisationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13732990548189172646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4531458647302216819.post-56726005205901914392020-10-28T03:36:00.011-07:002020-10-28T03:54:05.749-07:00Changing the way we learn with Talk Twenties<p><b>Whilst school education is a crucial part of every young person’s life, many argue that some essential skills are left out of the curriculum. Noticing the lack of life skills being taught to help the transition into adulthood, award-winning blogger and </b><b>former teacher Gaby Mendes has decided to change the way we learn with her business Talk Twenties</b></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWl62LUd1MwzT6JvfhiCm9POHKdw5NFgMS7eOSATxq-WSrCS8TXUzlaE5pvaecSuEPiMdEDjr2jRx8nYYGrN3-vSMmUmcHIw2tsatUEx5AwujaOoM1maIBhMlvta_hDU-0ZBY43kKUc-H/s799/GM.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="664" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcWl62LUd1MwzT6JvfhiCm9POHKdw5NFgMS7eOSATxq-WSrCS8TXUzlaE5pvaecSuEPiMdEDjr2jRx8nYYGrN3-vSMmUmcHIw2tsatUEx5AwujaOoM1maIBhMlvta_hDU-0ZBY43kKUc-H/s320/GM.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gaby Mendes</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><span style="text-align: justify;">Navigating her way through her twenties, Gaby soon discovered that there were still a lot of life skills she did not know about. When it came to renting for the first time, starting a new job, or saving for your first home – it was obvious to her that there was a lack of support for young people to access.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;">She decided to set up a blog to write about the challenges young professionals face in their twenties. It was through this blog that she started to hear back from others in the same boat as her – confused and unsure about who to turn to for advice. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">This feedback got her thinking about the benefits of building a community of twenty-somethings to support each other – and just like that, Talk Twenties was born!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Ready to make her idea a reality, Gaby reached out to The Women’s Organisation after hearing about the support from a colleague. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">She told us: “I was feeling really overwhelmed by the finance and marketing side of starting up and I really didn’t know where to start.”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">She was able to access training sessions on business planning, marketing, and business finance. The sessions helped her to start building her creative content and stay up to date with the latest HMRC regulations for self-employment. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">She was also able to attend regular 1-2-1 meetings with her business adviser Jo Mountfort. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">“Jo helped me with putting together agreements for my contributors, this helped me set boundaries with others supporting my business. She also helped me work on a cash flow document to manage my finance”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Talk Twenties officially launched in 2020, upskilling people with a range of content that is not taught in schools. The one-stop shop produces a regular podcast, online resources, webinars, courses, and topical blogs from members of the community. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The original concept for the business was to create festival style events with expert guest speakers, but due to COVID-19 restrictions, Gaby had to act fast to adapt the business to run online. During the outbreak, the business launched their first podcast that now boasts over 26 episodes and has had special guests including Girls in marketing and Less Waste Laura. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Gaby recently monetised the business by launching an online shop selling colourful prints and online courses, with the first courses supporting first-time buyers to understand the house buying process.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">So, what plans does Gaby have next for Talk Twenties?</p><p style="text-align: justify;">“We hope to launch physical events when it’s safe to do so! It is still early days, but I have been able to monetise my business, bring in contributors and increase my exposure with the support of enterprise hub. I don’t think I’d be where I am today without The Women’s Organisation!”</p><p><b>To find out more about Talk Twenties you can check out their <a href="https://www.talktwenties.com/">Website</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/talk_twenties" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/talktwenties/" target="_blank">Instagram </a>& <a href="https://www.facebook.com/talktwenties/" target="_blank">Facebook</a></b></p><p><b>If you have been inspired by Gaby’s story and are interested in starting or growing a business of your own, then Enterprise Hub could help!</b></p><p><b>Get in touch if you are thinking of starting a business in the Liverpool City Region or have a new business under three years old. You can speak to our team via enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk or 0151 706 8113.</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUsxXSRwS8qNmm3Tmvkg-_sdkZYzArbGQDWbdXnjVSK5FOBepQ0r0L2OBnoK_ds-Jtaly1SrRyB31elE1Fx2RMB-e4n7DSdksebtPGM5gOkiuBm3NvO4-_Kli7PECxZ1Avn18y2shNtSR/s2000/LogoERDF_Col_Landscape.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUsxXSRwS8qNmm3Tmvkg-_sdkZYzArbGQDWbdXnjVSK5FOBepQ0r0L2OBnoK_ds-Jtaly1SrRyB31elE1Fx2RMB-e4n7DSdksebtPGM5gOkiuBm3NvO4-_Kli7PECxZ1Avn18y2shNtSR/s320/LogoERDF_Col_Landscape.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b><p></p>The Women's Organisationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13732990548189172646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4531458647302216819.post-62247403324362506842020-10-27T03:41:00.001-07:002020-10-29T03:13:18.515-07:00Sarah Evans Jewellery is a Hidden Gem!<p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Well, they do say: “What goes around, comes around!” And this is certainly the case for Sarah Evans and her partner, Ian, the co-owners of Sarah Evans Jewellery.</b> </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Having lived opposite each other and dating as teenagers in Dorset, their paths diverged significantly into very different trajectories. But 33 years later, they are back together again with a shared passion for being creative and running their own business – Sarah Evans Jewellery! </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-CrML9r9zc-In_7JS54y0mAkr4QCVWgHkeoJtDAawsByDU4N7VcOwv2EKFC4YMcQHb4mA-sxlMFvwVlRERjnS8VmpM7UwMSCXVKAvK3dvigzDyeUk2KI2lF-FO8M8-opqF4fcnXAK_RKj/s445/Sarah+Evans.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="445" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-CrML9r9zc-In_7JS54y0mAkr4QCVWgHkeoJtDAawsByDU4N7VcOwv2EKFC4YMcQHb4mA-sxlMFvwVlRERjnS8VmpM7UwMSCXVKAvK3dvigzDyeUk2KI2lF-FO8M8-opqF4fcnXAK_RKj/s320/Sarah+Evans.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarah Evans and her partner, Ian<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;">Sarah has over 25 years’ experience, knowledge and skills of working in the jewellery trade, having cut her teeth at a prestigious jeweller’s in London’s West End. She then moved on to teaching at local schools and at the Royal College of Art. Ian, on the other hand, developed his people and organisational skills working for the Civil Service and local government. But like Sarah, Ian reached that stage where he wanted to be part of something more creatively fulfilling, so starting their own business made perfect sense.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Now when it comes to quality, bespoke jewellery, Sarah Evans Jewellery certainly shines! As well as remodelling and repairing existing jewellery, they can produce wedding and engagement rings, necklaces and other jewellery items that are fabulous, of great quality and that can be treasured for many years to come. And all are hand-crafted to your individual requirements using materials of the highest quality. Not sure what you want? Well Sarah is well-qualified to give you the best impartial advice. Sarah Evans Jewellery has also had to adapt to Covid-19 and has done so by offering Zoom and Skype consultations with customers, along with safe, socially-distanced meetings when appropriate.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">And what’s the future for Sarah Evans Jewellery? Well they are looking to exhibit at jewellery fairs in the UK and overseas and will be hoping to attend Covid-secure events over the coming year. Sarah would also like to teach customers how to make their own wedding rings along with delivering autism-friendly work-experience opportunities for young people.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">And any words of wisdom from Sarah and Ian for anyone starting their own business? “I’ve always felt that it’s important to follow your heart and to keep creativity in your life,” Sarah replies. Ian comments further, “It’s what makes us both tick and sometimes you have to have the courage to follow your heart, try something new and believe in yourself!”</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Sarah and Ian also acknowledge the support received from Enterprise Hub at Wirral Chamber. Both are quick to point out that Enterprise Hub has helped them both formulate their ideas into a coherent plan and given them the tools and knowledge they didn’t know they needed, to help them develop their business further!</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>If you’re looking for a fantastic piece of bespoke, high-quality jewellery and would like to contact Sarah Evans Jewellery, then either ring Sarah on 07941 227 757, e-mail her at sarah.evans.jewellery@gmail.com or visit their website at www.sarahevansjewellery.com</b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b>If you have been inspired by Sarah's story and would like to see how Enterprise Hub can help you start your own business, then get in touch with us. Email enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk </b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUsxXSRwS8qNmm3Tmvkg-_sdkZYzArbGQDWbdXnjVSK5FOBepQ0r0L2OBnoK_ds-Jtaly1SrRyB31elE1Fx2RMB-e4n7DSdksebtPGM5gOkiuBm3NvO4-_Kli7PECxZ1Avn18y2shNtSR/s2000/LogoERDF_Col_Landscape.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUsxXSRwS8qNmm3Tmvkg-_sdkZYzArbGQDWbdXnjVSK5FOBepQ0r0L2OBnoK_ds-Jtaly1SrRyB31elE1Fx2RMB-e4n7DSdksebtPGM5gOkiuBm3NvO4-_Kli7PECxZ1Avn18y2shNtSR/s320/LogoERDF_Col_Landscape.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><b><br /></b><p></p>The Women's Organisationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13732990548189172646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4531458647302216819.post-45498270058649378742020-10-07T03:07:00.001-07:002020-10-07T03:07:17.930-07:00Inspiring Women Entrepreneurs Join Launchpad Event<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><p style="background-color: white; color: #6f7287; font-family: "Neue Plak", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px 0px;"><span style="padding-top: 0px;">Budding Merseyside entrepreneurs are invited to find out how to plan to launch a new business during a Pandemic at a special 'Launchpad' event. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #6f7287; font-family: "Neue Plak", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px 0px;"><span style="padding-top: 0px;">Led by The Women's Organisation in partnership with BIPC Liverpool </span>this Launchpad event will outline the practicalities of getting started as well as connecting aspiring business owners with entrepreneurs who have been there, done it and even re-adapted in the face of Covid 19.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #6f7287; font-family: "Neue Plak", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #6f7287; font-family: "Neue Plak", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px 0px;">The panel:</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #6f7287; font-family: "Neue Plak", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: 700; padding-top: 0px;"></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #6f7287; font-family: "Neue Plak", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #6f7287; font-family: "Neue Plak", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: 700; padding-top: 0px;">Sharron Crawford - Objet Dahlia</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #6f7287; font-family: "Neue Plak", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHeThUtmgPMeEy9e_Q93fRKZo2sbBL8GLVyGw7KrYzO0PXWFLx940uofehtwP-w1e0ZV4Gr807pGWK8_O1huOO65v-PleTG_tSaqa6Crb0RMu5T8HsUjGzQmc42LlCQzGZbskjFP_43aOr/s480/Sharron+Crawford+%2528002%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHeThUtmgPMeEy9e_Q93fRKZo2sbBL8GLVyGw7KrYzO0PXWFLx940uofehtwP-w1e0ZV4Gr807pGWK8_O1huOO65v-PleTG_tSaqa6Crb0RMu5T8HsUjGzQmc42LlCQzGZbskjFP_43aOr/s320/Sharron+Crawford+%2528002%2529.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-weight: 700; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #6f7287; font-family: "Neue Plak", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px 0px;">Objet Dahlia sells faux florals and Homeware. Sharron used to run a wedding floristry business but due to having an unexpected rare type of cancer took a couple of years out and that business folded. Sharron was then working freelance when Covid hit and that work stopped almost immediately. Sharron launched Objet Dahlia just before the Covid lockdown, so not what many would suggest is an ideal time to start anything new but lockdown gave Sharron the free time to put all her efforts into her new business, which is doing pretty well considering the current financial climate. Objet Dahlia is based online only and has just partnered with Not on the high street.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #6f7287; font-family: "Neue Plak", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #6f7287; font-family: "Neue Plak", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: 700; padding-top: 0px;">Gaby Mendes - Talk Twenties</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #6f7287; font-family: "Neue Plak", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: 700; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #6f7287; font-family: "Neue Plak", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6p5r0NeSWiRYRyYdTy4BKb0fzPbcRPUj_ISeSksI4bbcyXjqiB25YNyvEIqYsvGVON6jW9mliKFIRHWvHrRZw-blvsQSEmkRG3bd8vP3XHUhZF5X6CwCtUEIjdykFBPpMEH2TBGwwNKWt/s3780/Gaby+Headshot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3780" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6p5r0NeSWiRYRyYdTy4BKb0fzPbcRPUj_ISeSksI4bbcyXjqiB25YNyvEIqYsvGVON6jW9mliKFIRHWvHrRZw-blvsQSEmkRG3bd8vP3XHUhZF5X6CwCtUEIjdykFBPpMEH2TBGwwNKWt/s320/Gaby+Headshot.JPG" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-weight: 700; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #6f7287; font-family: "Neue Plak", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px 0px;">Leaving the teaching profession at 23 Gaby wanted to expand her skillset and explore her business idea for Talk Twenties. Gaby felt overwhelmed by the finance and marketing side of things and didn’t know where to start, so reached out to The Women's Organisation for support. Gaby launched Talk Twenties in January of this year to cover all the things that school never teaches you ranging from figuring out how to buy your first home, navigating a career change to prioritising your mental health. Talk Twenties are basically a one-stop-shop for any question you may feel silly for asking in your twenties! They have a popular podcast, online resources, webinars and courses and blogs for our twenty-something community.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #6f7287; font-family: "Neue Plak", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #6f7287; font-family: "Neue Plak", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px 0px;">This event is part of our Enterprise Hub programme, part funded by European Regional Development Fund and offering FREE advice and guidance to those living in the Liverpool City Region thinking of starting a business.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #6f7287; font-family: "Neue Plak", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px 0px;"><a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/launchpad-starting-a-business-during-a-pandemic-start-up-conference-tickets-123336545929">To book a free place click here.</a></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #6f7287; font-family: "Neue Plak", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px 0px;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUsxXSRwS8qNmm3Tmvkg-_sdkZYzArbGQDWbdXnjVSK5FOBepQ0r0L2OBnoK_ds-Jtaly1SrRyB31elE1Fx2RMB-e4n7DSdksebtPGM5gOkiuBm3NvO4-_Kli7PECxZ1Avn18y2shNtSR/s2000/LogoERDF_Col_Landscape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUsxXSRwS8qNmm3Tmvkg-_sdkZYzArbGQDWbdXnjVSK5FOBepQ0r0L2OBnoK_ds-Jtaly1SrRyB31elE1Fx2RMB-e4n7DSdksebtPGM5gOkiuBm3NvO4-_Kli7PECxZ1Avn18y2shNtSR/s320/LogoERDF_Col_Landscape.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="background-color: white; color: #6f7287; font-family: "Neue Plak", -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 1.5rem; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px 0px;"><br /></p></div>The Women's Organisationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13732990548189172646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4531458647302216819.post-43058883165307011832020-10-02T07:15:00.000-07:002020-10-02T07:15:07.509-07:00Self Assessment customers to benefit from enhanced payment plans<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #212529; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bolder;">Self Assessment customers can apply online for additional support to help spread the cost of their tax bill into monthly payments from today (1 October), without the need to call HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">The online payment plan service can already be used to set up instalment arrangements for paying tax liabilities up to £10,000. From 1 October 2020, HMRC has increased the threshold to £30,000 for Self Assessment customers, to help ease any potential financial burden they may be experiencing due to the coronavirus pandemic.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">The increased self-serve Time to Pay limit of £30,000 follows the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s announcement on 24 September to increase support for businesses and individuals through the uncertain months ahead.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">As part of his speech, the Chancellor announced that Self Assessment customers could pay their deferred payment on account bill from July 2020, any outstanding tax owed for 2019 to 2020 and their first payment on account bill for this current tax year in monthly instalments, up to 12 months, via this self-serve tool. Customers who need longer than 12 months to settle their tax liabilities are invited to contact HMRC in the usual way.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Jesse Norman, said:</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">“We are supporting jobs by giving more breathing space to up to 11 million Self Assessment taxpayers when managing their tax affairs.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">“Enhancing Time to Pay should ease the financial burdens and protect the livelihoods of these taxpayers, as they navigate the months ahead.”</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">More than 11 million customers complete a Self Assessment tax return each year. Once they have completed their tax return for the 2019 to 2020 tax year, those who have payments to make may have the option of using the online self-serve Time to Pay facility through GOV.UK to set up a direct debit and pay any tax that is owed in monthly instalments, up to a 12-month period.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">HMRC estimates around 95% of Self Assessment customers who are due to make payments on 31 January 2021 could qualify to implement a Time to Pay arrangement using the self-serve Time to Pay facility online, without needing to speak to an HMRC adviser.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">Customers who wish to set up their own self-serve Time to Pay arrangements must meet the following requirements:</p><ul style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box;">they need to have no:<ul style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><li style="box-sizing: border-box;">outstanding tax returns</li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;">other tax debts</li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;">other HMRC payment plans set up</li></ul></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;">the debt needs to be between £32 and £30,000</li><li style="box-sizing: border-box;">the payment plan needs to be set up no later than 60 days after the due date of a debt</li></ul><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;">Customers using self-serve Time to Pay will be required to pay any interest on the tax owed. Interest will be applied to any outstanding balance from 1 February 2021.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1rem; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Be aware of scams claiming to be from HMRC, offering to help you set up payment plans to pay any tax owed. These scams are trying to harvest your details to steal your money. Check <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/phishing-and-bogus-emails-hm-revenue-and-customs-examples" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration-line: none;">GOV.UK</a> for information on how to <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/genuine-hmrc-contact-and-recognising-phishing-emails/genuine-hmrc-contact-and-recognising-phishing-emails" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration-line: none;">recognise genuine HMRC contact</a>. Self Assessment customers can set up their own online payment plan to help spread the cost of their tax bill by visiting <a href="https://www.gov.uk/pay-self-assessment-tax-bill/pay-in-instalments" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; text-decoration-line: none;">https://www.gov.uk/pay-self-assessment-tax-bill/pay-in-instalments</a>.</span></p>The Women's Organisationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13732990548189172646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4531458647302216819.post-12631992942718948152020-09-29T04:22:00.001-07:002020-09-29T04:22:21.172-07:00Entrepreneurship - Alive and Well During Covid-19<div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>I’m sure everyone would agree that the ongoing Covid-19 crisis has been a huge challenge for all of us. But how has it affected entrepreneurs, not to mention start-ups and young businesses?</b></span></div><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><b>Paul Rittenberg from Wirral Chamber of Commerce shares his experience of working with inspiration businesses over the last couple of months...</b></div><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9rd0zZJl-TZQvE1PZX1ye4hA0vZ4i9mdspLVgWhmq_tvc7TJsCU0IsmSP_F9C0TqTt2izYm5LLScV53LuDRvq1jHCv1DwopQFquvOiguFjF5dtuROcTrjLg8R4kG-wRdQ6GBS11MzJ49/s2048/pexels-picjumbocom-210661.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9rd0zZJl-TZQvE1PZX1ye4hA0vZ4i9mdspLVgWhmq_tvc7TJsCU0IsmSP_F9C0TqTt2izYm5LLScV53LuDRvq1jHCv1DwopQFquvOiguFjF5dtuROcTrjLg8R4kG-wRdQ6GBS11MzJ49/w400-h266/pexels-picjumbocom-210661.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p></o:p></b></p><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px 0px 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There’s an old saying that “necessity is the mother of invention” and this is certainly true for those starting and running a new business. However, with the added complication of a global pandemic, this has stretched even the most resolute of souls during the last few months.</span></div><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px 0px 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">However, having worked in the business support sector for many years, it still amazes me how the human spirit can triumph over adversity, whether it be by adapting a current service or product offer, or just by doing things differently. The capacity for humans to be able to reinvent themselves and ‘shape-change’ and be ‘chameleonesque’ in response to an ever-changing environment is something we sometimes take for granted.</span></div><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px 0px 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For example, at the very beginning of the crisis, one of our new Enterprise Hub start-up businesses put out an online ‘call to action’ for people to pre-order her brand-new product range at an early-bird discount but tied it into a crowd-funding opportunity to give her pre-start business a much-needed financial boost before she could physically open her doors.</span></div><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px 0px 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But does it have to be something innovative or can it be just a simple ‘tweak’ of a business offer to meet a change in demand? Another of our Enterprise Hub clients was looking to offer his transportation service to a particular target market. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">However, Covid-19 put paid to that and so he just …. well changed his target market! Same vehicle, different client group, money coming in.</span></div><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px 0px 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ve been particularly impressed by how the restaurant and pub trade have adapted their services. Click and collect, delivery services and innovative seating arrangements have all been simple but effective ways to keep the tills ringing, their business going and their sanity intact!</span></div><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px 0px 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And then there are those businesses which have adapted their services to an online platform such as tutors/life coaches/yoga classes – an adaptation which has taken people out of their comfort zone but opened up a whole new world of opportunities and clients which will remain long after Covid-19 has disappeared.</span></div><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px 0px 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And then there are those businesses which have suffered, been allowed to eventually re-open under restricted conditions, but have then managed to prosper by following the guidelines and going the extra mile for the customers. I’m reminded of a local barber who cut a colleague’s hair. He had a mask on, a visor, wipes outside, wipes inside. The place was spotless and appointments could only be pre-booked. My colleague said it felt as safe as being in his own home. So sometimes, just a little change in the way we do things, thinking about others and going the extra mile is all it needs to develop a best practice model for these unprecedented times.</span></div><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px 0px 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sometimes it can be the little changes that make the difference. British cycling owes a lot of its success to ‘marginal gains.’ Maybe you could too.</span></div><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>If you have a business within the Liverpool City Region and you're looking to grow - we can help! get in touch with us on Enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk to find out more</b></span></div><div style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; margin: 0px 0px 20px; text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQabwqlm1fY-ig7gwpSj9wpc9m6x4x_mUiWIV7oqyAJJJr4JbYtUIxElYG565sLXlRSgSjcukTlQdftvP8pgk_a09OEuGVtAvCiSF0P9eZtOcao2h2wPUNcZ85Xos7Eogtt8PVe9UbYM7v/s421/wirral+chamber+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="421" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQabwqlm1fY-ig7gwpSj9wpc9m6x4x_mUiWIV7oqyAJJJr4JbYtUIxElYG565sLXlRSgSjcukTlQdftvP8pgk_a09OEuGVtAvCiSF0P9eZtOcao2h2wPUNcZ85Xos7Eogtt8PVe9UbYM7v/w200-h124/wirral+chamber+logo.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUsxXSRwS8qNmm3Tmvkg-_sdkZYzArbGQDWbdXnjVSK5FOBepQ0r0L2OBnoK_ds-Jtaly1SrRyB31elE1Fx2RMB-e4n7DSdksebtPGM5gOkiuBm3NvO4-_Kli7PECxZ1Avn18y2shNtSR/s320/LogoERDF_Col_Landscape.jpg" style="text-align: left;" width="320" /></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">
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</span>The Women's Organisationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13732990548189172646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4531458647302216819.post-2198576283012761802020-09-24T03:39:00.003-07:002020-09-24T05:31:50.310-07:00Elsie Hayford tackles injustices in health systems with her business Lamèsè<p><b>Born in Russia, raised in Ghana and Liverpool, Elsie
Hayford has experienced the best and worst of health systems. Whilst completing
law studies at the University of Liverpool, she developed a passion for global
health which eventually led her to obtain a Master of Laws in Global Health Law
from Georgetown University, Washington DC.</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Eagar to expend her legal skills to strengthen
health systems and bridge the health equity gap in developing countries, Elsie launched
Lamèsè’ in 2019 - a global health firm that works to restore accountability and
tackle injustices within health systems globally. <o:p></o:p></b></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://twitter.com/lameseCS" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hv3iHZi1AK1MrcZDDh6Qq23xz88XNEB_y7XK7-Jgvjo_dchUqvRSssBtfiF84trOmqKG9EPoYp41G8WcMVLMhabCvQUvOH70ujBTxEymRLuU7nOyr1j96qxHWoQRB-Mi-6poYrdOMAU_/w150-h200/Elsie+Hayford.jpg" width="150" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvn7_9gc1GP_AtTe51yL_uP9hRA5moRZYPgx8QDs5TGAQ6tkWpc6FYGpzoNMTK9MdyTrCBrbMfGLElGhzqfSkzXfaoUA4QZW3cvriRDNWpgOcy2eTyi-QdepMy144uxNJ_ARF4_mwbxPWy/w200-h200/lamese.jpg" style="text-align: left;" width="200" /></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal">It was during an event hosted by The Women’s Organisation over
10 years ago that Elsie first thought about setting up her own business. With
little legal work experience at the time and almost no savings, she told
herself that she would not be qualified enough to run a business – this was
until she met with Senior Business Adviser, Huda Mamoun many years later.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Attending 1-2-1 meetings with Huda, she was able to start
pulling together a plan of action of what she wanted her business to look like:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“My business adviser Huda was a big help in pointing me to
the right resources, she was also able to connect me with other woman who were
on the same journey as me”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I found the training courses particularly useful – they
broadened my perspective of running a business, gave me solid concrete
information about legalities involved and simplified otherwise complex
concepts”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Starting off self-employed<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>– Elsie secured several consulting contracts from
health companies such as Livful Inc, and
global health organisations such as The Global Health Advocacy Incubator & The
O’Neill Institute of National and Global Health Law where she worked on WHO, Lancet
and Global Health Security Agenda projects – many of which included analysing
and drafting health legislation for countries.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The business transitioned into a Limited Company in 2019,
with the very fitting name ‘Lamèsè’ translating to Good Health in native
Ghanaian Language, Ewe. Elsie is the sole director of Lamèsè Ltd in the UK and
has a subsidiary company set up in Ghana where she works with 3 other partners.
In Ghana, their current work focuses on improving maternal healthcare with the
goal of reducing deaths due to medical/and or systemic errors. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Elsie’s position as a Global Health Lawyer and Consultant
became even more valuable this year with the COVID-19 outbreak. Her business
was able to secure a contract with US global health organisation, Vital
Strategies to provide support as part of a Global COVID legal response team - leading
the work on legal protections for healthcare workers and the legal
infrastructure required for emergency healthcare delivery globally – this
involves advising ministry of health lawyers and writing guidelines for
national policy makers.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With the business already supporting global organisations,
what will be the next step?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Once we complete our contract, I hope to use my skills to
tackle healthcare issues within the UK’s foster care system. I’m excited about
the future and very pleased with the support I have gained from The Women’s
Organisation.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I don’t intend to return to a traditional 9-5 role anymore.
The future will see us expand the business and come a relevant voice within the
health policy space in the UK and beyond”<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>To find out more about Elsie and her business </b><b>Lamèsè</b><b>, you
can find her on Twitter using <a href="https://twitter.com/EEHayford" target="_blank">@EEhayford</a> and </b><span style="color: #0000ee;"><b><u><a href="https://twitter.com/LameseCS">@lameseCS</a></u></b></span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white;"><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal"><p class="MsoNormal"><b>If you have been inspired by Elsie's story and are
interested in starting or growing a business of your own, then Enterprise Hub
could help!<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Get in touch if you are thinking of starting a business in
the Liverpool City Region or have a new business under three years old. You can
speak to our team via enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk or 0151 706 8113.</b></p></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUsxXSRwS8qNmm3Tmvkg-_sdkZYzArbGQDWbdXnjVSK5FOBepQ0r0L2OBnoK_ds-Jtaly1SrRyB31elE1Fx2RMB-e4n7DSdksebtPGM5gOkiuBm3NvO4-_Kli7PECxZ1Avn18y2shNtSR/s2000/LogoERDF_Col_Landscape.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUsxXSRwS8qNmm3Tmvkg-_sdkZYzArbGQDWbdXnjVSK5FOBepQ0r0L2OBnoK_ds-Jtaly1SrRyB31elE1Fx2RMB-e4n7DSdksebtPGM5gOkiuBm3NvO4-_Kli7PECxZ1Avn18y2shNtSR/s320/LogoERDF_Col_Landscape.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>The Women's Organisationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13732990548189172646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4531458647302216819.post-9397977103704891702020-08-24T02:00:00.002-07:002020-08-24T06:43:50.596-07:00Mikaela takes a step towards curbing climate change with The Unwaste<p><b>Finding herself at a crossroads following a redundancy
opportunity from her 20-year career at a well-known fashion retailer, Mikaela
King decided to take some time out to focus on her next chapter – little did
she know that she would be launching her own eco-friendly business in the midst
of a global pandemic.</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdk26ZG9KlDXhoQQMnbr42_pUKlSkJU_o4jX4SWBgdylITkWUBPezClgw0KvZdlzrZ8ssh8EfVuay4CdW4tDlXIuuGG48DEX91Ke1s-5YODAex9KsgmgCm8r2ZtGQJpTmH2p6rUUn66SPT/s2048/Mikaela+king+1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdk26ZG9KlDXhoQQMnbr42_pUKlSkJU_o4jX4SWBgdylITkWUBPezClgw0KvZdlzrZ8ssh8EfVuay4CdW4tDlXIuuGG48DEX91Ke1s-5YODAex9KsgmgCm8r2ZtGQJpTmH2p6rUUn66SPT/w307-h410/Mikaela+king+1.jpg" width="307" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mikaela King - Founder of The Unwaste<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Following the opportunity for redundancy, Mikaela King left
her role in Digital Transformation and Technology, allowing her time to explore
her strengths, visions and more importantly what a different work life could
look like. It was during this time that she was inspired by several authors who
wrote about making a career out of their passions. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With good working knowledge of business and marketing
practices, she was keen to have a go at building her own business from the
ground up.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Already making steps to become more conscious about her
impact on the environment, it was changes she had been making at home without
realising that led to her business concept. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mikaela told us: “I had started to make some eco swaps at
home, so was keen to do more in this space. One night, the idea just popped
into my head – I pictured myself throwing plastic bottles of everyday household
cleaning products into the recycling bin, with not many eco-alternatives
about.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In May, she launched The Unwaste, offering eco-friendly
milkman style refills of plant based, vegan household cleaning liquids. The
business model offers clients the opportunity to take a step towards curbing
climate change through a convenient and easy to use service. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Initially struggling with confidence in her own
entrepreneurial abilities, she was referred to The Women’s Organisation by a
friend. Through the Enterprise Hub programme, she was paired with Senior
Business Adviser Jacqueline Daley for 1-2-1 support, along with having access
to a range of courses to help with business planning and finances. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Having someone to reach out to during moments of doubt was
invaluable for Mikaela during the first initial stages of starting up. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She told us: “Jacqueline put me at ease straight away and
listened to my situation and my idea and helped me put down some next steps and
a plan to move forward. All the sessions were really enjoyable and gave me the
chance to meet other likeminded people in a similar situation, some of which I
kept in touch with.”<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tZ_0xWf53iPAt-A6r3s8f-XF7AiXRRP5M6ngAZPWj50fWldfgV4jCn86DvotnK5LqkBsaAYWahUXeqjoXpA6ZfhtLEouRmt5F2pDiFQG3Chuub9VOI5x7ZA6rA7foYkYmiOFuy9NO_uH/s2048/The+unwaste+products+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2tZ_0xWf53iPAt-A6r3s8f-XF7AiXRRP5M6ngAZPWj50fWldfgV4jCn86DvotnK5LqkBsaAYWahUXeqjoXpA6ZfhtLEouRmt5F2pDiFQG3Chuub9VOI5x7ZA6rA7foYkYmiOFuy9NO_uH/w410-h410/The+unwaste+products+1.jpg" width="410" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Like many start-ups, Mikaela went in with minimal
investment, relying in Facebook and Instagram to promote her business and
whilst the first initial response was positive – things soon started to get
quiet as she exhausted her social circle. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Jacqueline advised me to network more to grow reach which I
found quite daunting as I am a natural introvert and it wasn’t something I’ve
had to do before. I was way out of my comfort zone and worried that other
businesses would not want to help me or share knowledge in case it threatened
their business. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I braved it out and contacted other small business owners,
local support networks and like-minded businesses and the response was
fantastic, people want to help and are so generous with their time and
resources”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Together with support from The Women’s Organisation, she has
been able to successfully launch and grow a business during a global pandemic. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Expanding her reach across Liverpool and now Wirral, Mikaela
is regularly adding new products to her stock and is in talks with other
businesses to potentially use and sell her products on their premises. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It is early days for the ‘green’ business sector, with many
unknowns to what an eco-business might look like in the future – but with the
vast benefits green and eco businesses offer its likely that more companies are going to be adapting to run more
efficiently and effectively in the future. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For Mikaela, continuing to raise awareness through her
products is at the heart of her business.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She told us: “I am hopeful The Unwaste is helping to force
the change in consumer behaviour that’s much needed, albeit a very small
contribution to a very large problem. My vision is to increase awareness of the
problem, being a catalyst of change towards more conscious consumerism”<o:p></o:p></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WIg5B5fk_cOOtvYcCx-TZebXM9M7hQQW5V0KA6dYiTsiJ5HfhqcipDGdVqk5z-FyZXduM-UkXDKw1aXwCKD3gqxu_GQw4bWUL0bKC4A1hNfrWGrvozzKpXCWQejeYWZEwaC5jQv0Buzj/s2048/the+unwaste+products+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WIg5B5fk_cOOtvYcCx-TZebXM9M7hQQW5V0KA6dYiTsiJ5HfhqcipDGdVqk5z-FyZXduM-UkXDKw1aXwCKD3gqxu_GQw4bWUL0bKC4A1hNfrWGrvozzKpXCWQejeYWZEwaC5jQv0Buzj/w410-h307/the+unwaste+products+2.jpg" width="410" /></a></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal">The impact of COVID19 has forced businesses to bring their
operations to a standstill – leaving many to think that starting a business
right now could end in failure. Mikaela is giving aspiring entrepreneurs hope
that it is possible to successfully get started during this current climate and
adapt to the needs of the “new normal”</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Entrepreneurship can lead people down many different paths –
what has self-employment taught Mikaela about herself?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I’ve come to recognise that entrepreneurs come in all
different shapes and sizes and there is so much you have to discover, learn and
do during the business start-up process I’ve realised I am more capable than I
give myself credit for - one of the many things I’ve discovered about myself during
this process.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<div style="text-align: left;"><b>If you would like to find out more about The Unwaste, you
can get in touch on </b><a href="mailto:hello@theunwaste.com"><b>hello@theunwaste.com</b></a><b>
or message them via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theunwaste/">Facebook </a>or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/theunwaste/?hl=en">Instagram</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /> <o:p></o:p></b><b style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">If you have been inspired by Mikaela’s story and would like to see how Enterprise Hub can help you start your own business, then get in touch with us. Email enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk </b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUsxXSRwS8qNmm3Tmvkg-_sdkZYzArbGQDWbdXnjVSK5FOBepQ0r0L2OBnoK_ds-Jtaly1SrRyB31elE1Fx2RMB-e4n7DSdksebtPGM5gOkiuBm3NvO4-_Kli7PECxZ1Avn18y2shNtSR/s2000/LogoERDF_Col_Landscape.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="2000" height="91" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUsxXSRwS8qNmm3Tmvkg-_sdkZYzArbGQDWbdXnjVSK5FOBepQ0r0L2OBnoK_ds-Jtaly1SrRyB31elE1Fx2RMB-e4n7DSdksebtPGM5gOkiuBm3NvO4-_Kli7PECxZ1Avn18y2shNtSR/w410-h91/LogoERDF_Col_Landscape.jpg" width="410" /></a></div><b style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><br /></b></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>The Women's Organisationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13732990548189172646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4531458647302216819.post-91406193723115819022020-08-18T07:27:00.001-07:002020-08-20T07:44:31.547-07:00From Vision to Reality with Everpresent Care UK<p><b>After spending 15 years building a solid reputation in
the domiciliary care industry, Renatta Clerice-Ologbosere decided it was time
to finally take a leap of faith into self-employment. Within the space of 3
years, her business Everpresent Care UK Limited has gone from idea stage to recruiting and
training qualified staff to offer vital healthcare roles across the region.</b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Everpresent Care UK Limited is a recruitment agency
specialising in Health and Social care – the business works by recruiting and
training staff to fill staff shortages in predominantly nursing homes and other
care settings. The business puts a strong focus on corporate social
responsibility, helping unemployed people back into work with support from
their stakeholders.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7zSO0ajxAuDMJsHzDXacbDODv-vrO1-tUTINOduC71ZvChJ6jtAR6WPkadlh3xuEcdAkR1nSOIXAprGL3lgS3j5koN5n-AEFiQFMXsV8NYti1j4RcMPtyLgj9F9N6jWiRJp5GG9t110i/s1036/IMG-20190224-WA0009.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1036" data-original-width="776" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7zSO0ajxAuDMJsHzDXacbDODv-vrO1-tUTINOduC71ZvChJ6jtAR6WPkadlh3xuEcdAkR1nSOIXAprGL3lgS3j5koN5n-AEFiQFMXsV8NYti1j4RcMPtyLgj9F9N6jWiRJp5GG9t110i/w196-h262/IMG-20190224-WA0009.jpg" width="196" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Renatta Clerice-Ologbosere - Founder of Everpresent Care UK</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Prior to setting up the business, Everpresent Care founder
Renatta was employed by one of the biggest domiciliary care companies in
Liverpool, eventually working her way up the career ladder to become a locality
manager.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Building a name for herself in the private care sector, it
was her husbands’ support and a love for the industry that made her consider
self-employment as an option. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She told us: “I’d studied tropical disease biology at University of Liverpool and fell deeply in love with the industry knowing I was making a
real difference to peoples live. My husband spent 5 years asking me to open my
own business, so I decided that I should have some faith in myself and not
worry about the reservation I had about failure”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Employed in a 08:00-16:00 role, she spent her time after
work building a business plan to help her set goals and priorities, recruiting
help from her friends via Whatsapp to brainstorm business name ideas.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Marketing can open doors for many small businesses, but
sometimes for business owners this can cost more time than money.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When trying to come up with a strategy for Everpresent Care,
she found herself struggling:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“The hardest part of the initial setting up process was the
marketing. I spent 3 days a week doing face to face engagement and then 2 days
of doing cold calling, taking me over 9 months before I got my first clients.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sometimes I would go home and cry the entire night because I
would often get rejected, but having doors shut in my face gave me even more
determination to succeed”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Along with strategic business struggles, she also found that
her abilities as a woman of colour running an independent business were being
questioned; with some clients asking her to lower her prices, making it hard to
compete with local rivals who were being paid much higher rates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Working to build a client base, Renatta decided it was time to seek out support, only to be
told many times over that she was not eligible for any funded support in her
area. It came as a lifeline when she was directed towards The Women’s
Organisation’s Enterprise Hub programme. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She received 1-2-1 tailored support, helping her focus on
the growth of the business. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I was paired up with a business adviser who taught me so
much – but most of all she was very attentive. Sometimes self-employment can
seem like a lonely place, but my adviser was my listening ear throughout the
process”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Women’s Organisation introduced her to the Business
Canvas Model, a strategic management tool used for documenting each area of the
business – something that can be beneficial to analyse the full needs of the
business.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She was also able to utilise the funded courses and workshop
to start improving her entrepreneurial skills as well as receiving support from her business partner, Edwin. </p><p class="MsoNormal">She told us: "Many of us women in business look up to a role model or equivalent. Edwin Narnor has played a major role in achieving results in the business."</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">3 years later and the business continues to evolve, offering
bespoke health care services from their home in Wavertree Technology park. Like
many businesses across the country, Everpresent Care has felt the effects of
COVID-19 but were able to continue their work by securing a few new projects
before the outbreak hit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, was self-employment the right decision for Renatta? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“Running my own business has given me a level of discipline
that I never knew I had. It revealed my inner strength as a person and given me
a level of freedom that I did not have when I was employed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Once you have a vision, just pursue it and eventually the
doors you need will open, be patient, and remember it’s never too late to try
something new”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>You can contact Everpresent Care UK by contacting their office number on 01513631616 (Out of office hours the
phone is diverted to a mobile number which is also available to direct calling:
07392996131)</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQYERwvCzjgf5CCY5o8pKtTNsxSgwGHsDAJEQhcpgk64j0mZjumZ3hgBDBgpcOFlJ4bp67VYZ5EnwDiSuADHkGGnrxXB1J7bNef9wfGmQy-8jFBJYiY_v5FGBqbewqIBHehNAnnqXweXS/s200/Everpresent+care+UK+logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="107" data-original-width="200" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjQYERwvCzjgf5CCY5o8pKtTNsxSgwGHsDAJEQhcpgk64j0mZjumZ3hgBDBgpcOFlJ4bp67VYZ5EnwDiSuADHkGGnrxXB1J7bNef9wfGmQy-8jFBJYiY_v5FGBqbewqIBHehNAnnqXweXS/w313-h168/Everpresent+care+UK+logo.png" width="313" /></a></div><b><br /></b><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Website: </b><a href="http://www.everpresentcarelimited.co.uk/"><b>www.everpresentcarelimited.co.uk</b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><o:p> </o:p></b><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you have been thinking about setting up your own business and would like to see how Enterprise Hub and The Women’s Organisation can help you grow your new business, get in touch with us on enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="background-color: white;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUsxXSRwS8qNmm3Tmvkg-_sdkZYzArbGQDWbdXnjVSK5FOBepQ0r0L2OBnoK_ds-Jtaly1SrRyB31elE1Fx2RMB-e4n7DSdksebtPGM5gOkiuBm3NvO4-_Kli7PECxZ1Avn18y2shNtSR/s2000/LogoERDF_Col_Landscape.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="2000" height="91" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUsxXSRwS8qNmm3Tmvkg-_sdkZYzArbGQDWbdXnjVSK5FOBepQ0r0L2OBnoK_ds-Jtaly1SrRyB31elE1Fx2RMB-e4n7DSdksebtPGM5gOkiuBm3NvO4-_Kli7PECxZ1Avn18y2shNtSR/w410-h91/LogoERDF_Col_Landscape.jpg" width="410" /></a></b></div><b style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b><p></p>The Women's Organisationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13732990548189172646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4531458647302216819.post-41227593125812965822020-08-13T02:55:00.000-07:002020-08-13T02:55:36.621-07:00Toast’d For Success! <p style="text-align: justify;"><b>Jonnie Barr’s new business, Toast’d, takes toasted marshmallow kits
to a new level. Here’s his story.</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCf6qpifYf7pgR_5t_-FvVBAIPI2BLS6AI_asurAa2d_dyxWwwVXHytWenlz8ELUuU066zB0yI7rmmu3C4SrZkmXIqu_ypZh6kstG1doqn7Qo7gNXsazLx9qlAUPUtmHv1bG6CKS7Mb1w9/s464/Toast+pic+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCf6qpifYf7pgR_5t_-FvVBAIPI2BLS6AI_asurAa2d_dyxWwwVXHytWenlz8ELUuU066zB0yI7rmmu3C4SrZkmXIqu_ypZh6kstG1doqn7Qo7gNXsazLx9qlAUPUtmHv1bG6CKS7Mb1w9/s0/Toast+pic+1.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">Having left university with a Marketing Degree, and with a passion
for all things culinary, Jonnie knew straightaway that he wanted to work in the
food and drink industry. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">Starting off in
marketing and branding at Northern Foods, he proceeded to carve out a 25-year career working
for some of the most prestigious food manufacturers in the UK. Having worked his way up to senior level, he oversaw
the branding, packaging and new product launches of many food brands and
products we still see in our supermarkets today.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">However, as Covid-19 became a worldwide pandemic, and like a lot of
industries, the food sector was hit very hard and Jonnie found himself having
to look for other opportunities – and so out of adversity, Toast’d was born!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p>B</o:p>eing a proud family man and passionate about food, Jonnie was
intrigued by the popularity of toasting marshmallows and S’mores in the
USA. This prompted him to look into the
UK market and, although there were loosely comparable products out there, he couldn’t
find any that had that family- fun element which he envisioned for Toast’d.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">Toast’d Marshmallow Dipping Kits provide everything you need to enjoy a
family get-together whilst enjoying toasted marshmallows at the same time! The kits come with a small heating device
(which is safe to use with adult supervision), chocolate for melting,
sprinkles, small wooden skewers and a bag of top-quality marshmallows! And what’s more, they come in 3 sizes to
accommodate any sized family or social occasion, be they large or small.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">Jonnie wanted to emphasise that Toast’d products are all about family
and friends. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">They’re a great way to
bring people together to chat, have fun, laugh, play games and without a smart
phone in sight!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">Jonnie will be looking to develop a range of products for both at home and out of home
marshmallow toasting as well as developing seasonal and themed kits to meet the
gifting and growing outdoor leisure sectors.
A range of S’Mores and ‘Free-From’ kits will also be launched in the
Autumn.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">And what advice would Jonnie give to people wanting to start their own
business?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>“I think there are two
essential ingredients for success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First
of all, have an idea you truly believe in and, secondly, have the confidence in
your own ability to make it happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh,
and don’t be afraid to ask for help!”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">Speaking of which, how did Enterprise Hub at Wirral Chamber help Jonnie
develop his business idea? </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">“Well, I
found Enterprise Hub to be a very good sounding board that really helped me
crystallize my ideas and turn them into reality. It also gave me the structure and flexibility
I needed.”</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><b>So if you would like to purchase a Toast’d Marshmallow Dipping Kit or
find out a bit more, simply visit the website at <a href="http://www.toast-d.co.uk/">www.toast-d.co.uk</a> or e-mail Jonnie at <a href="mailto:hello@toast-d.co.uk">hello@toast-d.co.uk</a> </b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">If you have been thinking about setting up your own business and would like to see how Enterprise Hub can help, then get in touch with us on Email enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><b style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltTfTBeykfIAkIDqkNQOFtt7Pxt39ieC48iCqYsjUZxi-m5gBI3e-UMDIKeppU_VJisMIeNXPBDTGfKu18daban_y9xKgmy9kbtjgo9c1_4jQeTPiVTV3XudqswxhoMdwRVW3pr5a0ME5/s604/New+ERDF+2015-2020+Logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="134" data-original-width="604" height="86" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltTfTBeykfIAkIDqkNQOFtt7Pxt39ieC48iCqYsjUZxi-m5gBI3e-UMDIKeppU_VJisMIeNXPBDTGfKu18daban_y9xKgmy9kbtjgo9c1_4jQeTPiVTV3XudqswxhoMdwRVW3pr5a0ME5/w386-h86/New+ERDF+2015-2020+Logo.png" width="386" /></a></b></div><b style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span></b><p></p>The Women's Organisationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13732990548189172646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4531458647302216819.post-56817337385204309202020-08-05T07:12:00.001-07:002020-08-05T07:12:23.061-07:00Starting your own hair & beauty business<p class="MsoNormal"><b>So, you want to start your own hair & beauty business – great!
But have you thought about all the things you might need to consider before
starting up? It doesn't have to be a hassle, if you plan and make sure
you have these 5 key things in place, you will set yourself up for success. </b><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhg6kazibNzcJwR7j8S6zsOKXRNoj3lWscTAeyvFwCOYXKp1W6FYt5GX45ZS-JCbozB5NUfC8lGmh68QsvzNiKU2KI62hGyZkX8lyalb1jXuF0RS6fOALwxjPkHt3HVKQ9OpGG3o03OAA/s2048/pexels-asad-photo-maldives-1654834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1363" data-original-width="2048" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhg6kazibNzcJwR7j8S6zsOKXRNoj3lWscTAeyvFwCOYXKp1W6FYt5GX45ZS-JCbozB5NUfC8lGmh68QsvzNiKU2KI62hGyZkX8lyalb1jXuF0RS6fOALwxjPkHt3HVKQ9OpGG3o03OAA/w512-h341/pexels-asad-photo-maldives-1654834.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><b><br /></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Premises vs mobile <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is probably the biggest decision you are going to make for
you business. Whilst it might be your dream to run your own beauty salon, you
need to think about if a premise is something you can realistically afford to
run. There are many costs (and hidden costs) that can come with having a premise,
such as Rent, Internet, Phone, fixtures and fittings, staff costs… etc!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Starting out as a mobile business can give you time to build
your client base and then eventually go on to get your own premise when you know
you have the income coming in. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Do you have the right qualifications?<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You do not need a qualification to set up your own business,
but if you are offering beauty or hair treatments you might need to think about
what skills or qualifications are required. Alongside keeping your clients
safe, you also want to make sure that they are having the best experience possible
with a professional member of staff. The treatments you are offering might
require the staff to have an either a level 2 or 3 NVQ or exam equivalent. Make
sure you always check what qualifications are required!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Insurance <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You must make sure that your insurance covers all the treatments
and services that you offer. Insurance is a way of protecting the customer
against damage that could occur. Public liability insurance is not required by law
but is essential to protect your business against claims from clients or
members of the public. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Registering your business and Tax<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">HMRC have information on how and when you should register
your business. This can seem like a big step, but if you follow the information
given to you on the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/set-up-business">website</a>, it can be a simple process. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Support available <o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If this is your first time going into self-employment, or
you have just started your own business and need some support – there is help available. You might think you cannot do it, but it’s
about being persistent, and believing in yourself!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>If you’re thinking about setting up your own business,
then you can get in touch on enterprisehub@thewo.org.uk<o:p></o:p></b></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUsxXSRwS8qNmm3Tmvkg-_sdkZYzArbGQDWbdXnjVSK5FOBepQ0r0L2OBnoK_ds-Jtaly1SrRyB31elE1Fx2RMB-e4n7DSdksebtPGM5gOkiuBm3NvO4-_Kli7PECxZ1Avn18y2shNtSR/s2000/LogoERDF_Col_Landscape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="448" data-original-width="2000" height="91" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUsxXSRwS8qNmm3Tmvkg-_sdkZYzArbGQDWbdXnjVSK5FOBepQ0r0L2OBnoK_ds-Jtaly1SrRyB31elE1Fx2RMB-e4n7DSdksebtPGM5gOkiuBm3NvO4-_Kli7PECxZ1Avn18y2shNtSR/w410-h91/LogoERDF_Col_Landscape.jpg" width="410" /></a></div>The Women's Organisationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13732990548189172646noreply@blogger.com0