Business Plus Baby

February 4, 2011February 2, 2011

Starting a Social Enterprise: Siobhan Robertson of Trela

Many women starting out in business are motivated by more than just making money or even being able to work around their children. That means that a social enterprise could be a good choice for many mums starting out in business.

Here’s Business Link’s definition of a social enterprise…

A social enterprise is a business with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or in the community, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners.

Siobhan Robertson launched her social enterprise, Trela, just a couple of weeks ago on 10th January. Today Siobhan tells us about Trela and why she chose to start a social enterprise.

Tell us a little about Trela

Trela aims to bring creative people together to create, learn, network and source supplies. We also aim to work with the local community advancing the understanding of mental health issues and offering a way of using creativity to relieve stress.

Why did you start a social enterprise rather than a traditional business?

I started business as a graphic designer though have had the idea of Trela in the back of my mind for a long time. The plans have grown over the years and now I am finally at the point where I feel I am ready to go ahead with them. The ideas I have are all based on working with the community and after searching around I found out about social enterprises and realised that my idea fitted in with this business structure. It meant that I could do what I enjoy while making enough money to live on. I have suffered from fibromyalgia from a young age and this has made it very difficult for me to work full time out of the house. Working from home means that I can work when I feel up to it and around my daughter. She goes to nursery 3 days a week at the moment though I find myself working at night as well when she is in bed.

Is it harder to run a social enterprise? Or does it actually bring business benefits as well as social ones?

I would say it does bring business benefits. Having searched social enterprises I came across Firstport. They support social enterprises with free business advice and start up awards. I think being a social enterprise will bring more interest to the business as people will see that it isn’t another money grabbing scheme. It is a business set up that the community can get involved in and can really be a part of.

What would your advice be for a mum thinking of starting a social enterprise?

My advice for other mums looking in to setting up as a social enterprise would be to get in touch with Firstport or Business Link. Research is also a great help when you are making plans, looking at what other similar ideas have to offer and how they go about it. I have lists and lists of ideas that I am slowly working through. Take it a step at a time and you will get there.

If you’re a mum running a social enterprise I’d love to hear from you.

February 2, 2011January 27, 2011

I Started A Business With a Baby: Aimee Rogers of Revitalize Fitness

There aren’t all that many mums featured on Business Plus Baby who started their business when their child was still a baby. Most mums find their baby is a toddler before they get to launch their businesses (for very good reasons!) . Today we hear from Aimee Rogers of Revitalize Fitness who (unlike me!) was organised enough to plan her business while she was pregnant. We wish you loads of success in your new business and as a new mum, Aimee.

Tell us a little about your business

My business is personal training and physical activity provider/consultant.

What was your job before starting your business?

Physical Activity Referral Coordinator for Sheffield City Council (managing an exercise referral scheme to help people who have medical conditions to get more active in an attempt to improve their condition).

How did you go from your old career to your new business?

I am currently on maternity leave and will be made redundant from the council in March as a result of cost cutting.

What were your reasons for starting a business?

I have always wanted to be my own boss and start my own business, being made redundant/finances helped with my decision but also I’m able to manage my own hours to fit in around baby to reduce the cost of childcare in the future.

Did you use any childcare?

My baby is only 8 weeks old but i used the last half of my pregnancy to set up and “develop” the business, getting ideas down, registering etc. Now I work when baby sleeps or when he is having daddy time!

How did you get your business idea?

I have always worked in the fitness industry since leaving university and feel that my business is more of a hobby. I have spent a lot of time and money getting trained and qualified to the high level I am currently at and I didn’t want that to go to waste once i was made redundant. I also wanted to maintain something for me once the baby was here so i didn’t just end up being “mum” (as much as i love it!!!).

What were your challenges and how did you overcome them?

As yet I have haven’t really encountered many challenges. I imagine meetings/networking during the day will be problematic. I have two close friends who are also helping me out with delivering sessions and training clients which has been a great help. Once baby gets older I hope to have more input on the practical side but this will only help to expand the business and develop it further.

What training, information or advice did you need to get started?

I did a lot of research during my pregnancy (chilling out with a coffee and laptop!) and found websites such as business link yorkshire and the government websites a great help.

If you could give one piece of advice to a mum of a baby or toddler starting a business, what would it be?

Don’t feel guilty or let anyone make you feel guilty for starting a business and spending time developing it. I have developed my business to allow me to work from home and spend more time with my baby, however I still get the feeling that some people think less of me for developing my business while my baby is so young.

January 31, 2011January 25, 2011

Why You Need To Think About Growing NOW…

Every small business owner is short on time, but if you’re a mum running a business part-time, your time is even tighter. If you add up the hours you have to work, then subtract the time you spend on admin and marketing you may be surprised how few you have left. Worse still, if your normal working day is squeezed into evenings and pre-school hours, you don’t have any spare time to do extra work. You’ve got no contingency at all. Having too much work seems like a dream when you’re just starting out, but that day could arrive faster than you think.

If a big order or project landed in your lap tomorrow, would you be able to handle it?

That’s why you need to think about growing your business now.

Here’s what you could do… Continue reading “Why You Need To Think About Growing NOW…”

January 28, 2011January 28, 2011

How I Became a Home Worker by Simone Castello

Simone Castello is a freelance copyeditor and copywriter. Simone’s business website is simonecastello.co.uk and you can also find her at her blogs From Rat Racer to Positive Parent and Cambridge Ecothrifter.

When I started maternity leave in January 2007 I planned to take a year off and resume my career as inhouse freelance subeditor. I had been doing it for over a decade, so it seemed like the easy option – I had lots of contacts in the industry and knew there would be work for me provided I could find reliable childcare for my child. Mind you, I envied freelancers who could work from home but knew that in my sector opportunities were rare, plus you needed expensive equipment and software. Despite using MACs at work, I had a modest PC at home and no fancy design software. Continue reading “How I Became a Home Worker by Simone Castello”

January 26, 2011January 25, 2011

Could You Be Mumpreneur Idol 2011?

Are you looking for that big break to start up in business?
Haven’t got the resources or funds to do so?
Could you be the UK’s first Mumpreneur Idol?

Mumpreneur UK is on the look out for the best potential new businesses run by mums in the UK, and will give one lucky woman the ultimate business start up prize which will include a collection of must have items and services that will guarantee a quality start to any business.

The main aim of this project is to inspire more mums to start home based businesses and provide support, information and full resources for mums to be able to create their own flexible working environment.

The prize list is BIG and getting bigger all the time! So far it includes a website, web hosting, support from a PR company, sales training, a Blackberry and much more.

Here’s how to enter the Mumpreneur Idol competition.

At the Mumpreneur Idol event, four finalists will battle it out to become the next big Mumpreneur. Each one will prepare a 20 minute pitch to a panel of five judges who will then select the winner to be announced at the end of the day.

You don’t have to enter to go along to the event, though. It’s an opportunity to talk to some top UK entrepreneurs, network with a whole range of like-minded people, listen to the finalists’ pitches, be involved in the judges’ Q&A time, listen to the keynote speaker and take away some practical tips and advice from the afternoon workshop.

Mumpreneur Idol is happening on Saturday 9th April 2011 at The Imperial Hotel, Russell Square, London, WC1B 5BB.

Tickets are £35 if you buy before 31st Jan and £45 after that. You can buy your tickets here.