.gif&contenttype=gif "La Jolie Ronde Franchise Opportunity")
Helen Slingsby is a career coach who set up Career Breakthrough to help people try to figure out what to do with the rest of their working life. Part of her time is spent helping women return to work and helping them combine work and family life. She does this through workshops and one-to one sessions.
Helen is a former business journalist and career changer who took time out to look after her two sons (now 6 and 8) and studied part-time to gain an MSc in Career Management and Counselling at Birkbeck College, London University. She is now also the Mum and Working Career Agony Aunt...and will be happy to answer questions you may have about setting up a business, going back to work after being at home with children or changing career! You can contact Helen via email at helen@mumandworking.co.uk
Dear Helen,
Myself and my friend are both mums and are interested in starting up a wedding shop selling wedding dresses, and items associated with weddings i.e. favour boxes, invitations etc. We came up with this idea as I have been planning my own wedding and have found that in our area we do not have a wide range of bridal shops and places that stock additional wedding items, so I have had to shop alot on the internet which being a mum is hard to find the time to do.
Please would you be able to advise us on where to start, how to obtain funding etc.
Kind Regards
Joanna and Carolyn
Dear Joanna and Carolyn
Your idea has great promise, particularly as you are offering a one stop shop for getting married.
It sounds as if you have already done quite a bit of research into the viability of your wedding idea which is great, however, I would suggest you went into even more detail before taking it much further. Is there demand in your area? How about doing a straw poll among office workers nearby to see if your service is something they would be interested in using. They are more likely to be getting married than the mums pushing buggies. That way you have piece of mind and concrete evidence to put in your business plan when you approach the bank manager.
Once you are convinced there is a market then do more research. Check locally and further field for the competition, targeting large towns and cities and the places you visited for your wedding to see how they do it - and how you could do it better. What is missing from most wedding shops? Could you offer a wedding planning service also and ensure this seasonal sector is made steadier by offering year-round help to hard-pressed brides to be? It is important to ensure that a business has a number of income streams, such as your own idea of selling invitations, so that fallow periods can be compensated for. Perhaps you could offer a dry cleaning service afterwards as I for one, never got round to making sure my dress was in tip top condition before it was moth balled for ever!
Once sure about your offer then write your business plan. There are many templates available on line, and the Business Link version is one of the best (www.businesslink.gov.uk). This process will focus your mind further about the business and make you more credible when visiting the bank manager/investor for a loan. In the process of writing your business plan, I imagine you will need to locate potential shop premises and investigate rent rates etc, not to mention wholesalers and suppliers of all your stock. By now you should have a good idea of how much money you need to borrow. Then it is a question of dressing smartly and going to ask for it, being professional and having rehearsed answers to every possible question you think the bank manager will ask you.
In summary the key is research, know your audience and be sure you understand their needs and there is a demand for your services.
Good Luck!
Helen
Dear Helen,
I'm thinking about starting my own cake making business. It's something I've done for my kids birthdays and discovered its something I love doing and I'm not too bad at it. The thing is I just don't know where to start with it all. I want the job to be something I can fit in around the kids (Ages 9,7 and 16 months), mostly its something I enjoy and it would be nice to make some extra money. I'm not sure what food and Health and Safety applies to home and what I require. Whether I should advertise locally first and see where that goes or whether I should try a local market or car boot or fete etc? Any ideas would be very much appreciated.
Regards
Emma
Dear Emma
Your cake making idea sounds excellent, particularly if it ticks all the boxes of being flexible, creative, fun, and proving some financial independence. There are a number of suggestions I would make.
I think they key here, Emma, is to be creative and think creatively. It's hard work but developing a range of products and services , centred around the same idea, should help.
All the best
Helen
Dear Helen,
I am a 29 years old with a 1 year old son. I am a qualified Nursery Nurse and Teacher. I have been back to work since September on a part time basis working Thursdays and Fridays. I am qualified to work with Infants up to Year 6 however I am happy with the little ones. I am very unhappy at work and would love to be able to do something that would allow me to work from home or something that could involve my Son. My only problem is the money otherwise I would give up work completely!
I would love to set up my own business and have a few ideas but I have NO idea where to start or if it will be viable! I have picked ideas that I feel use my skills as a teacher and a nursery nurse but need help in where to go with these ideas.
I would really appreciate if you could give me some advice.
Many thanks
Emily
Dear Emily
I am sorry to hear you are currently unhappy in your job. Is this because you miss your son, or because the workplace is making you unhappy? It’s a shame if your job is putting you off something you have previously enjoyed. Have a word with your manager and if that doesn’t work consider moving jobs. Have you thought about being a child minder to meet the needs of being with your son and working from home? You sound more than qualified. You could run children’s parties or offer holiday cover, private tuition.
Your training will hold you in great stead once your little boy is older and at school as you will have the flexibility and holidays that many of us non teachers crave, so patience and recognising that your son is still very young might help you get through these tricky early years.
Take a look at my response to Linda who is also looking to set up in business. There is a lot of support available for women through Government-funded Prowess (www.prowess.org.uk), The Prince’s Trust (18 – 30 year olds: www.princes-trust.org.uk ), as well as your local Business Link office. Give your local council a call too, to see what they offer in terms of courses etc.
Wishing you all the best
Helen
Hi Helen,
I saw your article on the Mum and Working website and wondered if you had any advice for me.
I am currently a stay-at-home mum of 2 girls, my eldest is 4yrs old and and my youngest is 2yrs old. My youngest daughter will be starting nursery in September and I will have to get employment then.
After leaving school, way back in 1990, I completed a secretarial and computer studies course. However, after leaving college I didn't really use the new skills I learn't and as there was little job opportunity I ended up doing menial jobs; flower picking, cleaning, and some general office work. None of which has either helped with my confidence or helped me learn any skills that I could take to a different role. (As even the office work was in an extremely dated office).
I live in Cornwall and I gave up full-time employment when I had my first child as I wanted to be at home with her. My husband is in the forces, on a good wage, so I was lucky enough to have that priviledge. That was back in 2002. I have not worked for the past 5yrs and going back to work seems quite daunting. It's not the work part I worry about. It's the fact that I'm not qualified to do anything or have the correct experience that people are looking for. I could go back to a cleaning job, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, but I've done that and since I've had my two girls I would love to either re-train or get a job where I could learn new skills and possibly do something that would be 'worthwhile'.
Do you have any advice for me or can guide me to the right people to talk to - if there is anyone. I'm 33yrs old now and wish I'd been more mature when I was younger and focused on this.
Like most mums I would love to find the right balance, be able to do the school runs, etc... That's one reason why I've spent alot of time looking into different areas where I could work from home. But I haven't actually come across anything that suits me. Party planning and the likes doesn't interest me.
Anyway, thanks for reading this email.
Kind Regards
Michelle
Dear Michelle
It sounds like once your youngest goes to nursery the time could be right for you to do something for yourself and have the job you have always wished for. I am not totally clear of your qualifications but if you would like to remain in secretarial work (but for a more interesting company this time!) then I would suggest doing a refresher course. Your local college or newspaper will have details of these and attendance would bring you up to speed with the latest developments, provide some job contacts as well as boost confidence.
If you don't have to rush back to work for the money may I suggest you make a list of the areas that interest you and ask yourself why, so you are clear about what is driving you. A visit to a career counsellor/coach might also help you work out what suits your personality and interests. Then take yourself off to the library and look up the ideas in a book called Occupations, and find out more about what is required. Similarly, there are a number of websites (www.connexions-direct.com/jobs4u or www.learndirect-advice.co.uk) You could try to research your options. Don’t be put off by not having the right qualifications, make a note of what is required and see if you can start studying part time to gain them.
If flexibility if what you are looking for then a couple of suggestions: Look up the Best Employers List on the internet as see if any of these companies are near you in Cornwall as they tend to offer good hours for women. Don't discount working for the council or local government either, as they are typically more family friendly than others.
Just remember, it is never too late. You can do it - even if it involves a bit of studying. You sound like an articulate, switched on person so go for it!
Wishing you all the best
Helen
Dear Helen,
I am a 33 yr old, who has a 11 months old boy. I was working for a company for one yr then fall pregnant with my first child. I agreed with my manager to take six months maternity, but as soon as I had my son I decided to take a yr instead as i found it difficult to find suitable child care.
I was due to return to work in feb,but my boss decided not to take me back due to the company not making much of a profit ( as I was told by my boss). I have being working in fashion for three years as an account manager/merchandiser, I also have a degree in marketing and law.
I'm not sure whether I want to return to work, as I feel that I want to earn more money, doing part-time work will not enable me to achieve the salary bracket I wish to attain. I also would like to start up my own business but not sure what area to go in. I enjoy fashion and have a creative mind. but sometimes I feel a little bit lost as I don't know what to do!
I would appreciate it if you could give me some advice.
Many Thanks
Linda
Dear Linda
Thank you for your query. You appear to be in a bit of a quandary at the moment, which is not surprising given young age of your child and the fact you have been told you will not be needed by your former employer. I wonder how you feel about not returning to the fashion business job - are you upset you cannot continue with the company, or are you relieved they no longer require your services as really what you would like to do is spend some time with your young son?
Having a one year old is enormously rewarding and the thought of going back to work may be more of a wrench than you are admitting to yourself. The fact you found childcare so hard to find and therefore extended maternity leave could be an indicator. You also say you don't want to work part-time as the salary won't be commensurate with your previous salary, possibly another indication your heart isn’t quite set on working at the moment.
On the other hand you may be angry at your situation, having invested a year with your previous employer only to be told upon your return from maternity leave there is no job for you. I don't know as you haven't said, but it would be worth trying to ascertain your true feelings to working and being a mother at this stage as it will provide a framework for the future.
If you decide to take some time out then don't feel guilty about it, use it as a time to take stock, look after your child, make new friends etc. Having children provides us with the unique opportunity to review our options.
If you would like to return to work full time and use your experience and qualifications, then I would recommend you find the best childcare you can possibly afford as this will put your mind at rest and enable you to work confidently. I am convinced good, consistent childcare lies at the root of female working success.
As for setting up in business, this is a great way of remaining flexible at work and in the home. However, if you are aiming for a money spinning venture then it will mean long hard hours of graft. It's a good idea to do something you know about - in your case fashion and merchandising and marketing. Take your time to spot a gap in the market, chat to your contacts and thoroughly research your idea. Then I would suggest a visit to your local Business Link (www.businesslink.gov.uk ) office for some helpful and free advice about where to take your idea. If it is possible, relax about your situation, and things will come to you!
Wishing you all the best
Helen
Dear Helen
I am a 36 year old stay at home mum and my daughter will be starting school next September. I have long held a dream of being able to work for myself and over a (very) long period of time I have decided to persue a career within the alternative health sector.
My problem is that I have had no previous experience in this field and whilst I know I can do the relevant training, I just don't think I will have the confidence to market myself. I think I'm quite shy and the thought of having to 'rah rah rah' myself gives me sleepless nights! I don't want to be ringing people up to try and talk them into being a client - I just want to provide the service. Trouble is, if I think like that I wont have any clients, but I know I'm absolutely rubbish at sales - it just makes me feel so uncomfortable.
However, the thought of going to work back in an office (in my previous life I worked in insurance as a customer service coach and then a customer complaints manager) fills me with dread. If I did that, I know I would have 'sold out' and given up on my dream.
I have a wonderful and supportive husband, a gorgeous little girl but I still have a need for professional fulfilment - I feel as though I have never really reached my potential as I've always taken the easy option. Being shy has held me back in the past and stopped me from pushing for what I want and I've ended up with a lot of resentment and unhappiness festering under the surface.
I've already started putting obstacles in my way such as, 'we're moving house next year and so can't afford the training', 'I don't want to spend time away from my daughter', 'it's not a good time', 'I wont have the confidence to market my new skill', 'I'm too old' etc etc.
Please could you give me some advice to help me give myself a kick? It's funny, as I'm writing this I feel really cross with myself - I feel as if I don't do it now, I never will. I really will be eternally grateful to you for any help you can give me!
Best Wishes and many thanks in advance.
Kim
Dear Kim
Many thanks for your question. I appreciate you feel low on self-confidence at the moment but you should give yourself a pat on the back for exploring the options and coming up with a new career idea. Many of my clients would give anything to know what they want to do in the future. Also the idea of having a career in alternative medicine shows your instinct is bang on. You only need to look at the mumandworking website this month to see what a booming, and increasingly respected, sector you would be entering.
There appear to be two issues holding you back. One: shyness or lack of confidence leading to the creation of obstacles to stand in the way of progress and two: your fear of selling. Both of which are linked.
Let's deal with lack of confidence that is causing you to put up obstacles. It is not unusual for individuals to do this, especially if they have had time out of the workforce. Take a look at my article on confidence on this website to find some hints on overcoming lack of self esteem. However, ask yourself who is benefiting from this mindset? Rather than thinking the worst and killing a great idea before it has a chance, why not channel the energy positively into investigating a course that would be ideal for you, your pocket and your future. Getting on a course would be the biggest boost and many are distance learning, which would address the house move issue.
On fear of selling: generally having one’s own business, which you have intimated you would like to do, does imply a certain amount of selling, but this depends on your definition. You will need to find clients, obviously, but there are a number of ways that don’t constitute the hard sell you fear such as : word of mouth ( using your network of friends and family etc), having a website with good links; leafleting ( more anonymous), and advertising, in local magazines and directories, for example.
Also, why not consider the alternatives to having your own business, (although I appreciate the flexibility this offers). Many GPs and consultants nowadays recommend alternative therapies to their patients and are considerably less sniffy about them than they were ten years ago. Why not approach local surgeries and hospitals when you are qualified and offer your services, or look for jobs in health magazines where you could be attached to a clinic or a health farm, for example. Perhaps you could be self employed some days and work for others the rest of the week.The mix and interaction with other people would probably also boost your confidence.
I do hope this helps. Good luck with everything.
Helen
Dear Helen
I am writing to ask for some help, as I am not sure where to start. I am a full time mum to twin girls who are 8, and my baby girl who is 3. I have recently give up part time work, and as much as I love my kids, need to work. I feel it would be more practical to work at home, as I have my girls week on week off, as mY ex and I have a very friendly arrangement.
I am looking to earn money, in the long run, but am willing to work hard to succeed. I am a very keen reader, and always have a book in my hand. I will read anything with interest. I am a good listener, and good communicator. I like to problem solve where needed, and am very task and goal orientated. I am neat and tidy in presentation and my surroundings. I am organised and a good timekeeper. At present I am studying part time. I am studying OCB english language and literature, and OCB creative writing. I am thoroughly enjoying them . I would be very grateful for any help or ideas.
Thank you
Andrea
Dear Andrea
Many thanks for your query. I think you hit the nail on the head when you said you are not sure where to start, because it looks to me like you have some strong long term ambitions, born out of your part-time studies and love of reading and creative writing, whilst at the same time you need to work for money/sanity in the short to medium term.
Let's deal with the short/medium term first. You appear to be looking for work that ensures you are around for your children, presumably that means you are available to drop them off and pick them up from school. The notion of working from home is a good one in principle although I would caution you don't narrow all your options into doing just this as it can be quite limiting. The options for working from home include setting up in business which involves coming up with an idea to kick off with! For inspiration, think laterally about what you do, who and what you know and enjoy. You said you are very organised etc, could you set yourself up as a Girl Friday for example? I know someone who does just this, working freelance as a part-time PA, and making money from it! I am afraid I don’t know what you did before kids so I'm a bit in the dark here. Go to www.prowess.org.uk for Government help in setting up a business.
For ideas about working from home, have a look at the 'work without set hours' section of Mum and Working. There are a variety of options involving everything from selling books, to jewellery to gardening equipment!
Part-time work out of the home will need to be flexible so it's also worth checking your local authority for jobs as they offer flexi-time. You could also investigate all the businesses in your area (to cut down on travelling time) and mail shot them with your CV, or alternatively phone up and offer your services. Create a job for yourself! One client of mine placed an advert in the local paper saying:"Wanted: Employment" and she got a job straight away. A bit of cheek and drive goes a long way.
As for the long term, it strikes me Andrea, you might want to retrain or gain extra qualifications (although I can't be sure not having your details). Contact Learn Direct www.learndirect.co.uk for details of courses and keep on with the studying because it will certainly broaden your options in the future. I hope this is helpful and good luck.
Best Regards
Helen
For more information on workshops or individual sessions please contact Helen Slingsby at Career Breakthrough, telephone: 0118 984 4962 or email Helen@careerbreakthrough.co.uk