My Service

My experience

I have worked within small business support in Manchester and Liverpool, UK for 16 years. I have also operated my own businesses, a café in Scotland and a marketing consultancy. All my family were also self-employed, so it's the norm for me.

All of my life I have been passionate about entrepreneurship and was keen to be my own boss as soon as I left school. I was frustrated because I never really had a trade or skill I could convert, so went into the world of employment. I also lacked confidence and knew I needed more life experience and a thicker skin! This may be a similar path that you have taken.

When I finally took the plunge, I bought a business in Scotland, I didn't regret it.

Personal circumstances led to me having to sell the café in Scotland after a couple of years and move back home to Lancashire. We were fortunate in that we made a profit on the sale because we had run it properly and had good accounts, the business was profitable, despite having a short season for revenue. 

I was proud of our achievements in the short time we were there. We appeared in the Rough Guide to Scotland, and had people travelling from miles around based on our reputation for the best paninis in the Highlands. We sold delicious coffee well before the Costa revolution landed on our shores! I just sensed it mattered. We also had a website, even now cafes and restaurants don't seem to think they need one.

I then moved into business support in 2007 and have been there ever since. I love it, it's my passion, but now I help aspiring or new entrepreneurs that require the extra help that funded business support can't provide.

If you are starting a business in the UK, I will always advise you to take full advantage of all the funded (free) services that are out there. It's excellent and you're entitled to it. 

Free Resources To Embrace

If you're not sure where to look, your first port of call is your Local Authority Business Team, then there is also the Federation of Small Businesses, your local Chamber of Commerce and there is Enterprise Nation too, that has amazing resources. 

Here is a blog outlining some more of the organisations that you can reach out to for funded support. This is ever changing and I will update it as regularly as I can.

Once you've exhausted all that help, and you have an idea of where you're headed, and you want to sit down with someone who can implement practical solutions, then this is where I step in.

My Service

I guide you through identifying your target customers, aligning your product or service with the market, setting goals for the year ahead, sharpening up your messaging and planning a simple communications strategy.

This will provide you with practical skills and insights, the by product is that your confidence will naturally grow. 

I have formulated 3 simple services that can help you move forward. This allows you to pick the solution that is relevant to you. Each package is exactly the same in structure and price, they only differ by content. You may only need 1, or you may choose to utilise all 3 over time.

To find out more, please visit the home page. 

Free Consultation

Just to reassure you further of my credentials. I will not work with everyone that wants to hand me their hard earned cash. I ask for a 40 minute free consultation, so we can see if you're at the stage where my offer will move you forward. That way life is easier for us all. I will always signpost you to other services if I feel they are a better fit.

I practice what I teach, when you are your own boss, you won't be a fit for everyone. But those that you are aligned with, will be delighted you exist.

I'd love you to get in touch, I promise our chats will always leave you with a positive. Even if you aren't quite ready to work with me, you always leave a little bit wiser than when you arrived!

Caroline