BE YOUR OWN BOSS MAKE YOUR OWN MONEY TURN YOUR PASSION INTO A BUSINESS

WOMEN MAKING IT IN CORNWALL

TIPS FOR SUCCESS

SOURCES OF SUPPORT

A new wave of businesses designed and delivered by female entrepreneurs is changing the perceptions of business life in the UK.

Once there was a view that the traits needed to succeed in business were commonly to do with strength and the drive to win at all costs. As this booklet shows, the truth now is very different: modern business success is built more on discovery and understanding, and on networks and relationships. In many fields, the ability to work collaboratively has become the key to long-term success.

Just as in the 20th century more women entered the workplace and became highly successful, in the 21st women are now leading the development of exciting new businesses. However, we also know there are still many potential businesswomen out there that just need the confidence to start.

Read here five examples of businesswomen who have succeeded in business, showcasing the characteristics they have drawn upon and the support they’ve had along to way to help them achieve their goals. You’ll quickly see that you too can access support right here in Cornwall.

I hope you will see that starting your own business will be one of the most exciting things you’ll ever do, and that you’ll be in good company…

Mark Smith | Executive Director Enterprise Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

Starting your own business could be one of the most exciting things you’ll ever do.

Rachel JonesFounDInG DIrEctor oF:• FIt ‘n’ Fun KIDS: Nurseries, Support Creches and Family

Transportation Services across Cornwall that stimulate, nurture, and educate children.

• LEaDInG WoMEn uK: Female networking and training group for entrepreneurs and career women.

• EntErprISE FounDatIon South WESt cIc: Creating great careers and enterprise for young people in the South West.

co-FounDEr oF:• Stay StronG antI-BuLLyInG: Educating young people on

the impact of bullying.

www.fitnfunkids.co.uk www.leadingwomenuk.com www.enterprisefoundationsw.org.uk www.staystrong.org.uk@LeadingWomenUK

HAVE A BUSINESS IDEA? HERE ARE MY TOP TIPS…• Doyourresearchand

planning – test your market by talking to your target audience.

• Createabusinessplan and set yourself targets. Make sure to monitor progress.

• Network–startnow!

What I learned along the waYEducation and development is important. I left formal education at 18, and didn’t return for further training until the age of 34, learning about business management, coaching and mentoring. It is so important to nurture personal development for myself, my team and my business. Learn at every opportunity.

If you experience a gap in the market, run with it. All of my businesses have come from noticing a gap in the market. I saw that the business community could and was willing to provide better opportunities, advice and guidance to young people, so I started Enterprise Foundation South West CIC.

ask for help when you need it. It was difficult being a female entrepreneur, mother and employer. When I felt I needed support, and I couldn’t find what I was looking for, I started Leading Women UK. Now we help hundreds of women every year to achieve their career goals.

HOW I STARTED FIT ‘N’ FUN KIDS• My drive and ambition began at a young age, competing in

gymnastics. • I wanted a well-paid job, but could not find the right match for

me, so I had the idea of starting my own business.• I believed in my idea, so I took a risk and sold my family home

to launch Fit ‘N’ Fun Kids.• It paid off. We now have 55 employees and turned over just

under £1 million in 2014.

CASE STUDY: FIT ‘N’ FUN KIdS / LEadINg WOmEN UK / ENTERPRISE FOUNdaTION SOUTh WEST CIC / STay STRONg aNTI-BULLyINg

TOP TIPS…• Findamentorwho

is slightly further along in their business journey than you, to guide and support you.

• Setboundariesinterms of work-life balance, because otherwise it could just consume your life.

CASE STUDY: TRaC

saRah TReThoWanFounDInG DIrEctor oF trac: Advice and support to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and healthcare industries.

www.tracservices.co.uk @TRACServices

What I learned along the waytraining and guidance has been key throughout my career. I started my career with a marketing and communications graduate training programme at the Post Office. It gave me the confidence and skills needed to start my own business.

Focus on your strengths. Understand your strengths, and then employ others to do the rest! You can’t do everything – realising this has been key to the success of my business.

Make use of support. Make the most of the support that is available, but only use the support that you need, rather than using it because it’s there and it’s free.

HOW I STARTED trac• I went to university in East London, and then started a

career at the Post Office.

• I started TRAC in 2001 with my husband. It took four years for us to take on our first employee.

• TRAC has continued to grow, I now manage nineteen employees and in 2014 had a turnover of £1.6 million.

TOP TIPS…• Makesureyou’reable

to change your plan, learn and adapt.

• Engagewithyourcustomers daily. Find out what they want, how they want it and how much they are willingtopay.Repeat!

CASE STUDY: CLEaR maPPINg COmPaNy

caRoline Robinson

What I learned along the waYGet as much experience as you can. Before running my own business, I worked for a toy company, then an ecological and landscape business. I then started Clear Mapping Company to link up my experience in infographics, design, manufacturing and pre-planning applications. Every experience is valuable, and will help you grow as a person.

Go for it. When you have a good business idea, go for it. Be aware that success doesn’t happen overnight! You really need to work hard to get the rewards.

Every day is a learning day. To achieve success you need to focus, be driven and be able to adapt to future challenges.

remember to make a profit! Entrepreneurs need to be able to reach further, aim higher, and achieve more, while making sure that they can still earn money from what they do, and more importantly, make a profit.

TheJourneytoClearMappingCo.• I started the company in 2011 to achieve a better work-life

balance.

• I started with a laptop on the dinner table and a bicycle for transport.

• In a short space of time we have grown extremely rapidly. We now employ a marketing manager and regularly use five freelancers.

• With investment in a new website, we will double our turnover in 2015.

oWnEr oF cLEar MappInG coMpany: A British cartographic design company based in Penryn, Cornwall.

www.clearmapping.co.uk @clearmappingco

TOP TIPS…• Livelikeyou

are going to die tomorrow, and plan like you are going to live forever.

• Thereisalwaysanother way. Never give up.

CASE STUDY: EmPOWER COaChINg INTERNaTIONaL

heaTheR FoRsTeRoWnEr oF EMpoWEr coachInG IntErnatIonaL: Strategic coaching for businesses.

anD: Crowdfunder in Residence at Plymouth University, serial entrepreneur for many businesses, and previous owner of two franchises of The Body Shop Intl, PLC in Cornwall.

www.heatherforster.com @HeatherForster1

What I learned along the wayas your role changes, so will your salary. My salary has ranged from £75k per year when I owned The Body Shop franchise, to £40k per year as a freelancer (that’s without the responsibility of 35 staff)!

plan your time to achieve a balance. I have always run my businesses alongside a family and social life. To achieve a work-life balance you have to plan your time really well and learn to say ‘no’ sometimes.

understand the numbers. Cash is King – many people focus on issues such as a website and marketing in the early start-up stages, but without generating an income quickly, a business cannot function.

My entrepreneurial journey• My entrepreneurial journey began when I was just 16,

when I ran a party planning business while studying for my A-Levels.

• I have started a total of six businesses from scratch and employed up to 45 staff in my career.

TOP TIPS…• Don’ttrytodo

everything. Make a decision on whether to do something or not, and be happy with that decision.

• Writedownwhyyou’restarting the business and what you want from it. Stick it in a drawer and read it in a year’s time to make sure you’re on the right track.

CASE STUDY: EIghT WIRE

saRa Pugh

What I learned along the waYyou don’t need endless experience in business. Many aspects of running a business were new to me when setting up Eight Wire. When employing our first staff member, it was only the second interview I’d ever been to – I was just on the other side of the table!

recognise your strengths and weaknesses. Do what you’re good at and get someone to do what you’re not.

How I started Eight Wire• I moved to Cornwall when I studied Graphic Design at

Falmouth University.

• Setting up my own business is what allowed me to stay living in Cornwall.

• I took a loan from the Prince’s Trust Scheme to start the business.

• I have been running Eight Wire for 10 years. It took me three years before hiring my first employee, but I now manage a team of ten.

ManaGInG DIrEctor oF EIGht WIrE: Design and marketing agency based in Falmouth.

www.8wire.co.uk @8_wire

dELIVEREd IN: FUNdEd By: IN PaRTNERShIP WITh:CORNWALL AND

THE ISLES OF SCILLY

maNagEd By:

GovErnMEnt WEBSItE: containing an overview of the practical steps required to turn your business idea into a product or service.

www.gov.uk/starting-up-a-business www.greatbusiness.gov.uk/start

hMrc: providing information, practical guides and support on all the legal aspects to starting your own business.

www.hmrc.gov.uk

prIncE’S truSt: support to help you decide whether your business idea is viable, and a source of training, mentoring and finance for young people.

www.princes-trust.org.uk

Start-up Donut: providing free advice, tools, and resources for starting a new business.

www.startupdonut.co.uk

GaIn: offering advice and guidance on the business support available to you.

gaininbusiness.com

ShELL LIvEWIrE: an online community for young entrepreneurs aged 16-30, including advice and opportunities to access funding.

www.shell-livewire.org

SouRCESoFSuppoRTThere are many ways to start your own business, and these examples show that to be successful you need to be driven, determined and have an idea that you believe in. You’re never too young to start, so why not take a look at some of the resources below, where you can get advice on how to begin your journey and find help along the way.