Leicester Business Women Christmas Newsletter

Leicester Business Women Christmas Newsletter

Leicester Business Women’s Newsletter

Well, what can I say? On behalf of the Leicester Business Women project team, 2011 has been an extremely successful year for us all!!! And we would like to “Thank You” for helping us and supporting us with your thoughts, ideas and inspiration, not to mention all the people that you have been referring to the programme.

It just wouldn’t be the same without you!!

We did initially think that we would be closing the project towards the end of year, but with a lot of help, we have managed to sustain this programme for another year, well into 2012. This is great for us as it means that we can focus on helping you for longer and meeting with and supporting many other women across Leicester. However, this year has not been without its struggles for us, we’ve worked extremely hard to get to where we are now and this has meant that we’ve had to know where we wanted to be in December 2011. I really hope that you will use the same concept for your business and ideas as to where you would like to be in December 2012. As the year draws to a close, use the time to consider:

 

_ What would you like to have achieved by Christmas 2012?

_ What personal goals have you set for yourself in 2012?

_ How are you going to reach these goals?

_ What are you doing everyday to ensure that you achieve these goals?

 

To get you started, here are some of the Leicester Business Women’s goals for 2012:

_ Deliver 9 more training programmes reaching even more women who wish to follow their dreams!!

_ 4 more ambassadors meetings to ensure we are listening to you and to the programme the best it can be

_ A programme of networking events for you to meet like minded women—sent out to you early in the New Year

_ A celebratory event for Leicester Business Women, members and partners

_ Helping females in the county reach their goals for 2012

Please remember that Leicester Business Women are here to help and support you on your journey “You’re not alone” so if you are not sure where you’d like to be, make sure you book a one to one appointment with one of our advisors as soon as possible so that you get the best possible start to 2012 that you can.

For further information about the Leicester Business Women programme please contact Heena Mistry or Nicole Hocking on 0116 251 8730 or view our website www.leicesterbusinesswomen.co.uk

Leicester Business Women’s programme of training workshops will be continuing in 2012. The series of workshops have been designed to help ladies from Leicester start up their own business from an idea they may have or to earn income from a hobby. Our support is second to none, and we pride ourselves on the number of women that have developed in confidence and their business through with our support. Our programme covers key elements to consider when setting up plus developing your confidence &

overcoming obstacles. Leicester Business Women’s next programme of workshops beginning in January 2012.

Many of our members registered their business and successfully started trading after overcoming any motivation and confidence issues, battling through those barriers and facing their fears with the help of Leicester Business Women. Each and everyone having their own reason why they want to become a successful business women whether to have flexible working hours to have more time with family/children, to be their own boss or just simply to earn an income from doing something which they love.

If you have been through Leicester Business Women’s training programme but need that final push and further support or if you have not yet attended our workshop training programme but would like the follow your dreams and start your very own business like the ladies mentioned then contact Leicester Business Women today as this FREE opportunity is only available until June 2012.

“Because I wanted the freedom to work around my children, to make my own decisions and watch my ideas become reality” Leah Golde of Inside Out Holistic Health & Beauty

Leicester Business Women would like to say a HUGE congratulation to the following ladies who have followed their dreams, over come barriers, faced their fears and successfully started their own businesses this year:

Manisha Jethwa of MVEEZ

Leena Mistry of New Leaf Family Services

Bhavna Champaneira of On Trend

Cathy Harrell of Arrow Service

Sofya Valieva of Fandomace Limited

Sarah Johnson of Dance Fit Studios

Hannah Ingram of Destiny Personal Training

Hannah Myatt of Doe Demure

Kathleen Jones

Kim Burley—Jones

Leah Golde of Inside Out Holistic Health & Beauty

Nadia Gani of Miracle Halal Mineralz

Dawn Chivers

Liz Knight

Fatima Gordon

Sue Thompson

Justine Bates

Deb King

Tania Knight

Juli Stevens of Snow Web Design

Nikita Kevat of Nikki’s Hot Extensions Limited

Minal Karia

Mariana Rodrigues of The Cake Queen

Emma Brown

Gail Pringle

Lisa Fox

Farhana Shaikh of Dahlia Publishing Limited

Rosemin Hassam of Cake Daze

Laura Musgrave

Lois McNab of Kinetic Law Services

Divya Popat

Elizabeth Suffolk of Arnford Book Keeping Limited

Punum Patel of Top Table Occasions

Bhanu Jadeja-Mahal of Inspire 2 Inspire

Fatima Patel of Fatima’s Reflexology

Barbara Read of BASKA

Crystal Voyle

Aparna Nardekar of KiyA

Leicester Business Women have supported over 500 women since the project began in September 2009. Many of these women have gone onto start their own businesses, with some of them starting more than one business, clearly showing how effective the Leicester Business Women programme is in encouraging and empowering local women from disadvantaged areas and backgrounds to support themselves. This month, we’ve highlighted Leena Mistry and Lois McNab’s successes:

Leena's story

Leena Mistry previously worked in the social care industry and with her experience and knowledge wanted to provide an improved service which she felt the industry very much needed. Leena has now set up New Leaf Family Services offering a prevention and quality service allowing more families to come together by offering the skills to enable a positive assessment. So, how did Leena do it?

One of the things that all Leicester Business Women staff noticed about Leena was her enthusiasm and total commitment to this idea and her ability to not let a NO get her down! Although, Leena does talk about some of her barriers which include other people’s lack of confidence in her idea, the feeling of failure and the non launch of the business (however this was more due to finding premises than Leena). Leena goes onto say “I think barriers will always present themselves in different ways its about being positive and seeing an solution everytime even when you don’t want to.”

After completing the Leicester Business Women training programme, Leena made sure that she made the most of the services that Leicester Business Women offer by meeting with her advisor – Jacqui Tillyard on a regular basis and ensuring that she completed her action points after each session. “Jacqui Tillyard supported me personally and helped me focus when at times I wanted to give up. I personally would recommend her as she certainly has got me to this point and helped me think differently about myself.”

In addition, Leena also attends the networking events on a regular basis as its fun and interesting as well as motivational for a new business. “I have gained two excellent friends from the networking and they have been a great support late night calls coaching a telling off which keeps me on the straight and narrow. It’s been really great and continues to be sharing our adventures with one another as we all feel similar. Running and setting up your own business is can be scary its nice to share with others.” “The support which I have received from Leicester Business Women has been excellent and always positive and flexible in my requirements. I would say I have been quite a challenging applicant yet the team have always been able to support with not just the business but with myself as an individual and have (and continue to) support and educate me in making the current decisions to assist with taking my business forward.”

And we’re also very proud to say that Leena has won the Shell Live Wire awards this month too! Well done!!!

For those of you looking to start a business, here are Leena’s top tips for setting up:

1. Planning with plenty of time whether that is a business plan or target market or funding options,

2. Believe in yourself and the dream and

3. Be open to learning and developing as this will always help you grow.

And finally, Leena’s overall view of Leicester Business Women?

“I feel that it is essential for Leicester Business Women to be around as its almost like parents. I’m going off to university and I clock in from time to time to let them know how I am doing. Its great like a comfort blanket as a child.”

Lois story 

Lois McNab joined Leicester Business Women in May 2010 when she heard about the programme through the Leicester Link magazine. Since then, Lois with her partner Gina went onto set up their business – Kinetic Law Services in August 2010 after attending the Leicester Business Women training programme. The business has been set up as a co operative enterprise as the structure suits their values. She goes onto mention, “We have attended training and networking events which we found helpful in developing contacts not only for our company but also to refer to other individuals and organisations we know. We appreciate the referrals we have received from Leicester Business Women and word of mouth recommendations from other contacts.”

Lois and Gina noticed a gap in the legal market by providing a holistic approach where the client is guided to find their own solutions. This is an innovative way of providing a legal service which caters for the well being of their clients as they had found through their 32 years of combined experience of the legal world, when the client presents a problem in one area of their life, it can and does impact on other areas of their life.

Lois goes onto talk about how “setting up and developing your own business allows you the freedom to be creative and plan your day and how you would like to spend it.” They found that the main challenges in starting a business were not becoming overwhelmed with the idea of starting a business and ensuring that you have quality time at home – including time for yourself and your family. Lois’s advice to others wanting to set up a business is to allow yourself at least a year from conception, “ everything has a growth process and developing a business is no different.”

Her advice for other women setting up in business is:

• Develop your self belief – the potential is within you!

• Draw on your experience, knowledge and skills from friends, colleagues and family around you.

• Decide on an idea that stirs your spirit and a way WILL be found!

See some of the comments from Kinetic Law Services below:

 

“I am happy to recommend you to anyone who needs help of any kind. I found you approachable; both sympathetic and empathetic, your advice was always clear, concise and easy to understand and your approach to my problem was exactly what was required. When I was feeling completely overwhelmed you

efficiently dealt with all issues without being patronising or uncaring. I was more than impressed.“ S.Parry, Wolverhampton

 

“The Applicant was delighted with the outcome of the hearing and asked me to convey a special thank you to Instructing Solicitor for her kind assistance.”

 

Please see www.kineticlawservices.co.uk for further details about services

Lois McNab - Kinetic Law Services

Leicester Business Women’s thoughts of 2011…..

“Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us” Hal Borland

Working with all the ladies of Leicester Business Women the past year has been a privilege. Seeing you through the journey that you take, especially from the very first application interview where they tell us of your business idea or their hobby which you wish to turn into a business. And then to go on through our programme, overcoming your barriers, face your fears and gain the confidence and motivation is truly inspirational. I enjoy the fact that each of your dreams are different and unique in many ways. I look forward to working with all of you ladies again plus many others who wish to follow their dreams and become a successful business women in Leicester Business Women’s final 6 months.

I wish you all and your families a very Merry Christmas and I hope 2012 will bring each and everyone of you hope, success and joy!!

Best wishes, Nicole x

Each time, I speak with any of our Leicester Business Women members, it truly motivates me to make this project better and more accessible to women out there and I realise how important it is to develop your networks and keep your motivation and focus going! Delivering this project over the past few years has been, and continues to be a journey of development as much for me as it is for you - all our members. I have to admit that it is because of you, your ideas, commitment and journey that my role has been so varied and interesting. It has been a pleasure to work with all of you throughout this year and I hope that we will be seeing many more women create their own successful businesses over the next few years through projects like Leicester Business Women!

I wish you a very Merry Christmas and wonderful New Year!

Best Wishes, Heena x

The highlight for me was that the Leicester Business Women Project was shortlisted for the Ernst & Young sponsored Start Up Britain Best Enterprise Support Award. To be selected to be one of 5 nationwide, was a great accolade and allowed the project to be looked at by some very influential Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders. On the awards night over 600 people attended the dinner which again provided fantastic exposure for the project and the excellent work it has done to encourage and develop female entrepreneurship in Leicester.

I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a happy New Year!

Best wishes, David

Leicester Business Women delegates 2011 have been a consistent source of inspiration for me during the year. Witnessing the challenges each and every one of you face and your courage in facing your fears, taking action and 'going for it' towards creating the business and life of your dreams is absolutely my pleasure. It reminds me how lucky I am to be doing what I love for a living and to be a small part of your 'SUCCESS' makes me incredibly proud.

For those of you who have lost your way and need help, please ask for that help from us and remember (in the words of the mad trainer Lou) "you don't wear your underwear over your clothes, you are NOT wonder woman, ask for help!" I look forward to hearing all about what's happening with your business in 2012.

Wishing you all an incredibly Happy Christmas and balanced and prosperous New Year!

My best, Lou x

Congratulations to all of you that kept finding the strength, courage and commitment to you and your business through the tough times. When you earn your living with a sense of joy and purpose it truly does fulfill your sense of achievement.

Best Wishes, Sharon x

Looking back over 2011 at Leicester Business Women is particularly encouraging. So manyLeicester women have gone through the programme and gained such confidence. Combine that with a growing network of supportive and motivational friends, and you have the ingredients for success. I have really enjoyed the Networking events, especially seeing the enthusiasm and the friendship of those attending. In June, we had 25 talented and enthusiastic ladies attending the Financial Planning Masterclass networking event.

May I wish everyone connected with Leicester Business Women a very happy Christmas; I hope that 2012 brings you all that you seek, and more, as your successful journey continues.

Best wishes, Jim

“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day” Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Business Lounge 

We have now made our Business Lounge available for Leicester Business Women members to give you the chance to work on your business whilst in a social environment. Our Training Room has full internet access and laptops which you can use. This would also be a great time to meet up with like minded women whilst you work.

Our Business Lounge is available at the following times:

Monday 10.00am – 4.00pm

Tuesday 10.00am – 3.00pm

Wednesday 1.00pm – 3.00pm

Thursday 1.00pm – 3.00pm

Friday 10.00am – 1.00pm

Saturday and Sunday closed

 

Address: Skills for Enterprise, 4th Floor,2-4 Colton Street, Leicester, LE1 1QA

 

Booking in advance is essential!

If this is something that you feel you, your business idea or your business would benefit from and would like to make the most of this FREE space in a business environment then please contact Nicole either via email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call me on 0116 251 8730

 

VIRTUAL OFFICE PACKAGE FOR YOU

Why not start 2012 with a professional look for your business??? Skills for Enterprise has always been dedicated to helping new start up businesses succeed, by providing tools to help grow your business what ever stage you’re in, including our Virtual Office service.

Do you need you an extra pair of hands to help you get on with more important tasks and to help grow your business, Skills for Enterprise can help. We also have complimentary services available such as Word Processing and photocopying at an additional cost. Skills for Enterprise always encourage people to follow their dreams and turn their business ideas into reality with packages such as:

• ‘City Centre Business Address’ service only £12.99 + VAT per month. This package is ideal for people working from home and want a professional city centre address represent their business.

• ‘Basic’ Virtual Office package at only £49 per month, to help those on a tight budget.

• ‘Standard Package’ now reduced to only £99 per month.

For more information or to find out about tailored packages, check out www.skillsforenterprise.co.uk and visit our Virtual Office page. Alternatively, please contact Baljit Nagra on 0116 275 5535.