Success Stories
"One day, bored at work, I came across YogaBugs on the internet, loved the concept and decided it would be a good idea to try and combine the two things that I am most passionate about, which are Yoga and teaching to children. I believe that in empowering children through Yoga, allows them the opportunity to achieve their goals and ambitions in life."
"I am hardworking and determined to succeed with my new business idea but I had no financial funding and I had a huge fear of the unknown (as I have never done this before)!! How do I deal with the Inland Revenue? What forms do I need for my business? What are all the correct procedures?
I had no idea!"
A single mum of two and aged 45 - and has just started up her own business!
"I had recently heard an ad on the radio about the services Business Link provided to help people set up their own businesses - so I gave them a ring to find out some more information and they referred me tothe Women's Business Development Agency."
"I am Joanne Asselman and I am the director of ThoroughlyChic Limited. I was born in Northamptonshire in England and was educated in England and Scotland; attending The University of Liverpool where I gained a BSc Honours in Mathematics and The University of Glasgow where I studied Medicine."
"My name is Kate, I am 27 years old and I have been a lecturer in photography for the past 5 years. I started teaching as soon as I left university and literally threw myself into my job. Though I got so much satisfaction from seeing my students develop their own skills I found it very hard to ever have the time to try and continue my own personal work."
"I trained as a Graphic Designer in the early eighties (back in the time of the dinosaurs before PC’s were invented and we had to use ink and glue to prepare artwork!) and have worked in commercial studios and public sector organisations for the last 25 years, developing my skills to embrace the digital era along the way."
"I am a mother with 3 girls aged 15, 12 and 7. I have been a florist for 24 years and after, recently being made redundant, I decided to fulfil my dad’s dream (who died 2 years ago) to work for myself. I have become a more confident person and WBDA have given me the support I needed and helped me to have a greater outlook for the futurebecause I now believed in myself."
"Prior to starting my own teaching and learning company, I was a secondary school Physical Education Teacher. I completed years at schools in Hinckley, Birmingham and Coventry, ranging from schools with 1600 Y10/Y11 Students to a Special Needs School catering for 75 Pupils with Autism / Aspergers Syndrome."
"I am 30 years old and have studied marketing and management. I have worked for two international companies in marketing department. It was really interesting but very, very stressful. I decided that the only way that I could be independent and more flexible to look after my daughter, Nadia of 7months, was to set up my own business. I always wanted to have my own company but I was not sure about an idea. So I started to think about my dream - to have a professional photography studio and take fashion and beauty photographs."
"A few years ago my husband and I moved to Spain, and in a fit of desperation, mainly to avoid telemarketing, I went for an interview for a chef job in a high quality restaurant near Marbella, Costa del Sol. The interview was like a little ‘ready, steady cook’ scenario – I had to construct a dish from a selection of ingredients and the chef was impressed enough to take me on."
"Born and bred in Coventry, I have been working in the corporate clothing industry for 20 years, predominantly on the sales support / contract management side dealing with all elements of garment supply from inception to roll out... Over the past few years I have been juggling my career and home life almost to the point of exhaustion, often working in excess of 12 hoursa day and driving over 1,000 miles per week."
"Pootle was formed, after owner Rochelle Byles got frustrated with options available to her for her own children, Andrew (3) and Sophie (1). Everything seemed to be excessively priced for pregnancy and for newborns, especially when you consider the short time these items are used. With a concern for the environment and the purse strings, Rochelle decided to do something about it for future Coventry mums. Pootle is the result..."
A former nurse is hoping her new business will be just what the doctor ordered for Coventry shoppers!
"I recently did a University Business Enterprise Study Course at Warwick University. And I went on WBDA’s free
‘Confident Start’ workshops held in Coventry - I really enjoyed it and decided that I wanted to work formyself."
"I have lived in Dublin, Glasgow and Edinburgh and I have completed
research for Edinburgh Crystal. I just love different cultures. Thanks to WBDA I now run my own Web Design Company. I have been working in the new media sector for 10 years now and have decided, following the birth of my first child, to start a freelance business in design. I want to try my best to make a better life for my son and family."
"We all make ourselves attractive on the outside, makeup, nail extensions, new hair cut, grooming etc.
But why do we always neglect the inside?
We all know intuitively, that our past events influence our present issues. Your gender, hormonal status, past experiences, values and beliefs."
"Born and bred in Coventry, I always had ambitions to write for national women’s magazines and newspapers. After finishing a degree in English and History at Keele University, I enrolled on a fast-track journalism training course in Portsmouth... I applied for a feature writer position at a national press agencyin Birmingham, which I got and immediately loved what I was doing."
"Personal Coaching does not always result in people making dramatic changes in their lives; you may find that small changes and a new perspective are enough to make a very positive difference to how you feel about your future. I also offer workshops for parents to be and mums with young families."
"Not only did I wear a bikini on holiday last year for the first time in 20 years, I now have my own business thanks to Lighterlife! I am looking forward to helping other obese people overcoming their weight issues."
A young mum with two children has launched a fantastic pottery business. The challenge of being made redundant has turned into a real opportunity for Lucy...
"My name is Sabera Kara, a 22 year old mother of two from
Coventry. I grew up in
Coventry with my mum, dad and four sisters. I always looked up to my mum, a strong business figure in my eyes. She had set up her own business from home with the help of WBDA and has been doing well ever since."