Flexible Working that Works

At the beginning of any journey it’s always good to talk to people that have trodden a similar path…they can point you in the direction of places you might also benefit from going to… and steer you away from some of the less desirable destinations.  That’s why I have made it my mission to talk to as many other flexible business owners as I can – learn their lessons and aspire to their successes…

I was therefore delighted to catch up with Rebecca Newenham, founder of award-winning, national virtual agency Get Ahead VA (Virtual Assistant).  With three young girls, a successful self-employed mother for inspiration and a wealth of corporate experience behind her, Rebecca took the leap and set up Get Ahead VA in 2010 with just a second-hand lap top and a book of contacts.  I wanted to know how she did it, how she’s still doing it and what advice she can offer other mum’s looking for that sometimes elusive flexible career…

Rebecca, tell us a little bit about what you do:

“I run Get Ahead VA, a virtual agency which delivers nationwide virtual assistance services for entrepreneurs, small and medium sized businesses. With clients ranging from will writers to window cleaners, financial consultants to fashion designers, all of our clients are motivated and driven business owners, with clear plans for business growth. They recognise the value of outsourcing, passing onto others tasks that either they lack skills in, or tasks that drain their valuable time. We enable them to get back to what they do best – growing and running their businesses.”

What triggered your decision to start the business?

“After a corporate career in buying for retail giants Superdrug and Sainsburys, I was looking for a flexible work solution that could fit around my lifestyle and my three daughters – now 16, 14 and 12. Having grown up with a successfully self-employed mother, I knew it was possible to be able to contribute financially to the family and to do school drop off and pick-ups too. My mum was a great example and I grew up knowing that I wanted one day to run my own business just like she did.

Having looked at various business ideas and the way the employment landscape was shaping up for the future I felt a virtual assistance business offered the best solution. In 2010, Get Ahead VA began.”

How did you brand yourself?

“With my corporate background I knew that branding would be important, to give Get Ahead VA a recognisable identity in a competitive market. I wanted to offer work to other people and to run a business – so it was important I had a brand, not just ‘Rebecca Newenham VA Services’. I was lucky to work with a great designer and though the brand has evolved slightly since 2010, it remains very similar. Consistency is key and the changes I have made have been to develop our identity across social media and to use our core colours to champion our brand values of being flexible, professional and vibrant.”

How has the team grown over the years?

“Now in 2018, my team of over 30 virtual assistants deliver marketing and business support services to over 100 clients across the UK. Each VA brings with them a skill set in areas of business including PR & Marketing, Social Media Management, Business Development, Account Management, Design & Administration. Many have decades of experience in their field but have struggled to find flexible or part-time work that enables them to use their significant knowledge. Working for Get Ahead VA allows them to do just that.

I also have three regional directors running their own Get Ahead VA franchises in territories from Bristol up to Leeds. Franchising has enabled us to grow the team further, with each regional director bringing in their own VAs to work in their area.”

How do you find your customers?

“Word of mouth referrals have always been key for us. Despite the influence of social media, when it comes to professional services recommendations and personal relationships still really make a difference. Luckily I have always loved networking – whether it be at regular local events or exhibiting at major national shows such as the Mums Enterprise Roadshow or Office*. I enjoy meeting new people, understanding what their needs are and working out how we can help. Thankfully I have such a fantastic team that deliver a great job once we bring a client onboard. Our clients often go on to recommend us to others which is something I am very proud of.”

What have been your highlights so far?

“Every time we receive a positive testimonial from a client is a massive highlight – knowing that we have made a real difference to their business. We have won a variety of awards including Flexible Business of the Year in the Mum and Working Awards and Theo Paphitis’ Small Business Sunday #SBS Award. We have also been shortlisted in awards for Talent Attraction and Networking and were selected as one of the best Home Businesses in the UK. I am excited that I have just been shortlisted for the Woman Business Owner of the Year Award and the Enlightened Employer of the Year Award in the Women in Business awards. I am looking forward to the awards night. They are always inspiring events, filled with so many women making a positive contribution to our society.

Welcoming our new regional directors on board has also made me really proud. It took a lot of hard work to get the franchise offering just right but seeing our franchisees enjoying running their own businesses and being able to mentor them makes it all worthwhile.”

What are your thoughts on flexible working?

“Flexible working to me is the new normal. I appreciate there are certain jobs and certain companies where it doesn’t work but for many roles, flexible working is a practical solution. Our economic and social landscape has shifted dramatically over the past few decades. Gone is the notion of the 9 to 5 and the job for life. 1 in 7 people in the UK now work from home. Flexible work reflects today’s society.

As a business, flexible working gives our clients access to highly experienced professional assistants without significant, ongoing commitments. It gives our VAs a chance to use all the skills they have spent so long gaining, to make a difference to small businesses across the UK.”

How do you make the isolation of ‘working from home’ bearable?

“Although I work from home, I don’t actually spend that much time there. Face to face networking is a big part of my role and I am regularly out at networking meetings, events or new client briefings. I have always loved meeting new people and take pride to personally match each new client with the right VA that not only has the skills that they need, but also the right personality. I regularly meet up with members of my team as well, running workshops every quarter to help us develop relationships and learn from each other.”

Any advice/tips for parents looking for flexible work or to start their own flexible business?

“Think about your reasons for wanting flexible work and what the potential employment solutions might be. Formulate a plan, do your research up front and then just get on with it. Don’t be afraid to follow your dreams. If things don’t turn out quite as you thought first time don’t panic – just think about how you could do it differently. Keep evolving until you get it right.”

About Get Ahead VA

Get Ahead VA specialise in helping businesses of all sizes and from all sectors get ahead. Whether that involves getting out there and generating more sales or focusing on strategic vision, Get Ahead VA support business owners with the day-to-day running of their organisation so they can focus on taking their business to the next level.  You can find Get Ahead VA at:

Website address: http://www.getaheadva.com

Twitter address: @GetAheadVA

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/get-ahead-va

About Catchfly

Catchfly is a social media management agency specialising in helping businesses engage with other businesses.  We want to help your business thrive through the strategic and effective use of social media.

Backed by 20 years’ experience helping businesses to understand and communicate with their key stakeholders, Catchfly will help you with everything from devising a social media strategy through to the practicalities of posting news and updates across your social media platforms.  We can also help create and curate your social media content, ensuring your business has a rich supply of engaging news, research and commentary to share with your audience.  Once that’s all done – we’ll assess the performance of your channels using social media analytics and refine the strategy accordingly.

We’d love to hear from you – so please drop us a line at natasha_perry11@hotmail.com so we can discuss your specific social media needs.

 

A slight change of direction…

Flexible working

For last six months or so I’ve been banging the drum about #flexibleworking…  mainly because I’m passionate about it…but also because…

…I need it – to pay my bills!

…I enjoy it – to (just about) balance a job with looking after a young family.

…I believe in it – it’s the future, and not just for parents – but for anyone looking to inject a bit more #worklifebalance into their days.

My campaign

My local social media campaign ‘Flexible Works Surrey’ has been about encouraging Surrey employers to think more flexibly and create more part-time and flexible jobs for the many talented individuals out there needing, if not craving, a bit of flexibility in their working lives.

The campaign has been fun – I’ve connected with lots of interesting people; been inspired by stories of flexible working really working; found my local coworking community; built up a Twitter following from zero to over 350; run my first “tweet chat” (who knew?!); and even broke my own privacy boundaries and posted using Facebook Live!

In training for a new career

But, apart from a passion for flexible working, why start the campaign?  Well for those who haven’t already guessed, I’ve been training up to be a Freelance Social Media Manager – so that I too could carve out my own little piece of flexible working freedom.

My background is mainly Occupational Psychology – mostly spent carrying out research and consultancy around organisational safety issues – sometimes in far-flung places.  This has been an amazing experience and one I feel hugely grateful for – but I simply don’t know – and don’t want to know – how you juggle international travel and long hours with caring for three young children.

Social Media Management as a flexible career promises great things – you don’t need to be in any fixed location to do your job well – with a smart device and robust WiFi you can deliver a quality service.  Of course – please don’t misunderstand me – powerful strategic social media management requires considerable time and creative energy – but in terms of a physical location and being fixed to certain times of day – there’s just not the same need as with more traditional office jobs.

I also don’t need to tell anyone reading this that social media is the future – everyone wants, if not needs to be ‘social’ these days to keep their brand current and ensure they can reach out and connect with existing and future customers.  Any business without a social media presence is taking a risk.

A rebrand

So… my FlexibleWorks Surrey campaign is going through a re-brand… that’s right, a new logo, a website, and more on #socialmedia strategy and tactics… but I’ll still be supporting flexible working… because it’s something I feel passionately about.  I just want to slightly alter the campaign’s direction and actually walk the flexible talk.  And I’d love you to join me on the journey.

I want to consider…

• Is it really possible to set up a business that allows you to work flexibly?
• Is self-employment really all it’s cracked up to be?
• How should you brand yourself?
• How will you find customers?
• How do you make the isolation of ‘working from home’ bearable?
• And most importantly… will you make enough money to cover your bills?

By exploring these issues, I hope to help myself… and anyone else that’s trying to set up their own business… in whatever format that may take!  I hope you stick with me as I explore in real time creating work that works…

And of course, if you’re still reading this, liked my Flexible Works Surrey campaign and would like me to help you build your brand on social media… I’d love to hear from you!  Nudge-nudge wink-wink.

About Catchfly

Catchfly is a social media management agency specialising in helping businesses engage with other businesses.  We want to help your business thrive through the strategic and effective use of social media.

Backed by 20 years’ experience helping businesses to understand and communicate with their key stakeholders, Catchfly will help you with everything from devising a social media strategy through to the practicalities of posting news and updates across your social media platforms.  We can also help create and curate your social media content, ensuring your business has a rich supply of engaging news, research and commentary to share with your audience.

We’d love to hear from you – so please drop us a line at natasha_perry11@hotmail.com so we can discuss your specific social media needs.

 

Setfords fly the flag for #flexibleworking

I have been running the FlexibleWorks Surrey campaign for almost six months now and during this time Setfords – a nationwide law firm – has consistently impressed me with its dedication to #flexibleworking.  This week I was lucky enough to catch up with its Public Relations Manager Amy Sutton to find out more about how #flexibleworking has benefitted their business.  The conversation went a little something like this…

Could you start off by telling me about Setfords?

Setfords is a nationwide law firm with over 200 lawyers covering all areas of law, from property to family, commercial contracts to social housing. Using the best technology and award winning support teams its consultant lawyers are able to work from anywhere in the world, setting their own working hours, their own goals and build their own career however they want.

The firm has won numerous awards for its novel way of working, and has enjoyed steady growth. Its new way of working means its lawyers are happier, which ultimately means happier clients.

What does #flexibleworking mean for Setfords?

Flexible working for our lawyers isn’t just about the ability to start half an hour later on a Monday, or leave an hour early on Friday. It means complete freedom to work the way they want, when they want and where they want.

If they want to take an afternoon off to see their children perform in a school play, or want to work from a beach in Bali – they can. There are no constraints on their time or geography.

Is #flexibleworking the norm in the legal sector?

Absolutely not! Despite the impact of new technologies, and the associated cultural shifts around attitudes to work the legal sector has a very traditional approach to working life. This means long hours at the office, fixed start and end times with little chance to work anywhere other than your desk, save for client meetings. For anyone with a family, or caring duties this makes work-life balance very difficult.

And even for those without such responsibilities, it means years of toil without the time or space to enjoy the rewards of this hard work.

So why does Setfords think differently?

Setfords’ founders recognised that amazing legal talent was being lost – whether through burnout, being unable to juggle family care, or just disillusionment. The first thing they knew they had to tackle was the inflexibility of the traditional legal model. This meant using technology to power true #remoteworking, and forgetting the traditional ‘rules’ around working hours.

We hope that the success we’ve enjoyed will be a signal that new ways of working don’t just mean happier lawyers, it’s proof that flexible working also makes good business sense.

How can businesses benefit from #flexibleworking?

Not only could the legal sector benefit from a more flexible approach, but so could those in diverse sectors. We’ve seen recently much being reported about the gender pay gap and how women can be effectively held back in their career after having children. This isn’t just unfair but is nonsense for businesses. Why lose great people for the sake of rules that dictate a fixed and rigid timetable for work?

Of course, some industries require staff to be present at defined times, but there are always opportunities to assess whether systems are working for the good of staff, and the good of the business. The way we work is changing and so are the expectations of staff. For those who refuse to evolve the price will be the loss of talent to competitors who have woken up to this shift.

What do your lawyers say about the change to #flexibleworking?

We recently ran a survey of our lawyers to find out why they had made the change from traditional working to our model, and if they had any regrets. The response was overwhelmingly positive.

The key reason that lawyers chose this way of working was due to wanting more time for family and relationships – an issue I think most of us can relate to.

Can you give me some examples of what your lawyers said?

“As a mother of young school age children, the 9-5 was not working for me. I felt pressured to work longer and longer hours, often to 7 pm. I was always running late which I hated. I was missing out on so much with the children and not seeing my partner-we were passing on the doorstep. My working day is now so much more flexible. I got to see the Christmas plays, the guitar and recorder concerts and I’m able to take my own children to school.”

“I wanted to start a family and could not see how that would work in my ‘traditional’ role with a firm. I wanted to spend more time at home than working and travelling to and from work, but I did not want to ‘cut back’ on my career. Working from home, hours that suit my family life, flexibility and not having to ‘check if it was ok’ to finish early appealed to me. In addition, there was the potential to earn more money for the work that I was already doing. So I took the plunge when I was pregnant and began my consultancy role. I love it, the freedom is brilliant. I spend so much more time with my little girl than I ever would have done if I had returned to the office!”

What else did the survey show?

The survey unveiled some amazing feedback – the results speak for themselves!

The majority of consultants (62%) have school-age/dependent children.  The key reason for consultants choosing the flexible working model was to allow more time for family and personal relationships (29%).  Next was to enable them to work remotely or from home (22%) and thirdly, to decrease stress or improve wellbeing generally.

Other survey findings highlighted that:

• 82% of consultants have experienced improved work-life balance since making the change.
• 84% said that this model has had a positive effect on their family and personal relationships.
• 73% said their health and wellbeing has improved.
• 22% said Setfords’ way of working had enabled them to return to work more easily after having had children.
• 98% would recommend this way of working to other lawyers.

About FlexibleWorks Surrey

My name is Natasha Perry and FlexibleWorks Surrey is my campaign to encourage businesses in the #Surrey area to support #flexibleworking and offer #WorkThatWorks to #workingmothers.

We want to support mums find local professional work by encouraging local businesses to actively integrate part-time and flexible working options into their recruitment and talent strategies.  To help make this happen, FlexibleWorks Surrey wants to encourage businesses of all sizes in #Surrey to engage in the debate about part-time and flexible working.

Surrey businesses

Are you a local #Surrey based business?  Have you recruited on a part-time or flexible basis?  How has this benefitted your business?

Surrey mums

Are you a local #Surrey mum interested in part-time or flexible local work?  Or maybe you have already found part-time or flexible local work?  How has this improved your work life balance?

Join the movement and let us know what you think!

Please follow me on Twitter @FlexibleSurrey and/or Like my page on Facebook at: @FlexibleSurrey

Please contact me on: natasha_perry11@hotmail.com or find me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-perry-aa53a519/.

A local Surrey business making a move in the right direction…

The business case for flexible working

Just last week entrepreneurial legend Richard Branson was eulogising the benefits of flexible working – not just for employees – but for businesses too.

Branson outlined how offering flexible work attracts top talent to a business and can cut profit eating overhead costs whilst boosting productivity.  Other benefits include staff retention and motivation, improved diversity in the workplace and the fact that people are increasingly demanding flexible working from employers.

Someone as influential as Richard Branson supporting the cause creates a ripple of cultural and societal change, and this was therefore met by a virtual round of applause from flexible working advocates across the globe.

The social benefits of flexible working

Of course, the benefits to individuals are clear – people of all ages and stages want flexible working.  The middle generations, who have been looking after children or elderly relatives, eventually want to return to a flexible job that matches their skills and experience, whilst being fairly financially compensated.  The younger generations who value time almost as much as financial reward, want forward thinking employers who allow them the freedom to pursue other non-work related interests.  And for senior generations, rich in work experience and wisdom, who want to continue contributing in the workplace but want to balance this with other interests and hobbies, flexible working is a must.

Our challenge

What challenge did we set ourselves?  We wanted to find employers a little closer to home, who, like Branson, are flying the flag for flexible working.  Businesses that are doing their bit for cultural change.

Cue – a fast forward thinking flexibly minded Surrey estate agency

We were thrilled to find Jezzards – an award-winning London and Surrey estate agency.  Since its inception, Jezzards has quickly grown backed by the entrepreneurial spirit and enthusiasm of its Director, Ross Jezzard.  We were lucky enough to get some time with Ross and the conversation went something like this…

What skilled positions have you recruited at Jezzards on a flexible basis?

We believe in a good work-life balance for all our staff and so on Saturday’s we like to give our full-timers time to themselves.  However, the challenge is that Saturday is one of our busiest days of the week – it’s when most of our customers want to view properties – this creates a need for us to recruit part-time Saturday support staff.  Typically, these staff will have experience in the property sector so we can provide continuity of expertise within the offices whilst giving our regular full-time staff a well-earned break.

How have flexible roles benefited Jezzards as a business?

Having part-time staff has allowed us to rotate our Saturday staff, which is typically one of our busiest days for viewing properties. Our full-time staff will now only work one in two Saturdays, which means they get their weekends back whilst Jezzards can still accommodate a high number of viewings.  By doing this we ensure our staff have a good work-life balance which means they are happier and continue to enjoy working with us.

Have you encountered any challenges to recruiting on a flexible basis?

The main challenge is ongoing training due to the limited availability of staff, as we tend to have training sessions which are conducted during the normal working week.  Other than that, there have been no major challenges.  We have actually been really surprised by the number of people who are looking for flexible work. We have a range of people that apply for the part-time Saturday role – from students, to new mum’s, to people who have retired.  We actually tend to get more applications for a Saturday role than we ever do for a full-time role!

About Jezzards

Jezzards is an award-winning estate agency based in London and Surrey.  If you are interested in learning more about Jezzards and the career opportunities available, or would like to get in touch with them about a property sale or letting, please contact them on 03330 433 633 (lines open 24 hours) or email them at customer.service@jezzards.co.uk.  Alternatively, you can visit their website, Facebook page , Linked In profile or follow them on Twitter @Jezzards

About FlexibleWorks Surrey

My name is Natasha Perry and FlexibleWorks Surrey is my campaign to encourage businesses in the #Surrey area to support #flexibleworking and offer #WorkThatWorks to #workingmothers.

We want to support mums find local professional work by encouraging local businesses to actively integrate part-time and flexible working options into their recruitment and talent strategies.  To help make this happen, FlexibleWorks Surrey wants to encourage businesses of all sizes in #Surrey to engage in the debate about part-time and flexible working.

Surrey businesses

Are you a local #Surrey based business?  Have you recruited on a part-time or flexible basis?  How has this benefitted your business?

Surrey mums

Are you a local #Surrey mum interested in part-time or flexible local work?  Or maybe you have already found part-time or flexible local work?  How has this improved your work life balance?

Join the movement and let us know what you think!

Please follow me on Twitter @FlexibleSurrey and/or Like my page on Facebook.

Please contact me on: natasha_perry11@hotmail.com or connect with me on Linked In.

Coworking in Kingston, Surrey

As an army of mums, seniors and millennials fight for their piece of the #flexibleworking job market, where will all these people actually do their work?  And is homeworking really all it’s cracked up to be?  It can feel pretty isolating when your only human contact all day has been an Amazon delivery.  Perhaps it’s why so many people are now opting for coworking spaces.  Come and join me on a trip round Kingston, Surrey, to find some of the local coworking hot spots…

Why do we need coworking spaces?

I’ve been working at home a lot recently and on the face of it I’m living the working mum’s dream.  I get to see my children at breakfast, do drop off, pick up and the whole tea/bed time routine.  So, yes I get to see my kids, which although often exasperating, is of course a luxury.

But for the hours between the school runs I amuse myself with working from the loft.  It’s cold, quiet, enjoys little natural light and is also a bit of a waste ground for household junk.  As the day’s tick by I sometimes yearn for that office environment again.

The advice for most remote workers is to try coworking.  Although you’re not working with these other people in the traditional sense, you are still sitting alongside them, tapping away at the keyboard, taking coffee breaks, watching the clock.  A quiet camaraderie.  A local working community.  Something to feel part of.

So…what coworking spaces exist in and around Kingston, Surrey?

Free local facilities

• Pret a Manger – first port of call is my local Pret, apparently known for its freelancing community. Upstairs feels like a lovely working space – beautiful lighting making the space feel airy and contemporary.  There are a few people looking suspiciously like freelancers tapping away and a few regular customers going about their daily lives.  It’s quite quiet and I could imagine working here quite productively.  There’s also free WiFi and power sockets.

• Department of Coffee and Social Affairs – I then head down the road to the Department of Coffee and Social Affairs where the upstairs space lends itself well to working.  There is a feeling of space and several large desks, nice décor and plenty of people with their laptops out working away.  The free WiFi, power sockets and great coffee are huge added benefits!

• Kingston Library– our local library also has many of the benefits of the paid coworking space without the price tag. There’s unlimited free WiFi using your own device – or you can use their PC’s for free for one hour if you are a member. It provides a nice quiet relaxed atmosphere where you can work, but also feel really part of the local working community.

Not so free (but great!) local facilities

• Kingston CoWork– after trying some of the ‘free’ facilities – I wanted to experience a venue designed specifically for coworking. Cue Kingston CoWork – located in the heart of Kingston’s fashionable Old London Road – a hub for small independent fashion and furniture stores, eateries and tatooists.  I spent a morning there warmly welcomed by the manager, Francisco.  The coworking space itself is a large open plan office with high ceilings, contemporary lighting and a creative and colourful wall mural which gives the space a feeling that this is where ideas happen!  Within half an hour at Kingston CoWork I feel like I’m part of something!  It feels good to be working alongside other workers with a purpose.  The quiet hum of the heater, the music set a level that’s listenable but not distracting, the gentle tip tapping of keyboards.  It feels good!  Of course this positive vibe does cost, so you’ll need to invest a little… but Kingston CoWork offer a range of prices and options, and personally, if you have the income I’d say investing a little in a coworking desk is money well spent – both for your productivity and your sanity!

Other coworking options in Surrey

• The Inspiration Space – established by Liana Fricker as a way to bring Surrey’s growing community of creatives, professionals, freelancers and small business owners together in a more meaningful and inspiring way, The Inspiration Space runs paid for coworking events where local like minded people in Surrey can work alongside each other whilst absorbing each others creative ideas and energy.

 

• WorkClub – are working to bring mobile communities together under the roof of underutilised spaces with great Wi-Fi and delicious food and drink. It’s a relatively new organisation but already boasts 320 members and 10 coworking venues – and it’s coming to Surrey soon!

Nick Donnelly, Founder and CEO said, “WorkClub is not a real estate company, it’s a community company.  We are a platform for freelancers, small businesses and now larger ones that really recognise the need for people to be part of an active, mobile community.  Community will always be our number one focus.  It’s the company’s defining feature, our USP.”

 

Find what works for you…

The key to effective coworking seems to be finding what suits your personal situation, your income and your need to find a working tribe.  The needs of a small start-up might be very different than the needs of an individual freelancer or someone who only works remotely for one or two days per week.  Perhaps the best advice is to mix your coworking locations up a little – choose a couple of different venues to bring variety to your week, and maybe even invite a fellow freelancer along to join you!?

 

FlexibleWorks Surrey

My name is Natasha Perry and FlexibleWorks Surrey is my campaign to encourage businesses in the #Surrey area to support #flexibleworking and offer #WorkThatWorks to #workingmothers.

We want to support mums find local professional work by encouraging local businesses to actively integrate part-time and flexible working options into their recruitment and talent strategies.  To help make this happen, FlexibleWorks Surrey wants to encourage businesses of all sizes in #Surrey to engage in the debate about part-time and flexible working.

Surrey businesses

Are you a local #Surrey based business?  Have you recruited on a part-time or flexible basis?  How has this benefitted your business?

Surrey mums

Are you a local #Surrey mum interested in part-time or flexible local work?  Or maybe you have already found part-time or flexible local work?  How has this improved your work life balance?

Join the movement and let us know what you think!

Please follow me on Twitter @FlexibleSurrey and/or Like my page on Facebook at: @FlexibleSurrey

Please contact me on: natasha_perry11@hotmail.com or find me at https://www.linkedin.com/in/natasha-perry-aa53a519/.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Getting into hot water…?

The decision to leave secure full-time paid employment and start up on your own is a bold move by anyone’s standards.  The decision to do this after starting a family, when time and energy levels are possibly at an all-time low is nothing short of bonkers, right? 

Not necessarily.  A wise female manager once told me that women are like tea bags (bear with me); you’ll never know their full strength until you drop them in hot water.  For many women being dropped in ‘hot water’ comes straight after childbirth!  And then again a year later when we need (and lets be honest, want) to work in some form or other.  Except, returning to our previous job, in the same format, is often not a viable option.  So we’re faced with finding new ways of working, reinventing ourselves, learning new skills, possibly changing our expectations a little…and… being brave!

Thankfully in 2018 we are surrounded by amazing examples of inspirational women who have done just that.  In fact, entire industries are shaped around getting mums back into work again – business start-ups, part-time and flexible job agencies, home working freelancers contributing to the ‘gig economy’ – the possibilities are, literally, endless.

In my own personal quest to reshape my employment path, I found myself at a women’s enterprising event in Kingston, Surrey.  This is where I first met Janine Coombes.

Janine was the scheduled speaker – and she absolutely nailed it.  She too was a mum packaging up her pre-children skills into a neat business offering.  She started up her marketing training company – aptly named Janine Coombes Marketing Training – back in 2017, and now trains businesses to manage and execute their own marketing campaigns.

I wanted to learn how she had made the courageous transition from employee to entrepreneur – with children in tow (!) – and what advice she could offer others seeking to do the same.  Here’s what she kindly shared…

What job did you do before having children?

I worked for mobile giant EE in the customer marketing and retention team for pay monthly mobile phone contracts. I was covering three roles by the time I went on maternity leave!

What happened career wise after having your first child?

I was planning to go back to work and put in for nine months maternity leave when I fell pregnant with my first child. I had such little experience with children I thought he’d probably be better off being looked after by a professional (!). But as the months of maternity leave passed I inevitably became the expert in looking after him and didn’t want to go back to the hours of commuting or fighting to go part-time.  I handed in my notice and started thinking about how I could earn money in different ways.

Did you look for flexible employed work? What was out there?

At the time I couldn’t envisage a way to make marketing work for me in a flexible way. I thought about baking healthy snacks for commuters or providing a meal service for busy working parents, but eventually I took a position for an agency doing social media marketing and blog writing for their clients. It turned out to be the perfect way to build my confidence back up.

Why did you decide to start up your own business?

While I was working for the agency I was struck by how few of these small and medium sized companies had marketing or sales plans. They knew they needed to do marketing, but they didn’t know where to start or how. They were paying other people to do it for them, but seemed not to realise that they needed to invest some time up front in deciding what they were trying to achieve first. I realised I could help these people in a more fundamental way than to be paid by the hour to do tactical stuff.

As a new business owner, what challenges are you facing?

My main challenge is fitting everything into the time that I have allowed myself. For better or worse I decided only to put my daughter (my son is now at school) into nursery for three school days a week. That means that I have about 15 hours a week to actually work when my children aren’t around. It’s a juggle but it’s fantastic for forcing you to prioritise!

How are you overcoming these challenges?

I am gradually setting up processes and a support network to structure my workload. I have a business coach who’s taking me through the vital high level strategy steps and I have accountability partners – we keep each other motivated to stick to our plans!

What advice would you offer women in a similar position that are thinking about starting a business?

I’d recommend sticking to something you know. It’s so much easier if you can operate from a position of being an expert in your field. Either way, you’ve got to be prepared to learn. Identify your skill gaps then invest some time and money in addressing them.

Janine is based in #Kingston #Surrey – a growing hub for female entrepreneurs, start-ups and freelance mums wanting to create and find #WorkThatWorks around family commitments and other caring responsibilities.

If you’re a mum or business and interested in some marketing training from Janine she can be found at [click here].

FlexibleWorks Surrey

My name is Natasha Perry and FlexibleWorks Surrey is my campaign to encourage businesses in the #Surrey area to support #flexibleworking and offer #WorkThatWorks to #workingmothers.

We want to support mums find local professional work by encouraging local businesses to actively integrate part-time and flexible working options into their recruitment and talent strategies.  To help make this happen, FlexibleWorks Surrey wants to encourage businesses of all sizes in #Surrey to engage in the debate about part-time and flexible working.

Surrey businesses

Are you a local #Surrey based business?  Have you recruited on a part-time or flexible basis?  How has this benefitted your business?

Surrey mums

Are you a local #Surrey mum interested in part-time or flexible local work?  Or maybe you have already found part-time or flexible local work?  How has this improved your work life balance?

Join the movement and let us know what you think!

Please follow me on Twitter and/or Facebook at: @FlexibleSurrey

Please contact me on: natasha_perry11@hotmail.com or connect with me at Linked In.

Encouraging Surrey workplaces to think and act more flexibly

The January struggle…

It feels a lifetime away now, but only last week millions of people returned to work. They almost certainly experienced that sinking feeling as the alarm clock screamed and the cold realisation dawned that Christmas was well and truly over. Back to the unforgiving morning routine…the commute…the familiar yet unfriendly work desk. The usual new year salutations and conversations would ensue… “How was your Christmas?” “Good New Year?” “Isn’t it awful to be back?” But in those very conversations a sense of comfort is felt. I am not alone! We are all in this ‘awful’ situation! And very gradually the days pass and it all (generally) feels OK again. Work carries on. The usual routine ticks over. We get back into the swing of things.

Home workers doing it alone!

The home working scenario is very different. The average home worker is likely to find themselves back at the same dining room table they ate Christmas dinner at a week previous. The food and drink have been replaced by a well-rested laptop. The babble of family and friends replaced by the radio. How should they engage in those strangely reassuring conversations? The home worker must find motivation, solace and friendship elsewhere. No simple task.

The case for flexible home working

Despite some of these (thankfully transient) downsides, home working flexible job roles offer professional working mothers a wealth of emotional and financial benefits, as well as helping them to sustain long term career goals. Holding down a ‘traditional’ job with long working days and disgracefully high childcare costs means full time work in a fixed workplace is an economic nonsense. Not to mention the constant logistical balancing act.

A business that is open to recruiting professional roles in a flexible or part time capacity also benefits with hugely experienced and talented individuals who are loyal and dedicated to the role, a workforce willing to work outside of the 9 to 5 and reductions in absenteeism. Not to mention some of the financial benefits such as a reduction in office space and energy costs.

Evidence to support the case

Please don’t just take my word for it though! Flexible working advocates Capability Jane outline five strong business reasons to offer flexible working to employees of all generations. Last year, Sophie Christie at The Telegraph reported on how home working is the future, outlining the case for why all businesses should consider letting employees work from home. Amongst the many benefits to home working, the report also highlighted how employees are generally happier when they work from home, meaning they are less likely to leave. More specifically, parents with childcare responsibilities will remain loyal as working from home gives them the flexibility to juggle responsibilities, whilst still maintaining and enjoying the careers they have built up.

Making flexible home working work

So, with flexible home working offering clear benefits to individuals and businesses, how can we help this new tribe overcome two of their biggest challenges? Staying motivated and fighting feelings of isolation.

Staying motivated at home

An excellent article by Jay Douglas on Upwork outlines a whole host of tips for staying motivated. A snapshot of the best advice includes:

1. Getting to ‘work’ on time – be at your desk and ready to work as if you were in a ‘regular’ office.
2. Dressing smartly – Dr. Karen Pine, a psychology professor, stated that, “When we put on an item of clothing, it is common for the wearer to adopt the characteristics associated with that garment.”
3. Make a schedule of weekly and monthly goals – and try not to let jobs roll over to the next day.
4. Stay focused – don’t be tempted by distractions until a job is finished!
5. Leave the less important office management duties till late afternoon – when most people experience an energy slump anyway.
6. Keep your office space separate to your living space – and try to avoid working from your bedroom!

Fighting those creeping feelings of isolation

Even the most introvert amongst us like the occasional chat at a water station. Yet more of us will be working alone as working from home gathers momentum. Local co working spaces are one practical solution for addressing this; they are not just good for providing tech and reprographic facilities, but also fulfil our innate need for regular human contact. This article by Property Week highlights how SmallBusiness.com predict that by 2020 there will be 26,000 co-working locations used by 3.8 million people.

A recent blog by Erin Thomas-Wong also provides some excellent tips on fighting those sneaking feelings of isolation before they overcome you. Some of the best include finding an ‘accountability buddy’ to partner with and share weekly goals, as well as attending local networking events.

FlexibleWorks Surrey

My name is Natasha Perry and FlexibleWorks Surrey is my campaign to encourage businesses in the Surrey area to support flexible working and offer work that works to working mothers.

We want to support mums to find local professional work by encouraging local businesses to actively integrate part-time and flexible working options into their recruitment and talent strategies. To help make this happen, FlexibleWorks Surrey wants to encourage businesses of all sizes in Surrey to engage in the debate about part-time and flexible working.

Get involved!

Are you a local Surrey based business? Are you willing to routinely consider whether your future vacancies could be advertised on a part-time or flexible basis? Please let us know what you think about flexible working in your business.

Please follow me on Twitter and Facebook at: @FlexibleSurrey

Please contact me directly on: natasha_perry11@hotmail.com