PRIME business club

Anne Walsh, 53 from Manchester, went from BT operations manager to quirky craftswoman, when she applied for voluntary redundancy.

BT operations manager Anne Walsh was the breadwinner for a disabled husband and three children. Fed up with her office job, Anne promised herself she would change her life when she turned 50. Anne applied for voluntary redundancy, sold her Porsche, and bought a van. She began to make gifts for family friends, and to sell on eBay. Anne made flowers out of socks, cakes and trifles out of soap and face cloths, and large cakes out of baby’s nappies. Anne says ‘the cakes definitely started as a hobby, but more and more people wanted them, and it soon became a business.’ My Unique Gifts now caters for a wealth of occasions from births and weddings to dog and cat pampering, with products ranging from £3.95 to £55.

Research

Anne’s first idea was the ‘nappy cake’. This is a fake cake made of disposable nappies, which Anne saw on holiday in San Francisco in 2001. Anne researched the product on the Internet and found that though extremely popular in the US and Canada, the nappy cake was barely on the British market. Anne purchased a ‘teach yourself’ DVD, and began to experiment. My Unique Gifts now boasts a whole range of nappy cakes from single to five tiered, complete with 96 nappies, two bottles, a pair of baby socks, baby suit and matching hat or bib, receiving blanket, crystal keepsake, photo frame, and soft toy.

Training

When Anne registered with PRIME, she was told where to go for business advice. She attended a free HMRC Business Advice Open Day, where PRIME hosted a seminar on working for yourself. Anne then booked herself onto a free HMRC workshop on self-employment tax issues. Anne says ‘both events were extremely helpful in getting to know the basics.’ But she did leave some things to the professionals, and hired a bookkeeper to document her accounts. The rest of Anne’s training was simply trying new things and learning as she went along.

Marketing and development

An early marketing tool was to circulate an email round Manchester College. A family friend, worked at the college, and sent out pictures of Christmas cakes that were on offer. This was very successful, and large orders flooded in. Anne now keeps her own mailing list, and sends out details of new gifts, or seasonal promotions.

Anne attended a craft fair with her Daughter in the Lake District, and was thrilled by the positive feedback her gifts received. The buzz spurred her on and Anne began to go to craft fairs and farmer’s markets on a regular basis. This brought in repeat customers, and the business began to expand.

Anne is now considering larger trade markets and has applied for her first two day event, the Stars and Stripes Classic American Car Show in Cheshire. Larger markets are £25 - £60 for the pitch; more expensive than the small craft fairs Anne is used to. But they provide a great opportunity to hit a larger and more commercial audience.

When going to get a logo painted on her van, Alan, the graphic designer gave Anne a tip. He recommended investing in a 0800 number. This means that if Anne’s real number (or ghost number) changes, the business line will remain the same, and customers will not be lost. The freephone number costs Anne about £60 a year. Calls cost an extra 4p a minute, but Anne keeps costs down by using her answer machine to take messages, then phoning people back from her landline, which has free minutes.

Anne’s main marketing weapon came in the form of stepson Steven Walsh. Steven is the Director of Marketing Success Unlimited, a company which specialises in branding and marketing campaign management, with a focus on online marketing. Steven provided Anne with business cards, letterheaded paper and flyers, and crucially created her website and online shop. This made Anne’s products more visible and accessible to customers outside Manchester. It also allowed people to pay by credit or debit card, which made the transaction process easier and safer for customers.

Problems

Anne’s main problem was finding suppliers that would keep the costs down. Where the Internet had proven an invaluable research tool in other areas, a lot of old warehouses were just not online. The Internet pointed to expensive and commercial manufacturers, and Anne had to dig a lot deeper to find wholesalers that provided a cost-effective price. Word of mouth became the best resource here. Anne asked friends that worked in retail, and got some good leads. Finally she was able to get her materials at a bargain, and bring down the asking price of her own gifts.

Future

Anne’s business is steadily growing and expanding. With each request, more socks and nappies are taking over the house. On 1st June 2009, Anne opened a shop and workshop, giving her business more space and achieving her target for 2009.

Contacts

Anne Walsh
53B North Road
Droylsden
Tameside
Manchester
M43 6NN
Freephone no: 0800 043 7156
Website: www.myuniquegifts.co.uk

Free Cobwebs (information factsheets) on renting, buying and choosing business premises are available from PRIME on request.

Anne Martis, 58, from Banbury started her own walking holiday business after being made redundant in the summer of 2008. Less than a year on, Walk the Landscape is in full swing offering over 15 different guided walks. Anne says that ‘walkers get to know about England’s rich history and nature, as well as getting exercise and companionship.’ Prices are £25 per person for a day walk or £60 for the family, £230 per person for a 2 night weekend, and £590 per person for the week.

Walk the Landscape is a family business offering knowledge and experience of the Cotswold and Oxfordshire countryside. An average walk lasts 5-7 miles, but this can be made longer or shorter depending on ability and preference. The commentary can be anything from the Norman Conquest of 1066, mythological stone circles, Jane Austen, or the Cotswold Olimpick Games. And the group can refuel halfway through, and socialise with the locals at a traditional rural pub.

Anne first thought of Walk the Landscape, to subsidise her pension. But when she was made redundant from her job as a project manager in software development, Anne took the opportunity to do something about it. Anne’s first step was to seek training.

Training

PRIME recommended Enterprise on Track, a free course for older women starting up in business, at London Metropolitan University. The course consists of ten day-long sessions, spread over 20 weeks, and is focused towards health and community based businesses. London Met offers a selection of courses specific to women starting up in business, so they are worth checking out.

Anne also attended a Business Link course in Oxfordshire, for business start-ups. Here she learnt about public liability, which was essential in protecting the business legally. Anne devised a thorough booking form, so that she was aware (and welcoming) of any health problems, disabilities, or special requirements.

As well as the basics, Anne needed some qualifications for health and safety. She says ‘all our guides are now trained in first aid’. Walk the Landscape is therefore prepared for any accidents that may occur while the group is walking.

Research and Preparation

Anne boasts degrees in Botany and Agricultural Science, so she knows what to say about the flowers and wildlife. Anne’s historical knowledge of the area came from the five years she spent volunteering as a warden for the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. As Anne got to know the Cotswolds by foot, she researched its heritage, and there began the desire to share what she had learnt with the community.

Anne did a lot of research in the local library. She searched the Internet, read popular history books, and discovered many things for the first time. Finding out about local Roman remains, was a particular surprise.

Establishing a presence

One way to make her business known was to get a website. Anne had previously done a Open University course in Website Design, which taught her how to use html. Anne was able to create an efficient website, using only Microsoft Word 2007, and skills she had learnt on the course. The website includes detailed descriptions of the walks available, a downloadable brochure and booking form and information about accommodation and the local area. As a special flourish, the site even has its own weather forecast.

Anne recently gave the business more authority, by registering as a Sole Trader. A Sole Trader has complete control of their business, as opposed to a Partnership; where two people have control, and a Limited Company; where the business has legal independence from its owners. One advantage of becoming a Sole Trader is that you do not have to register before you start trading. Anne says the process was ‘surprisingly easy. I just made a short phone call to Companies House, and that was that.’ For more information on choosing or registering a legal status, contact PRIME, and ask for the information factsheet (or Cobweb).

Problems

Despite Anne’s website, publicity is a big problem. She says: ‘Potentially, I have customers throughout Britain and the rest of the world, but it is difficult targeting them effectively on a limited budget’. Anne has no external funds to support Walk the Landscape, which means she is financing the whole thing with her redundancy money.

So far, Anne’s main cost has been travelling to the London Met. There is no equipment to buy, premises to rent, or employees to pay, so Anne has managed to set the business up on a remarkably low budget. Anne does not have to rely on loans or sponsorship to keep the business moving, which is great. But it does mean some of her options for growth are restricted. For example, Anne can probably not afford to target large circulation magazines or newspapers on a regular basis.

Anne is combating the publicity issue, by slowly building up a client base. She has devised a newsletter which people can subscribe to when they book their first holiday. By this means, Anne will gain regular customers. Other marketing strategies have been to give contact details to the South East and South West tourist boards, become linked to holiday websites, and provide hotels with leaflets to put in their foyers. Anne’s next idea is to approach schools, which will provide large numbers, and benefit from her educational style.

Contacts

Anne Martis
Tel: 01295 811003 (home) 07718 660070 (mobile)
Email: Anne.m@walkthelandscape.co.uk
Website: www.walkthelandscape.co.uk

Companies House
Tel: 0870 333 3636
Website: www.companieshouse.gov.uk

London Metropolitan University
Enterprise on Track - 020 7716 7015
The Centre for Micro Enterprise - 020 7320 1573
Email: hilary.farnworth@londonmet.ac.uk

PRIME
Astral House
1268 London Road
London
SW16 4ER
Tel: 0800 783 1904
Email: prime@ace.org.uk

Made redundant at 52, and suffering from Myalgic Encephalopathy (ME), the Job Centre told Tony Palmer that his chances of paid employment were slim. Tony took matters into his own hands and started his own engraving business.

Crystal Mountain Glass sells engraved awards, wedding gifts, decanters, bowls, and paperweights, as well as rock tablets with multilevel carving, and Swarovski crystals. Tony bulk buys the glass from a supplier in Scotland, and engraves it in a 12ft x 15ft workshop in his back garden. Prices vary, with engraved pet tags at £5, Swarovski Suncatchers from £15, and Champions Trophies at £250.

Tony was made redundant in April 2008. He applied for jobs, but was never granted an interview. Tony suspected this was due to his age and health issues, and the Job Centre agreed with him. Tony says ‘I sat down and discussed it with my wife Marion. We chose self-employment because it was the only option’. On the 1st September 2008, the business was launched.

Starting up

Tony cashed in his pension to buy his equipment and start the business. The equipment cost around £12,000 as some of it had to be imported from America. By giving up his pension, Tony runs the risk of relying on job seekers allowance if the business is unsuccessful. Yet Tony is confident in his ability, and so far, all is going well.

Tony’s first step to becoming self-employed was to ‘get advice’. Tony attended free HMRC workshops on tax returns and VAT. This helped Tony decide whether to be VAT registered or not, and helped him understand about accounts and bookkeeping. Tony is now thinking of taking on an accountant to save time, but is clued up enough to know what is what.

Tony took part in Business Link workshops, which focused on starting in business, and creating a website. He plans to attend a further course on increasing website traffic, and has requested an information factsheet (or Cobweb) on the same, from PRIME. Tony’s main tip in becoming self-employed is ‘Get as much advice as possible. It is free and always valuable’. You can find details of free workshops in your area by going to www.primebusinessclub.com/category/events.

Marketing

Tony and Marion attend craft fairs each month. A pitch can cost anything between £70 and £170 for a 6ft area. The fairs are a way of spreading the word, and can often bring in large orders a few months down the line. Tony says ‘people will talk to us at an event, then a sports day or award ceremony will pop up, and they’ll remember and give us a call’.

Tony wanted to employ a website designer, but every quote was 4 figures so he did it himself instead. Tony went to www.123-reg.co.uk and bought a domain name. It was then about £70 for a software package, which allowed Tony to upload information via already formatted templates.

When looking for a glass supplier, Tony made a shrewd move with The Glass Scribe International in Scotland. As well as getting a good deal on wholesale glass, Tony became sole distributor for The Glass Scribe in London. This meant that Tony got a free listing as a stockist on The Glass Scribe’s website, as well as being able to show off his collection to those picking up orders.

Networking

Tony attends a small business club, once a month, in Thurrock. ‘It is good to mix with businesses that are in different stages of development’ says Tony. People share knowledge and tips, and it is also a good chance to gain contacts, and talk about your own product.

Problems

Tony suffers from Myalgic Encephalopathy (ME). ME can cause severe fatigue and malaise after mental or physical activity. Tony’s old job demanded long periods of visual processing; about 60% of the time dedicated to looking at a computer screen. Tony would go for so many weeks, but then have to take time off to recover. Now his own boss, Tony can have what his specialist calls ‘a modified living style’. He brakes up his time in front of the computer, interchanging it with other aspects of the business. As a result, Tony’s ME becomes more manageable.

Seven months after Crystal Mountain Glass began, and the business is beginning to fund itself. But work is sporadic, and Tony and Marion sometimes have to dip into their bank account to keep the cash flow going. This is a temporary solution, until orders become more regular.

What Tony really wants, is enough profit to support a showroom or a shop. That way people could peruse the collection first hand, just like they do at the craft fairs. With an increasing customer base, and regular marketing, it is surely just a matter of time.

Contact

Crystal Mountain Glass
23 Somerset Gardens
Basildon
Essex
SS13 3JJ
Tel: 07504 779038
E-mail: tony.palmer@crystalmountainglass.co.uk
Website: www.crystalmountainglass.co.uk

A father’s wish to help his daughter with her school work was the spark that led to the creation of a growing international business. Anthony Hemmings’ Swan Neck Pen is now sold in over 24 countries.

Being left handed, daughter Amy could not see what she was writing. She suffered from bad wrist pain and began to fall behind. Her confidence plummeted. Amy tried other left handed pens on the market, but none of them helped. So father Anthony Hemmings, 53, and friends Mike Deacon, 50, and Dillon Samson, 35 took some standard plastic pens, melted them down and experimented with reshaping them in different ways. It was not long before the first Swan Neck Pen was born, and Mike, Anthony and Dillon set up M.A.D Associates Ltd, (the M.A.D being an acronym of their names).

The Swan Neck Pen has an S-bend neck, which loops over the wording as it is written. The writing remains unsmudged, and better visibility helps prevent common learning mistakes such as reversed letters. Anthony says the design also combats wrist ache and repetitive strain injuries. Anthony’s main goal now is to get the pen into schools.

Amy took about ten minutes to adapt from her ‘fist’ technique, to the more comfortable position offered by the Swan neck. Left-handed friends and parents soon began to make requests for one of the same. ‘When it got to about 50 I thought, hang on there’s a market for this’. So in 2004 Anthony started to investigate manufacturing the pens on a larger scale.

Anthony and his wife Heather, 44, invested their savings to pay for production and legal costs. Banks had no money to lend them and the company directors were often considered ‘too old’ to get meet the criteria for a business grant. One year on from the market launch the profits are still being used to help finance the business. Anthony warns others to ‘really think about it first’.

A key breakthrough was hiring a good solicitor. ‘When we first went to the manufacturers, all we had was a confidentiality agreement’ explains Anthony. ‘We know now it’s not worth the paper it’s written on’. The solicitor knew about the small print, drafted all relevant documents, and helped get the trademark registered in the UK, Europe, and a number of other countries. The product also had to be patented and British Standard tested. But ‘it was money every time’.

Time was another issue. Anthony had to give up his job as an antique dealer to put in the necessary hours. Meanwhile, Mike and Heather seem to spend every spare moment on the business, with the phone, (or several phones), constantly ringing in their Gloucestershire office.

To develop the product, Anthony and Mike had to do their research. But talking to the general public was more problematic than expected. At a local shopping mall, the team discovered they were not officially allowed to approach people, and ended up having to run off every five minutes to avoid getting caught. More successful ventures were events like the Balloon Fiesta in Bristol, where large numbers of pens were sold.

Some people were less enthusiastic. An early manufacturer refused to produce the Swan Neck Pens. ‘He was impressed by the design and could see the benefits, but was just not convinced it would sell commercially’.

Anthony had similar problems with the education authorities. Contacting at the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), Anthony and Heather found it would not endorse the product. Despite possible benefits to health and education, the pen remains subject to schools’ individual discretion.

The company now has another plan to get pens into schools. A disposable Swan Neck is being created, making the pen much more affordable and appealing. A special school discount is currently being offered, to the same aim. Another development is to impregnate the pens with an anti-bacterial liquid, reducing germs passed on in the classroom.

As time goes on, Anthony and Mike are discovering different users the Swan Neck could help. Interest from the Middle East, Thailand and China illustrates that the pen could aid those who write right to left, as well as top to bottom. As the product does not need any adapting to fit this market, the company’s main job here is to decide which distribution channels to use. To do this, the team have devised a questionnaire to send to those wanting to be distributors, so they can assess each applicant before offering a contract.

You can find out more about Anthony and Mike’s business at www.swanneckpen.com  

William Cawley, 53 created a heritage walk with a terrifying twist, when he invented the Shriek in Leek ghost tour.

Bill first did the ghost walk in November 2005 as a fundraising event for Children in Need. Over 40 people turned up to be spooked, raising the charity £100. Seeing the opportunity to make money from the venture, Bill began to repeat the event for special occasions like Halloween, and for large groups coming into town.

Bill dresses up in old style hat and robes to set the sinister tone. The tour lasts an hour and a half, with Bill leading the group through some historical landsites, attributing ghoulish tales to them along the way. The groups fluctuate from 3 to 40 plus people, and can be anything from scout groups, international scientists, or supernatural enthusiasts. Bill describes the walks as being ‘like jazz; a basic theme but lots of variation’. While keeping a creepy focus, he tailors the experience to the group; giving out translations for foreign students, and incorporating architecture, literature, art or culture for those with an interest. The tour finishes at a local pub, where participants can enjoy some food and merriment, and sometimes a live band.

Research

With a degree in History and Politics, articles in the Leek Post and Times, and an avid passion for local knowledge, Bill already had a wealth of information, ready to be unleashed on the public. Bill did extra research by placing an advert in the local paper asking for people’s experiences of ghosts in the area. Bill also studied back papers from the Post and Times’ archives, telling him of famous incidents and haunted buildings. Bill keeps his research fresh, so that his tour can change and develop.

Problems

Although Bill managed to do the tour fairly regularly - about once a fortnight, he found marketing a big problem. Without his own website, or help from the local authorities, Bill was unable to get enough visibility to keep the tour consistent. Conveniently, Bill was approached by Julie Lovatt of The Coffee Clique, also in Leek, who wanted to do something special for Halloween. Bill provided his services, beginning the tour from the coffee shop, while Julie stayed open late providing drinks for the returning customers. The pair now works together when there are festivals or events in Leek, and this brings in good publicity and numbers for both.

Though Bill has found ways to advertise, visibility is still an issue. Bill plans to combat this by setting up a website. He has received cobwebs (information for business factsheets) on ‘Developing and creating a basic website for your business,’ and ‘Choosing and using a website designer’ from PRIME which provide tips, advice and contacts for those wanting to explore this area.

Another problem was unemployment. It sounds obvious, but in the period that Bill was signed on, declaring the ghost walk would mean losing benefits, and paying taxes. Shriek in Leek was not reliable enough to replace these funds, so the absence of work meant there was no ghost tour for about 8 or 9 months.

Future

Bill works part time fundraising for local hospice Douglas Macmillan, and part time writing Port Vale Tales; the history of a local football club, funded by The Heritage Lottery Fund. Soon the latter will come to an end, and Bill will think about taking on his business full time. One idea is to invest in a mini bus, which will enable Bill to tour around the Moorlands area. To do this Bill will need funding. PRIME are currently working with Zopa on the Olderpreneur Loan Scheme. You can find details of eligibility and how to apply here. Business Link has information about finance and grants on their website.

Contacts

Bill Cawley
Tel: 01538 382 966
Email: williamcawley55@btinternet.com

“Services are falling away thick and fast. There are fewer post offices, fewer bus services. Villagers were in danger of becoming isolated from one another.” This was the thought process that sparked Ann Davidson into creating My Village News, a local magazine which is attempting to bring her community back together.

After being made redundant from her job in newspaper advertising, Ann, 57, saw a need for a magazine in rural Cheshire where she lives. What started as a small idea is now well on the way to becoming a big success story. The monthly magazine My Village News has just celebrated its first anniversary, with 12 issues published.

“We started modestly in May last year with 24 pages”, says Ann, “and delivered to two-and-a-half thousand homes and businesses. Now we are averaging about 50 pages - and we deliver to over 5,200 homes”.

Ann and her husband John deliver all the issues themselves, which takes about eight days a month to do. What makes the task more arduous is that My Village News is aimed at a rural readership. In rural communities houses aren’t always easy to reach. Indeed, many free newspaper teams don’t bother to find the more difficult country addresses, but Ann and her husband feel it’s important to deliver to everybody. They laugh about the trials of finding the elusive letterboxes and the long drive-ways. “We’ve got to know the dogs - and which ones are friendly and which to avoid!”

Local advertisers fund the magazine. Ann believes one reason the magazine is doing so well is that people are moving away from buying from large chains, preferring instead to put their trust in local retailers and produce. For example Ann’s father’s freezer recently broke down - and one of the magazine’s advertisers not only delivered a new freezer and set it up, but packed up the old freezer and put it out for the council to collect. As long as people are happy to support their local advertisers, Ann is confident the magazine will be well funded.

However, My Village News isn’t all about business. It also contains free listings for local events such as fetes, proms and charity events, reviews of local pubs and eateries and editorial features. Ann and her husband write and produce the magazine entirely themselves, sending the final disk to the printers in nearby Nantwich.

Ann’s advice to others thinking of starting a business is to do plenty of research first. For example, Ann came to the conclusion that delivery had to be a high priority, to make sure enough readers were genuinely receiving copies. This would then increase the chance of advertisers getting a good response – which is what drives the long-term commercial viability of the business.

Ann turned to PRIME for encouragement after a friend suggested them. “We went to see PRIME within our first three months. I wanted some advice about the insurance I’d need to cover my business. I used PRIME to discuss ideas and thoughts, and used them as a sounding board. They are very approachable, and always returned my calls.”

Ann suggests making full use of your own experience. “After being made redundant, your first instinct might be to do something completely different. But consider the experience that you have gained in the workplace, and think about going with something you are familiar with. Selling advertising is second nature to me.”

Compared to Ann’s old office routine working on a newspaper, the hours that she works now suit her much better. She can fit magazine work around looking after her grandchild.

Garry Stephenson, 55, has set up an innovative photography company just months after being made redundant.

Garry, from Cannock in the West Midlands, was made redundant at Christmas from his job inspecting motor homes for a large local vehicle importer. His company SkyHiFotos.co.uk offers photography from an unusual angle – taken from the top of a special 50-foot mast.

Garry himself stays on the ground, controlling the camera from a laptop which shows the precise view being photographed. The Canon digital camera is attached to a motorised tilt-and-swivel head tilt he can control with his mouse. Garry is fully insured and is using professional equipment designed for this application – the extensible aluminium mast has wide legs and can be secured with guy ropes and pegs for extra stability when fully extended.

In addition to taking high shots made possible by this equipment Garry will also take ground level and interior shots to offer a full service. “I’d like to specialise in aerial photography”, he says. “But when you are first starting out you’ve got to do what you can – and go where the money is.” That said, he is keen to get work that allows him to develop his speciality – hence the Sky Hi name he has chosen for his business.

He first got the idea from the Internet. “I saw a pole advertised, then looked into what types there were, what they could do and what they cost. I found that I could get something suitable for not much more than buying a good fishing rod and all the kit.”

“For me it ticked all the boxes. Firstly something I could start almost as a hobby, but then secondly something I could work with as a business. And then thirdly something I could keep doing into retirement.”

Garry had always been a keen amateur photography. And indeed, over the years he had done some weddings for friends.

But aerial photography is what got him seriously interested in taking up photography as a means of making a living. It gave him what marketers would call his “unique selling point”.

“I could be a wedding photographer – along with about 200,000 others”, Garry explains. “Or I could be an aerial photographer – and one of about probably 50 maximum in the UK.”

Garry got little warning of the redundancy from his previous job. He heard in November that his employer was thinking about redundancies and then got his notice at Christmas. He received the basic statutory redundancy package (see below) rather than an enhanced package, so he needed to start earning again soon.

“At 55 it’s very difficult to get a job unless you want to be stacking shelves at Tesco or Asda. That’s not what I am. I was already thinking I could be doing something in photography. But when the redundancy came along it pushed me into it faster.”

Garry did get some advice on turning his hobby into a business from the Institute for Innovation and Enterprise, based at Wolverhampton University. He got a total 10 hours one-to-one business mentoring spread over a number of sessions.

“It was useful in that it took me in directions I would not normally have gone – it opened my eyes to other possibilities. By yourself you tend to get into a fixed frame of mind.  If that doesn’t work you sort of fall flat on your face. With mentoring your thoughts open up to more possibilities. So eventually you do find your own niche.”

Garry’s advice to others is to get your business underway whilst still in a regular job if at all possible. “Get a couple of contracts in place fast to get the money flowing in. Work it around your existing job if you can, before deciding to go fully self-employed. It’s easier if you are already in work. I wasn’t quite ready when I was made redundant.”

Contacts:

Garry Stephenson sales@skyhifotos.co.uk
Tel: 01543 425753, 07523 897968 (mob)

Innovation and Enterprise
University of Wolverhampton University
Tel: 01902 518960
Email: innovation@wbs.wlv.ac.uk

More about redundancy pay and notice

How much notice you get and the amount of redundancy pay you are entitled may be written in your contract of employment. But there are legal minimums which you are entitled to anyway, and these depend on your age and how long you have been working for that employer. Legally you are entitled to one week’s notice for each complete year (up to a maximum of 12) if you’ve been continuously employed for two or more years after the age of 41.

The rules are fairly involved. There’s a useful calculator at the Direct Gov site.

If you are faced with redundancy it is also worth checking out the independent site Armchair Advice.

Elizabeth King, 51, and Vanessa Payne, 39, run a new car wash service in Cheshire. The business is based on Vanessa’s professional expertise in car valeting and Liz’s hands-on approach and willingness to learn something entirely new.

The two women were friends before deciding to run a business together. “We are both horsey and we actually met when I bought an Arab mare from Vanessa, who was then living in Cumbria,” explains Liz.

When Vanessa subsequently moved to Cheshire, the two women realised there was a potential business opportunity for them in the local area. Vanessa had several years’ experience in car valeting, while Liz had noticed the growth in car traffic and realised there was a gap in the market.

It has taken Liz and Vanessa almost two years to get their business up and running. Finding the right premises was a particular challenge. But they have now launched Arclid Car Wash, based in the village of Arclid, between Sandbach and Congleton, not far from the M6 motorway.

“We have done a lot of local research on valeting and car wash services and we are in a good spot here to capture trade,” says Liz. “We did start to look for premises nearly two years ago, and at one point we were waiting for some new units that looked promising. But then these premises [in a former garage] came up and they are better because we now have a workshop, with the pits, as well as offices and a waiting room area.”

While Vanessa has a professional background in car valeting, this is a new business area for Liz, whose main experience is in design.

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Karen and Errol Spires, who are aged 46 and 60 respectively, are a husband and wife team who have gone into business together. They run a fish and chip shop in Grimsby, the historic seaport on the south bank of the Humber estuary in Lincolnshire.

In the 1950s Grimsby was the largest fishing port in the world. Although the industry has been in decline for many years since, Grimsby still has the UK’s largest fish market and many food producers are based in the town.

When they decided to move into self-employment, Karen and Errol had both been working for some years at a local pizza chain. The idea of running their own business was suggested to them by Karen’s stepfather.

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Linda March, who is over 50, is currently setting up a rather unusual business. Called Court Support, it provides a service to witnesses attending a Court of Law or similar hearing.

Linda attends Court with the witness. She supports them throughout the experience by explaining the court process, helping with their testimony or statement and dealing with resulting press queries.

Linda previously worked for a public sector organisation and delivered a similar court support service for the staff. This service was well received by both staff and their managers. There seemed plenty of demand for this rather specialised area of public relations.

When her job came to an end Linda thought that this was an idea she might be able to turn into a free-standing Court Support business. It would give her the chance to put her energies into something new.
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Being Scottish, Eleanor Dowds, 53, probably appreciates the well-known words of Burns about the best-laid schemes of mice and men “going aft agley”.

Having worked for more than 30 years as a nurse, Eleanor, who is based in Cheshire, has been planning a move into self-employment for her middle years – but her plans have had to be put on hold for the time being.

“I had planned to take early retirement, which is possible in the NHS at 55, and that would free me up to have a career diversion, into building up a business,” explains Eleanor.

The new career that Eleanor has been planning is in the home-staging business, making homes more appealing to potential buyers. Eleanor and her husband have direct experience of enhancing homes, not only through having renovated two houses in which they have lived themselves, but also through having bought and renovated two properties to rent out.

Using a combination of workmen and their own efforts, Eleanor and her husband have carried out a wide range of renovations, including installing central heating, rewiring, plastering, installing new bathroom and decorating. This has been possible, explains Eleanor, because until recently, she was working only three days a week in her job as a nurse in a local hospital operating theatre, giving her the time she needed to work on her house project.

Two years ago, the couple moved into the house in which they now live and carried out extensive renovation. “It was as we finished that work that I realised that I could probably develop this as a business,” Eleanor says.

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Harry Dennis set up his own business in October 2005, when he was 51. Based in Stockport, Harry has worked in the chemical industry his entire career and has now built on his experience by setting up an environmental consultancy, Dennis Environmental Ltd, which specialises in waste management, in particular waste minimisation and hazardous waste for the chemical industry.

“I was working for a company in Manchester that was transferring a lot of production over to India and China,” explains Harry. “Eventually, the company announced that the site where I worked would close and I decided to leave almost immediately. I had no plans to take early retirement.”

Instead, Harry decided to capitalise on the skills he had learned most recently in employment.

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Brenda El-Leithy, 59, is a good example of someone who has had to re-learn skills in a changing market place.  Her business, Mind2Mind, provides hypnotherapy and personal development workshops.

Brenda had run her own personal development business for several years before personal circumstances required a move to Wales, away from her base in Sutton, Surrey. When she returned to Sutton several years later, restarting her business meant learning new skills.

“When I came back, the whole business scene had changed,” explains Brenda. “The whole environment is now very different and I have had to look at different approaches.”

As part of her re-skilling, Brenda attended the London Metropolitan University’s Forward at 50 course for women setting up their own businesses, and found it very useful in giving her new ideas.

In the past, Brenda used to advertise her personal development workshops and services in glossy magazines. “This time, networking is the key,” she says. “It was emphasised on the course - and I have certainly discovered that networking is absolutely vital. Now, I advertise in the local paper every two weeks, but the rest of my business comes from personal recommendation and networking.”

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Mike Lloyd has demonstrated that business ideas can sometimes come from unexpected places. After a career advising other people on how to set up their own businesses, Mike has now, at 60, found himself running his own business, delivering flowers.

“I committed a cardinal sin,” comments Mike. “I went into something that I knew nothing at all about. It meant I really had to hit the ground running and learning about this new business has been hard work.”

Mike has set up Flying Flowers Network, a delivery service for florists in the North Somerset area. It is not something he had expected to be doing. For many years, Mike was a business advisor. He has worked for PRIME, and his most recent job was working as a regional development manager for the InBiz organisation. “It was an interesting job, working with socially disadvantaged clients and helping them into self-employment,” he explains. That job came to an end when he was made redundant, following funding cuts. “It was a purely financial decision and entirely amicable,” he says.

Initially, Mike was not too concerned about his change in circumstances and intended to get another permanent job. But it was harder than he anticipated. “I had lots of experience and first-hand knowledge in a management role, supervising staff, so I thought I would apply for a similar job in the south west,” he says. “So I started applying for jobs, but got nothing. Then, one Sunday, my wife and I were at a garden centre and I saw an ad from a new florist, wanting a driver and I thought that would that would do me until something else came along.” A week later, Mike had begun his new job, as a van driver.

“The first job I did was a delivery to a local undertaker. When I arrived, three separate florists’ vans were also delivering flowers,” says Mike. “I could see at once how inefficient that was, so I suggested to the florist employing me that if I invoiced him, rather than working directly for him, I could do deliveries not just for them but for all the local florists and that way, I could help them to reduce all their costs.”

Having had this idea, Mike did an outline of his business plans and spent three months researching the market. “I needed to see if anyone else was doing this, and no-one was,” he says.

The chief objection to Mike’s new delivery service was one he anticipated: all the florists he approached said they already had their own delivery van. “So I had to go away and regroup,” he explains. Researching the market further, Mike discovered that all the local florists belonged to different telephone ordering services. By delivering these orders himself, he could save the florists money. In order to make this business viable, Mike has had to discover a great deal, very quickly, about the flower business and how it operates. “The florists have been very good,” he says. “They tell me about the way things work.” But it has still been a challenge. It’s been a vertical learning curve,” he admits. “But I now work for nine florists and have three part-time workers.”

In four months, Mike has trebled his turnover and the business is now self-sufficient. “I haven’t had to put any money into the business,” he explains. “The trick is not to spend too much in the first year and not to borrow if at all possible.”

Mike is now anticipating a rush in the run up to Christmas, and then a quiet period afterwards, in which he wants to get a website up and running and get uniforms made for his staff.

“The challenges have been the same as for any new business, except that I have had to learn about a completely new subject,” he points out. Mike feels his background, which includes 26 years in the police, has helped him in different ways. “I know a lot of former police officers, many of whom are now self-employed and who are willing to help out with the odd afternoon or day, so I can turn that on and off as demand ebbs and flows,” he says.

Setting up the business has been demanding and involves long working hours. “My first delivery is at 8am and the trick in this is to develop a circle of routes, so I can move round one and then another,” explains Mike. “I’ve generally finished by 5pm, so it’s not a bad working day, but of course the downside is that I have to work on Saturdays. In fact, I have suggested Sunday morning deliveries, at a premium, so I now also work about one Sunday each month.”

Mike has delved deep into this market and now knows a great deal about flower selling in the UK. “I keep things simple and I keep asking questions,” he says. “I’ve learned things I knew nothing about, in double-quick time. It is really exciting.”

While it may seem to have put Mike under pressure to start a business in a completely new market, his reaction to the experience is different. “My previous job was a highly-pressured job,” he says. “I was earning a good salary, but I was having to travel constantly. Now, I think I could do this job for another 10 years. The other morning, for instance, I had just made a delivery and had a spare 35 minutes, so parked by the sea, had a double espresso, read the paper and thought - this is the life.”

Mike may be enjoying his new life, but he believes it is important to keep one’s business feet firmly on the ground. “If you spot an opportunity, you must rationalise it,” he advises. “You need to do the research and development. Then you need to incorporate all that into a plan and stick to the plan. If that doesn’t work, you need to write a new plan - and then stick to that.”

He also believes it is a mistake to expand too fast. “I think it’s a good idea to move on steadily, rather than rush on,” he says.

Norma Vondee, 54, is an artist. She creates mosaics and mosaic sculptures and has run her own mosaics business, Norma Vondee Mosaics, for the past five years. Her biggest struggle continues to be the contrast between the business side of the work and the artistic side.

“I still find it difficult that I have to spend two days a week trying to get the work and only three days a week making the work,” comments Norma. “I’d really like to be spending five days a week making the work.”