Faced with mounting job losses and economic stagnation, we are at a defining moment in our nation’s history.

As a lifelong entrepreneur, I believe this is also a moment of opportunity, when Britain should become a nation that champions people to start a business. Entrepreneurs are the job creators of the future, and we are going to need them.

Whilst Covid has triggered the economic challenges which have resulted in job losses, people are now much more attuned to the idea of working independently. As family dynamics shift there will possibly be an increase in the number of women wanting to work.

Whole industries such as retail and hospitality are redefining how they operate. In many ways, Covid has created a perfect catalyst to encourage self-employment as a viable alternative for people who might otherwise have stuck with traditional employment or role models.

The challenge is how we normalise entrepreneurship. Historically we have tended to view my breed as outliers, and it is true that entrepreneurs are a bit different in the way we think, view risk and spot opportunities. What we need to do now is deliver the correct framework to support that mindset, and to understand what entrepreneurship really means.

So often we focus on the huge businesses, the ‘unicorns’ of our economy. But I’m talking about the ‘acorns’ of our economy, kitchen table businesses which may only generate modest sums, but which make a material difference to the economic independence and self-respect of that person or family unit. Businesses which mean those people are not dependent upon state intervention. Margaret Thatcher got it. The daughter of a grocer, she was the poster girl of self-determination, and inspired people like me to go out and give it a shot.

Encouragingly, our current government has already made a very important contribution to this initiative. In the pre-Covid budget there was a £13 million grant to continue to roll out the British Library Business & IP Centre Network. Originated in London, the BIPC is a business advice and information service which anyone can access free of charge. Spanning market intel reports, IP advice, workshops and even one-on-one mentoring, the BIPC has an impressive track record of success, with businesses that use the resource four times more likely to succeed than those which don’t. It also returns almost £7 into the economy for every £1 of public money spent on delivering the service.

The plan is to use central and local libraries to create a hub-and-spoke model of Business & IP centres around the UK. A brand of trust, an existing physical infrastructure, an important civic building often located on or near the high street and heart of the community, libraries are the perfect impartial and non-judgemental environment from which to support would-be entrepreneurs.

In terms of levelling up, library BIPC’s can reach the parts of the country that other initiatives have never been able to reach. They also have a strong track record in encouraging women and BAME-owned businesses, both currently under-represented. Between now and 2030, we estimate the BIPC service will help establish over 150,000 new businesses, contributing over £1 billion to the economy. That’s job creation.

But if we are truly to become a nation that embraces small business, we need to look further back in the entrepreneurial life cycle, to education. Starting a business and understanding the many skill sets needed to succeed in self-employment should be part of the school curriculum. Perhaps it should even be built into our apprenticeships programme? Moreover, the recent furore over A Level results could ultimately impact on how students view career options, leading to self-employment as a more normal choice for school leavers.

Which brings me back to Margaret Thatcher. There are, of course, pieces of the self-employed jigsaw missing, and funding is one of them. It doesn’t matter how enthusiastic you are about starting a business, personal financial risk is the factor most likely to deter someone from going it alone. So, we might do well to revisit a version of the Enterprise Allowance Scheme introduced by her in 1981.

In a nutshell, the EAS paid a sum of money monthly to anyone unemployed who wanted to start a business. You had to show some savings and a business plan, but there was no vetting of the idea itself, just a no-strings opportunity to try something out and create a job or jobs. ‘What could possibly go wrong?’,I hear you say. But research showed that it created 325,000 jobs and 18 months after signing up, 65 per cent of recipients were still in business, and 25 per cent of them were under 25. Perhaps the library business centres could also administer these grants.

In terms of business-friendly legislation, let’s also look at employment law, to facilitate hiring and firing without fear of unreasonable reprisal; maternity pay that doesn’t disadvantage the self-employed; legislation around business coaches and advice – currently not subject to regulation or insurance requirements – and greater rigour around collection of bad debts and dealing with fraud.

The good news is that we have a government taking steps to deliver on the levelling up promise of the election manifesto. The library Business Centre network is an important part of the delivery of that promise. What we need now is a comprehensive suite of services to be the foundation stone of a truly authentic entrepreneurial culture.

On Friday Jan 17^th we  were absolutely delighted to welcome our Prime Minister Boris Johnson to our MIYB session in Uxbridge. He spoke inspiringly about the importance of growing our economy, of facilitating new business start-ups and in particular, of encouraging women entrepreneurs. We are also delighted to hear that the government has set itself a target of 600,000 new female entrepreneurs, which would also be an enormous boost for the economy – so it’s all to play for. He was an absolute hit with the audience, and we loved having him with us. PS so many of you have asked – the dress is from another fantastic female entrepreneur Samantha Sung. Pics courtesy of MLennyphoto.

Established by entrepreneur, writer and broadcaster Alison Cork, Make It Your Business runs a regular programme of seminars across the country, providing opportunities for women to meet established local female entrepreneurs, learn from their experiences and network with other local aspiring female entrepreneurs in a relaxed and welcoming environment.

The new partnership with the British Library’s Business & IP Centre and its National Network of 13 Centres located in major UK libraries will see the two organisations launch a specially curated ‘Libraries Roadshow’ of events drawing from the Network’s alumni of successful female entrepreneurs and ambassadors.

The British Library’s National Network of Business & IP Centres provides free, walk-in business information and support to help people from all walks of life turn their business idea into a reality. Specially trained librarians work with local business partners and experts to co-deliver services for start-ups and SMEs, including a regular programme of workshops, webinars and live screenings of inspiring talks by high-profile entrepreneurs at the British Library, which in the past have included the likes of Mary Portas, Kanya King, and Deborah Meaden.

New figures show that 60% of people using the service nationwide are women, over a third of whom are from a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (BAME) background (compared to 20% and less than 5% of UK business owners respectively).

The Libraries Roadshow will kick off on 28 June at the Library of Birmingham. For details and booking, please visit the Eventbrite page. Additional dates will be announced soon.

Isabel Oswell, Head of Business Audiences at the British Library, said: “Since we opened the first Business & IP Centre over a decade ago, we’ve seen consistently high numbers of women from all walks of life using our resources and expertise to launch successful businesses. As we work with public libraries to scale up and open more services throughout the UK, we’re struck time and time again by the trust entrepreneurs place in these buildings – they truly are safe spaces for people to voice their concerns, take informed risks and grow their ideas. We’re delighted to partner with Make It Your Business to carry on our work championing any woman with a business idea.”

Alison Cork said: “Make It Your Business is a UK wide initiative to encourage women to start their own business, and it works because we are building strong local networking groups that give women the vital moral and practical support they need. As someone who is an entrepreneur, I have a particular interest in helping to foster enterprise and support women who want to take that first step into owning a business. I’m delighted that Make It Your Business is partnering with the British Library’s network of public library partners to offer access to these trusted spaces of business information and support, and I look forward to following the progress of the entrepreneurs that become part of our network.”

We were thrilled to be joined by the Prime Minister, Theresa May MP at our first Make It Your Business event in Maidenhead.

The Prime Minister joined our attendees to listen to the business stories of Liz Felix, Chloe Leibovitz and Tiffany Wise before speaking to the audience about female enterprise.

Commenting on the event, the Prime Minister said: “I was delighted to attend the Make it Your Business event. It was set up to give women the self-confidence to inspire them into business, something I very much support.”

Jannike Taylor, founder of Lakes and Lambs, Rebecca Watson,  founder of Rebecca Watson Design, Marie O’Neil, Icon Beauty Cumbria and Leigh-Ann Newburn, Yogi in the Lakes will be on the panel, sharing their stories of starting their own businesses and offering advice to aspiring entrepreneurs.

Established by entrepreneur, writer and broadcaster Alison Cork, Make It Your Business runs seminars across the country, providing opportunities for women to meet established local female entrepreneurs, learn from their experiences and network with other local aspiring female entrepreneurs in a relaxed environment.

The MIYB seminar is on September 13th, 7-8.45pm at Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS. The session starts with networking, followed by the panellists’ candid accounts of the highs and lows of starting a business, and then there will be plenty of time for questions from the audience.

Guests will also receive membership to Make It Your Business, receiving invitations to future events and monthly advice from the MIYB team.

Alison Cork, Founder of Make It Your Business said: “Make It Your Business is a UK wide initiative to encourage women to start their own business, and it works because we are building strong local networking groups that give women the vital moral and practical support they need. As someone who is an entrepreneur, I have a particular interest in helping to foster enterprise and support women who want to take that first step into owning a business.”

Panelists Heidi-Louise Griffiths, Tanya Lynch, Betina Skovbro and Hannah and Sophie Pycroft shared their entrepreneurial stories with a packed room, and provided our guests with their top tips on everything from marketing to product distribution.

It was clear from our panelists that they wake up each day and love what they’re doing – a great piece of advice for all aspiring girl bosses out there!

These photos are a great reminder of the fantastic time we had – thanks to Natasha Hirst for her great photography!

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Click here to read the full interview and be inspired!

With MIYB coming to Torquay next month, we caught up with one of our speakers, Alison Benney, Director of enlightenHR to get a glimpse into her business story so far and what she will be discussing at the event…

MIYB.  Alison, we’re so excited to bring Make It Your Business to the South West! What inspired you to start your business and how did you come up with your business idea?

AB. I was inspired most by wanting to get away from corporate life and take control of my own working arrangements! I was brought up in my parents’ small, family run hotel and I recognised that if they were still in business today they would struggle with employment legislation! It made me realise that there was a gap in the market for really good, pragmatic, affordable HR advice for small businesses.

MIYB. What does a good day on the job look like to you and what’s the best part about owning your own business?

AB. When a client is “enlightened” about a HR issue they were worried about – “the light dawns” and they are empowered to sort it out. That always makes for a good day. Flexibility and variety are definitely the best parts for me though. As a single Mum, I can flex my working around school and holidays and I have clients from lots of sectors so I get to understand a bit about lots of different businesses too.

MIYB. Having control over your working hours is always a plus. What are the biggest challenges you face as a business owner and how do you overcome them?

AB. Business development! I get all of my work through referrals and I’m usually a “distress purchase”. I have limited the amount of networking I do so that I can do the same events consistently.

MIYB. What would you consider your biggest achievement so far?

AB. Staying in business for 14 years! Seriously though, taking risks, changing my career at 30, working on my self-development and then starting enlightenHR whilst pregnant and on my own is something that I’m really proud of.

MIYB. So you should be! What is the one piece of advice you’d give to any aspiring female entrepreneur?

AB. Go for it, it’s so worth the risk and if it isn’t for you then at least you’ve given it a go. You can always get a “job” at any time if you want one.

MIYB. Lastly then, what are you most looking forward to about the MIYB event in Torquay?

AB. Meeting aspiring female business people, helping if I can and inspiring them to have a go!

If you want to join Alison and fellow, local female entrepreneurs for an evening of honest discussion about what it takes to set up a business in the area and down-to-earth networking with like-minded women, join us at John Burton-Race Hotel and Restaurant in Torquay on April 11th. Tickets £10.

With just one day to go until Make It Your Business returns to London to discuss the all-important question, “When should you leave the corporate world to pursue entrepreneurship?” we caught up with our fourth and final panellist, Dayo Akinrinade, Founder of AfriClick for a quick fire insight into what she will be discussing on the panel this Friday…

MIYB. Dayo, we’re so thrilled to have you on the panel on Friday night! What inspired you to leave the corporate world and start your business and how did you know it was the right time?

DA. I worked as an IT Management Consultant in the City for over ten years and managed projects in various industry sectors like defence and finance. Eventually I realised that there was a direct correlation between my level of job satisfaction and the level of autonomy I had on a project. I function best when I can conceptualise and manage something from beginning to end. I moved on when I knew I had amassed sufficient skills, I was helping global co-operations run their businesses so surely I could build a business!

MIYB. Absolutely! What does a good day on the job look like to you then and what’s the best part about owning AfriClick?

DA. A great day is spent creating the components that bring AfriClick together; the mobile app, marketing content and building out our real life community. At AfriClick our mission is to help global Africans connect through their culture and by far the best part of owning my business is hearing from customers that we are building something that they can use to shape and change their lives.

MIYB. Do you face any challenges as a business owner and if so how do you overcome them?

DA. My biggest challenge is time management because the to do list is never ending, I take less holidays and I see my friends less. Now I consciously train myself to prioritise on the value add tasks that will move the needle.

MIYB. What would you consider your biggest achievement so far?

DA. AfriClick collaborated with University College London to hold a cultural panel discussion event for Black History Month. We squeezed 400 people into the venue and had to turn several people away. Knowing that the business case was compelling enough to get so many people to show up, was a great achievement.

MIYB. That sounds like an amazing event. Is there anything you miss about the corporate world and if so what?

DA. I miss having an abundance of “free” resources, at my corporate job, marketing, IT support and the 24 hour printing team were only a phone call away. Whereas in running my own business I have to carefully budget for costs.

MIYB. I think we can all relate to that challenge! What is the one piece of advice you’d give to any aspiring female entrepreneur who is looking to leave the corporate world?

DA. Initially start off your idea as a side hustle and use the Lean Startup approach to test and de-risk your idea without having to make big capital outlays. Build up your business as much as you can before you leave your job.

MIYB. Great advice! What are you most looking forward to about the MIYB event on Friday?

DA. As an entrepreneur it is very important to have a supportive community who can relate to your experiences. I look forward to drawing from the energy of entrepreneurial and positive women on the night!

If you’d like to hear more from Dayo and our incredible line up of proven female founders who have already trodden the path and are committed to ensuring that your business is a success, join us at Make It Your Business this Friday 13^th at 55 East, 53-63 East Street, SE17 2DJ. Register here and we look forward to seeing you there!

With MIYB coming to Wales next month, we caught up with one of our speakers, Sophie Pycroft, otherwise known as the ‘Chief Mermaid’ of Spectrum Collections to find out what inspired her and her sister Hannah to launch ‘the world’s most Instagramable make-up brushes’ and what she’s most looking forward to about speaking at the event in Cardiff in April…

MIYB.  Sophie, we’re so looking forward to hearing you speak next month! What inspired you to start your business and how did you come up with your business idea?

SP. Thank you! Well we couldn’t find a job in the creative industries in Wales! We were facing either moving to London for work, or creating something for ourselves, so that’s what we did!

MIYB. Amazing! So what does a good day on the job look like to you and what’s the best part about owning your own business?

SP. The more productive we are, the better we feel! So when we can be in the office for a full day pushing the business forward and working on fresh ideas and motivating the team then that’s the best day for us. The best part about owning our own business is getting to work together all the time. We really are best friends as well as business partners and sisters, so that is also the highlight!

MIYB. What are the biggest challenges you face as a business owner and how do you overcome them?

SP. Our biggest challenge at the moment is managing our growth and forecasting. Every day, week and month are completely different, so future planning is really important for us to continue to grow but that is the most difficult part to manage.

MIYB. What would you consider your biggest achievement so far?

SP. Creating our successful campaign with Paramount Pictures!

MIYB. That sounds incredible! I can’t wait to hear about that at the event. You’ve created such a reputable brand in such a short space of time so what is the one piece of advice you’d give to any aspiring female entrepreneur?

SP. I’d say, focus on every positive – no matter how small – and that will help you push through the setbacks.

MIYB. Absolutely! Last questions then, what are you most looking forward to about the MIYB event on April 27^th in Cardiff?

SP. Meeting fellow girl bosses of course!!

If you want to join Sophie, her sister Hannah and fellow, local female entrepreneurs for an evening of honest discussion about what it takes to set up a business in the area and down-to-earth networking with like-minded women, join us at Make It Your Business at Tramshed, Cardiff on April 27th. Tickets £10.

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