8 Lancashire women in business who can help make your daily life just a little bit easier
ALLIE BAGLOW DIP PFS CERT CII (MP) EFA
Director/Owner - Allisons Financial Planning Ltd
What's special about your business?
We are a local business with an all female team in a male dominated industry. We pride ourselves on offering simple and easy to understand solutions to assist clients on their financial journey. We have built our business from referrals from our existing clients and grown year on year over the last 15 years.
What's your best piece of business advice?
Learn to delegate and focus on your strengths. This will grow your business and give you the freedom to excel in what you love doing. Most entrepreneurs love the job they do but struggle with the other business areas. By employing the right people and using their skills and expertise you end up with a solid foundation and successful team around you.
If you could go back and tell your 13-year-old self something, what would it be?
Self-belief and Value yourself. Don't worry about what others think of you, it's what you think of you that matters the most. Keep positive and remind yourself that you are doing a great job. Don't compare yourself to others, you are unique.
The School House, 3 Cross Pit Lane, Rainford, Merseyside WA11 8AH 01744 885555 info@allisonsfincial.com allisonsfinancial.com
JANE BURBIDGE
Partner - Forbes Solicitors
What's special about your business?
Our clients tell us that we stand out from other firms. We are real people who are passionate about getting the best results. Working together and listening to our clients, we provide genuine and practical advice.
What's your best piece of business advice?
Your staff are your most important asset; from office assistants to Partners we all play a vital role in the firm. Promote learning, invest in personal development at every level and inspire and support staff to achieve their goals.
If you could go back and tell your 13-year-old self something, what would it be?
Never give up on your goals. I always wanted to be a solicitor. After numerous rejections, I left law school without a training contract. A career rethink led me to accept a role at Coopers & Lybrand Accountants (now PWC). Whilst it was a great job, deep down it was not what I really wanted to do. So, I took the bull by the horns and armed with copies of my CV took a day off work and went knocking on doors looking for a training contract - thankfully it paid off, I got my training contract and the rest, as they say, is history.
Ribchester House, Lancaster Road, Preston PR1 2QL 01772 220022 forbessolicitors.co.uk
SUZY ORR
Founder - Unique Ladies
What do you love about your job?
I've actually been doing this for over 40 years! Back in 1979 when I first started working I was a Hotel Receptionist, whose main role was to welcome people, make them feel comfortable and be interested. Fast forward to Unique Ladies and that's exactly how this "one off" network I decided to run, 5 years ago, became a credible business franchise with over 15 groups now running across the North West, West Yorkshire and Cumbria! I've always loved meeting people, and through a successful career in a male dominated industry, realised that women needed a network to do business as women. I love the plethora of ladies I'm meeting, almost daily, strong women who have had the guts to start something themselves, in a huge variety of ways. I love seeing the nervous lady, who doesn't like networking, but knows she has to do it, transform into a confident, successful business women, because she'd made great like minded connections, with other supportive women who have shared their time and experience. Together women are a force to be reckoned with.
If you could go back and tell you 13-year-old self something, what would it be?
You are enough. You are absolutely capable. Don't dither, do it!
How do you unwind?
I love live music, anything from Bon Jovi to Barry Manilow, great wine, particularly a chilled South African Sauvignon Blanc, and I go on lots of holidays!! My motto is work hard and play harder!!
Suite 2, 13 St George's Street, Chorley PR7 2AA 07979 695550 uniqueladies.co.uk
HELEN PRITCHARD
Owner Director - Helen Pritchard Online
What's your best piece of business advice?
Ask yourself: Where do you add the most value? What brings you the most joy? Where do you make (or have the potential to make) the most profit? Working out your Value, Joy, Profit Triangle is about taking the empowered decision to only offer services you love that are profitable and add value to your customers.
If you could go back and tell your 13-year-old self something, what would it be?
The resilience you are building dealing with bullies every day will pay off when you're 40 and dealing with haters online. Occasionally I get triggered, but then I remember I'm a single mum who has increased her sales order value to £1m in a year. My daughters are living the life I could only have dreamt of giving them. I'll never let the haters stop me. If I'm honest and upfront, it's to help people succeed.
What keeps you focused?
I feel a deep sense of responsibility to show up for my online community every single day and role model the kind of success they want to have. If I can do it, anyone can! No-one is coming to save me... I need to stay focused on my goals and work super-hard towards them to have the kind of impact on the world I want to have.
59 Wilson Patten Street, Warrington WA1 1NF Facebook.com/groups/groupforlinkedinmarketing Helenpritchardonline.com
AMANDA GREENWOOD
Chief Executive Officer - Lancashire Women
What's special about your business?
We work with all women across Lancashire but we also work with some who others would see as 'difficult' or at least 'hard to reach'! We believe every woman has strengths and the right to take their place and live a life of their choosing recognising that there are many reasons and challenges for women wherever they are in their life. Lancashire Women is there for you whether it's about a place to have a coffee and some space to yourself or if you want to offer some time and support for other women through some of the work we do.
What do you love about your job?
Working for change! To be part of an organisation and working with colleagues who believe what we do collectively can and will make a difference to real women's lives. It is an exciting and extraordinary privilege to see a woman realise she is actually good at something, that she can contribute and play her part - whether paid or unpaid - and she has a right to take her place.
What keeps you focused?
That despite all the criticism that can come with supporting feminism, it is a fact that gender inequality remains ingrained across society from its political institutions to child rearing!
21-23 Blackburn Road, Accrington, Lancashire BB5 1HF 0300 330 1354 lancashirewomen.org
SARAH BENTLEY
Director/Solicitor - Sarah Bentley Solicitors
What's special about your business?
We aspire to offer a bespoke client-focused service which values the client as a unique individual. It combines expertise (I have been an admitted Solicitor since 1986) with youthful enthusiasm (I work alongside an Assistant Solicitor who has trained with me and I have offered a training contract to another local candidate, who will qualify in 2022). We offer a city firm service, based on sound knowledge of the law and procedures - all our work completed in a timely, efficient and cost proportionate manner.
What's your best piece of business advice?
Just go on going on! Don't be afraid of change. Embrace it and go with it!
If you could go back and tell your 13-year-old self something, what would it be?
It will all work out eventually, but there will be some tough times and you will need to be very, very patient.
2H Ribble Court, 1 Mead Way, Padiham, Lancashire BB12 7NG 01282 792808 sbentley@sarahbentleysolicitors.co.uk sarahbentleysolicitors.co.uk
JACKIE HYDE
Managing Director - Stanmore Insurance Brokers Ltd
What's special about your business?
Since 1962, Stanmore Insurance Brokers have been providing personal and professional insurance to North West businesses - offering protection, peace of mind and a superior quality of service in the face of ever-changing market conditions. An independent, owner-managed company, we take a holistic approach to get to know each client and their business better - getting to the heart of their business to get a real understanding of what they do and what they need from us. Insurance is becoming more complex by the day with emerging risks such as cyber crime that all need to be addressed. It is our job to help our clients make objective choices so they are protected accordingly, having the right cover for their business.
What's your best piece of business advice?
When you are in business, it is important to network and build a cohort of good quality peers. Nobody is able to give you better advice or act as a better sounding board than someone who is in business themselves.
What do you love about your job?
Taking pride in doing a good job, whether that is in helping sort a customer's problem or guiding an employee through a challenge. It gives me great satisfaction in seeing a job well done.
30 High St, Little Lever, Bolton BL3 1NB 01204 570372 stanmoreinsurance.com dot2dot.org.uk
VICTORIA MALTBY AND GEMMA CAREY
Co-founders and directors - Philosophy PR
What's special about your business?
Our wide ranging experience and the fact that we've worked together for more than 15 years. Also, the way that we approach each brief, offering an individual service that is thoughtfully considered and carefully planned to ensure maximum results. We really care about the end result and our client's happiness with the overall success of a campaign.
What do you love about your job?
Definitely working for ourselves and our lovely portfolio of clients who are just fantastic. We have wonderful working relationships with all of our clients who are now friends. Every day is different, fast-paced and with fresh challenges, but it really is a pleasure to work in partnership with our clients while also developing our business which is going from strength-to-strength.
What keeps you focused?
As busy working mums of young children, the ability to combine a fulfilling career while still being fully involved in our children's lives keeps us extremely focused. Being our own bosses means that we can work hard but flexibly to deliver an exceptional job for clients and be there when it matters for the children. Maintaining a good work life balance is important to us.
Based in Cheadle Hulme and Timperley Victoria: 07944 150043 Gemma: 07944 150051 philosophypr.co.uk
