6 Yorkhire women in business who can help make your daily life just a little bit easier.

Great British Life: Sheree JenmanSheree Jenman (Image: Archant)

SHEREE JENMAN

Director, Bluebird Care Leeds

A good day at work means...

Receiving feedback from our customers about how our home care service has changed people's lives for the better. We help people of all ages to remain independent and living in the comfort of their own homes. Anything from a couple of hours support a week can be enough to prevent the need to move to a care home. Our purpose is to enable people to live happy and safe lives in their own homes.

Work life balance - how do you do it?

It's an ongoing challenge to get it right, I'll admit. However, I have a competent team who manage the day to day operations of the business, so I can focus on my busy role as Director. I ensure that I set aside time for my priorities and remember the reason I went into business, to provide a great future for my family and have the flexibility to make it work for family life. We have a young son and I'm grateful for being able to take him school each morning. It's the little things that turn out to be the big things!

Three qualities that sum me up...

Ambitious, Organised and Kind.

Beech House, Troy Road, Horsforth, Leeds LS18 5NQ 0113 2589677 bluebirdcare.co.uk/leeds-north

Great British Life: Emma JohnsonEmma Johnson (Image: © ravageproductions.co.uk)

EMMA JOHNSON

Chief Executive, St Leonard's Hospice, York

What's special about your business?

St Leonard's Hospice is a local charity that has been providing end of life care for patients and their families across the Vale of York and surrounding areas for 35 years. Being in a position where you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a life limiting condition can cause distress and uncertainty. To be able to put the patient at the centre of everything we do and to offer support and care at a time when they need it most is what St Leonard's Hospice is here for.

What do you love about your job?

The variety and making a difference. I am a Registered Nurse by background and as CEO I feel privileged to be able to lead the fantastic team of staff and volunteers at St Leonard's. Every day I see the difference that we make to people's lives and I feel very proud of the whole hospice team who ensure we offer the best possible care.

If you could go back and tell your 13 year-oldself something, what would it be?

Work hard and focus on finding a career doing something that you love and never lose sight of the importance of family/friends/loved ones in supporting you as you reach for your dreams and goals. Never be afraid to take a leap into the unknown.

185 Tadcaster Road, York, YO24 1GL 01904 708553 stleonardshospice.org.uk

Great British Life: Becky PicklesBecky Pickles (Image: Archant)

BECKY PICKLES

Chief Executive, Aspire2b

What's special about your business?

In March 2012, I founded 'Aspire2b' a company dedicated to the lifelong learning and support of young people and adults. My decision to set up Aspire was based on my past experiences in education and in the workplace, and also my longstanding desire to work with disadvantaged young people to help then succeed the best they can. Among my awards, I have won the British Empire Medal & 'Unsung Hero Award' from Jeremy Kyle. The influence of Aspire2b has grown rapidly, and is now affiliated with local authorities and schools and has forged many other successful partnerships with other training providers.

What's you best piece of advice?

Never give up, work hard, always believe in yourself, keep fighting, dream big.

What do you love about your job?

Working with young people and adults and the opportunities we give them and my work colleagues.

Trinity Business Centre, Suite 1, Wakefield WF1 5PE 01924 360999 aspire-2b.org.uk

Great British Life: Stephanie RankStephanie Rank (Image: Archant)

STEPHANIE RANK

CEO, 1:1 Wellness, A Global Community

What's special about your business?

At 1:1 Wellness, we share with people the importance of toxin-free lifestyles and how to make those changes through using Young Living Essential Oils-the only non-GMO certified essential oil company in the world. We want to make women aware that they could be wearing over 350 different endocrine, lymphatic and neurologic toxins from bath and shower, make-up, fragrances, and lotions. We are at more risk to chemical exposure in our homes than anywhere else on the planet. We also teach entrepreneurs how to maximise their young living businesses as separate entities or as additional income sources to current business models and lifestyles.

What's your best piece of business advice?

Don't fall in love with your idea. Fall in love with the problem you are solving.

What keeps you focused?

Hustling the right way. It's not about doing more, it's about doing what you need to do. Hustle is an act of focus, not frenzy. Hustle is about subtraction and addition. It's not about doing more, it's about focusing on the things that you need to do, in order to move your business forward.

Prospect View Farm, Sheepcote Lane, Darley, Harrogate HG3 2RP 07399 282444 1to1wellness.co.uk

Great British Life: Katie HunterKatie Hunter (Image: Archant)

KATIE HUNTER

Managing Director, Hunter Safety Solutions

What's special about your business?

The people. We all have a real passion for health and safety and making a difference. We build relationships and really embed ourselves into projects, becoming part of the team and creating a positive culture towards safety and wellbeing. We strive to provide health, safety and wellbeing excellence in all we do, and I'm proud that we have a flexible, dynamic and pragmatic approach to safety and wellbeing, rather than a stereotypical image of a safety company.

What's your best piece of business advice?

Believe in yourself and your abilities, if you get a setback, don't let it put you off as it may not be the end of that opportunity and always remember how important relationship building is with all your clients. Don't lose focus on the clients who got you where you are today by concentrating all your energy on new business.

What keeps you focused?

It is my duty to keep people safe, whether it is protecting them from risks in the workplace or through job security with Hunter. As the business grows, the responsibility I feel towards the families of not only my employees but also everyone I come into contact with through the business is the main reason I go to work every day.

Hunter House, Flemming Court, Glasshoughton WF10 5HW 07855 57713 huntersafetysolutions.com

Great British Life: Emma DavisonEmma Davison (Image: Archant)

EMMA DAVISON

Director & Solicitor, Invalesco Family Law

What's special about your business?

We are a niche law firm that specialises in all aspects of matrimonial and family law. This is an area of law which can be quite complex, far-reaching and sensitive in terms of the legal issues involved. Often our work centres not only around the division of a family's finances but also the future arrangements for the children. Whilst we help clients at the outset of their relationships who are looking to achieve some legal structure and formality in their financial arrangements, we also help clients who are going through a separation from their partner or even a divorce. With over 30 years' experience, we help guide our clients through what can often be one of the most distressing times of their lives. We do so by offering them the best legal advice delivered in an understanding, pragmatic and approachable manner making sure that our clients feel supported at all times.

What's your best piece of business advice?

Focus on what you know best and doing it well.

If you could go back and tell your 13 year-old self something, what would it be?

Trust your instincts, intuition doesn't lie!

5 Church Street, Wetherby LS22 6LP 01937 538100 invalesco.co.uk