Meet the Mumpreneurs!
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Behind every great baby idea there's a mum who's been there,
done that, and had baby posset on her T-shirt. Babyworld takes a look
at 'mumpreneurs' who have used their experience of parenthood to forge
a new career…
Karen Mattison, mother to Ben (10), Joe (7) and Noah (2) recently
won the Yell.com Inspirational Business Mum of the Year' Award
for her recruitment agency Women Like Us. Here she talks about how she
came up with the idea and why mums are a great asset in the workplace.
Why I did it
I came up with the idea for Women Like Us with my co-founder, Emma Stewart.
We were both working mums at the time, working for a whole range of companies
all suffering from the same problems: how to recruit and retain
flexible, talented staff. However, when at the school gates we found a
different conversation was happening. Mums were saying that they wanted
to find flexible work to fit around their families but they didn't know
where to look for it; traditional recruitment agencies and newspaper ads
didn't seem to carry part-time vacancies at different levels.
We were struck then - and now - by the talent pool of women behind the
school gates and came up with the idea of a business that would help women
with children to find flexible work that uses the skills and experience
they built up before they had their families.
My business
There are half a million women with children who want to return to work
but can't find anything that they can fit around their families.
As well as a specialist recruitment agency working with a whole range
of employers, we also offer women a career-coaching service so that they
can find the work that is best suited to them. Some may struggle with
confidence, want help with their CV or interview skills, or want help
to set up a business from the 'kitchen table'. We have a range of programmes
to suit all types of women, helping them to move from 'school gates to
salaries'.
My work/life balance
Achieving a work-life balance while growing a rapidly expanding business
is a real challenge but it CAN be done. We employ 38 staff, most of whom
are busy working mums with young families. One of our aims is to show
other mums and employers that you can work successfully and flexibly.
Most of our staff and the women we recruit for say they are more effective
and focused at work because the time they have is limited. In the end
it is a juggle - and we're a flexible employer. When you give flexibility
you usually get it back and so our business is built on trust and understanding.
Karen's tips for success
If you have an idea and you believe in it and are passionate about it
then that is part of the story.
Then you really need to understand what the market is for your product
or service and how you might grow the business around your family.
If you are strong on one side of the business then consider partnering
up with another mum who brings different skills - for example marketing
or financing. We don't have to do it all ourselves!
www.womenlikeus.org.uk
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