Tech Start Up's have it easy...what about the rest of us?

I am on my soap box.  Which isn't like me but here goes.

I am a start-up business, Little Fish delivers B2B event management services.  And the Mums Enterprise Roadshow is a brand new portfolio of events which is my own idea and I believe will make a difference to the UK economy by helping more mums return to work, up-skill or retrain, start a business or indeed grow an already successful business.

Now to me, I’d have thought there would be some support of some kind to help me deliver these events which are kicking off in Hertfordshire this year.  I live in Hertfordshire and I started my business instead of returning to work in the city after my maternity leave ended.  I speak to so many women who share a similar story, that they took the plunge and went alone after they started a family. 

1.So first point -  there is an ever increasing number of women starting a business.  

2. Second point -  is it also abundantly clear there is a very huge pool of unused talent. Experienced, professional and talented mums who, maybe yes chose to be a stay at home mum until the kids go to school.  But what about supporting them when they are ready to return to the work place or start a business idea they have been working on? 

Just because we have a baby doesn't mean we lose who we were before, speaking for myself I am still just as ambitious if not more so now than before I had Molly.  I spent 16 years working very hard, climbing that ladder. I don’t want to waste all that, I still want to be successful and I want to personally be able to care and support my family.  

I believe the Mums Enterprise Roadshow will truly make an impact on Hertfordshire’s economy in the short term and the UK economy long term.  Our events WILL make a difference, they WILL encourage more women to return to work by supporting them in finding the right contacts and jobs for them.  We WILL support women with finding ways to re-train completely into a dream industry or simply to up-skill before they take the plunge and apply for job.  And the events WILL have a direct impact on the number of ambitious mums starting a business. And indeed be a source of support and advice for the many women who already run a successful business but have huge ambitions and now need the support to grow (this is me).   The Mums Enterprise Roadshow will help, along with the awesome organisations out there, many of whom are on board with us, give the UK back talent which is already here, ready, waiting and very determined and eager to make a difference to the world.

Now .........I will come on to why this is a little bit of a soapbox post. There is one constant annoyance when I do my research into finding available support from government, my  Local Enterprise Partnership or Enterprise Centre.  And that is a lot of funding, support and projects out there are specifically available for tech start-ups, science projects and research.  This is fabulous and of course I would not want to take that away. But what about the rest of us?

It is even more of an irritant when I read the glorious news of my LEP shouting about the fact they now have ￡221.5 million as part of the ‘Growth Deal’ which is to invest in town regeneration – fab.  New homes – brilliant.  The money is to also invest in supporting business growth, improve the skills of its workforce and for job creation. YAY finally it appeared that there would be some grants, funding or support…something….anything to help me deliver the Mums Enterprise Roadshow.  Nope. 

I am taken aback that I will have to do this without any backing or support from my government, LEP, my Enterprise Centre or local Growth Hub who, other than speaking to lovely people who have been nothing but fabulous in kindly telling me there isn't anything they can do for me. 

 So this is where I am at.

Little Fish is at a stage where it needs to expand and grow. I now need to recruit staff, I know I could win more Little Fish business and of course we have very ambitious plans to take the Mums Enterprise Roadshow all over the UK.  So I need to source funding to help me put my high growth plans into action. Thankfully I am now working with Hooke & Co who will be helping me with my plans to achieve my vision, and I am also investigating business funding, Crowd-funding or Angel investment.  (any takers or advice I am all ears)

I will continue to organise the Mums Enterprise Roadshow as a personal and commercial Little Fish project with my amazing business partner Lucy Chaplin. But this is all OK. We are hard workers,  love a challenge,  I believe in what we are doing so very much, and we are in this for the long haul.

We have the backing and support of so many awesome, amazing and just wonderful organisations as exhibitors and sponsors. All are just as passionate as me about supporting the ambitious mums who will visit our Roadshow or indeed our website.  Together we will achieve the impact we know we can make in re-awakening the talent pool of ambitious mums and supporting them in their own missions to the moon. It’s by working together with these exhibiting brands – local, national, huge enterprises and start-ups (Virgin StartUp , Talented Ladies Club and My Accountant Friend to New start-ups such as Tres Chic Beauty Academy and Natalie Stone Content Consulting) – that we will ultimately, collectively leave our mark on the world.

….it may take longer, it may be a harder slog but by George will we will achieve something great.  You Tech Firms simply have it easier :-)

P.S it's another post so don't even get me started on how we will be supporting the UK in becoming leaders in the flexible working future which awaits us.  The Millennial workforce will demand the work-life balance mums are achieving right now.  So the future looks very bright for parent-owned business who will most likely be set up to attract the top talent coming through the ranks.....  Just saying.

Note:  I am no expert in government, funding or understanding all the rules and regulations around EU and local grants and funding available. Forgive me if you feel I come across un-equipped with the detail. Feel free to shed light if you disagree, know of support which I am currently unaware of which could help us, or indeed have anything to say at all.  Also - I know Tech Start Ups still have huge challenges so please don't take offence from  my title :-)

In-case you want to know more see  www.mumsenterprise.events or www.littlefisheventmangement.com