After years of teaching, Julia was looking for a truly flexible role. she had the inkling of a business idea and with our support, she turned her dream into reality.
Julia knew what she wanted to do, but needed help getting it off the ground, the next step was to overcome her biggest challenge of balancing two young children and a start-up!
With our support, Julia has gone from being a mum with an idea to a confident businesswoman and has already signed up for another course and is loving it! Read her story here..
“I qualified as a primary school teacher around 20 years ago and worked in schools across inner London. I have lots of teaching experience, but having moved when my son was two weeks old, I made the decision not to go back to work.
I had been on a career break for five years, and during that time it led me to qualify as a Forest School Leader. My intention was that would be an extra string to my bow when I returned to working in a school.
Then last year, I started thinking that perhaps I could set up a Forest School as a business. Supporting parents is something I am passionate about and I was seeking a role with flexibility now I had two children.
I attended parent and baby support groups when I moved to the area and through the conversations I had with other new mums, Successful Mums was recommended. I started enquiring about the Enterprise course but the timing wasn’t right as I was heavily pregnant with my second child!
I was having a conversation with someone about trying to get the business started and realised I needed help, so I got back in touch with Successful Mums and signed up.
I had a concept, a logo, and lots of teaching experience, but was missing the know-how about running a business. This is where the course was vital, it covered all the crucial elements like branding and cash flow, to building your business and customer service.
The course certainly required commitment, it is a lot of work, but what you put in, you get back out. It is easy to get quite overwhelmed but the trainers keep you focused. I started to look at things in a practical and reflective way. Any start-up will require drive, investment, and time – so the training is setting you up in a business frame of mind!
“If I was to say one thing about my experience and how it has helped me, it is having the opportunity to turn something I love and am passionate about into a business. I have the confidence to feel like a businesswoman!“
Julia
I was a bit nervous and apprehensive discussing the topic of social media, I was taken out of my comfort zone, I wasn’t even on Instagram beforehand but now realise it’s where most of my customers are! I am proud to say, with motivation from the course and supportive fellow students I am now on all the relevant social media platforms for my business.
Also knowing you do other courses such as the back to work and confidence course to help give mums the skills to return to work is brilliant and having links with employers that offer flexibility is invaluable. I have already signed up for the Digital Skills for Business course to take my business to the next level.
I have realised that to move forward, networking is so important. I hadn’t considered how important having that local support from mums in the same position is. But everyone is cheerleading each other.
What Jane started all those years ago is amazing, I went to the recent International Women’s Day event and found it so powerful and inspiring listening to all of the stories of what women have achieved as a result of Successful Mums.
The courses are so accessible, I still find it incredible that they are free! I would highly recommend them to anyone who is eligible.”
If you would like to find out more about Julia’s Forest School, Nurturing Wild, she is on Facebook and Instagram