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Business boom on home front

Lisa Gray
3/ 4/2008

ENTREPENEURIAL women from Heywood did the town proud at this year’s Showcase for Women in Business.

The exhibition, organised by Rochdale Women’s Enterprise Initiative (RWEI), gave businesswomen the chance to showcase, meet members of the public and network with potential clients.

It was held for the first time at the Civic Centre, being hosted for its first two years at Rochdale Town Hall and was attended by Heywood MP Jim Dobbin.

Jayne Glaysher-White, information and support worker for RWEI, said that bringing the fair to Heywood had been a great success.

"It is a lovely venue and it is important for us to show that we are not limited to Rochdale.

"Many of our most successful women come from the town and we thought it would be a good idea to get out and show it."

RWEI provides advice, funding and training for women who are interested in business or have already set one up.

It is run in conjunction with Rochdale Women’s Enterprise Network, which is made up of businesswomen who have been helped in some way by RWEI.

Barbara Davidson, project co-ordinator, said: "This kind of thing is part of the support we try to give our ladies.

"It is not easy starting up a business or sustaining it.

"It can be very lonely, particularly as many women have to work from home in their business.

"This is all about allowing them to network and meet others in similar positions, as well as being able to showcase their work and make contacts with members of the public."

The two-day event began with speeches from Nicola Shindler, who owns her own production company and Penny Sharp, who is head of the regeneration service at Rochdale Borough Council.

There was also entertainment from Rochdale Borough Youth Band and face-painting by Tower FM to make sure everyone was entertained.

Mrs Glaysher-White said: "This has been a very successful event.

"We’ve had a great response and it has been a wonderful opportunity to allow these businesswomen to show off their success."

Jane Howard from RWEI said: "We had a good event with more than 450 people over the two days despite the poor weather on Saturday."

HEYWOOD was well-represented at the exhibition, with a host of successful women eager to show off their success to the many visitors who attended.

Among the top performers was Bamford Road estate agent Choice Estates, which is run by Angela Smith. The residential letting agency, which Angela built up just over a year ago, has just been given endorsement by Rochdale Council, the only firm to have it in Heywood.

Angela also has a top new apprentice who is following in her footsteps; her 23-year-old son David Burke.

Angela said: "Everything is going really well. Getting the endorsement of the council is a great boost."

Angela, like the other business at the showcase, was given help setting up by the RWEI. She said: "I would not have been able to get this far without their help. It is an excellent initiative and I am very grateful for what they have done for me."

Another firm with Heywood connections is Fresh ‘n’ Fruity, a floral display company which won the prize for best stall at the event.

Based in Rochdale, one of the company’s main service bases is at Heady Hill Community Centre and it provides displays for corporate clients and private parties across the borough.

The firm is also trying new ideas, such as growing vegetables to make preserves to sell.

Julie Turner from the business said: "It is an exciting time for us and we are grateful for the help we have been given by the initiative."

Another Heywood success story is Anne Walsh, who runs Anne Francis, a reiki healing enterprise. Anne teaches small groups therapy methods for self-healing and also produces her own candles and balms, the Angel range.

She used to work from home, but is getting ready to move into her own shop on Hornby Street.

Anne said. "A lot of the work I do involves groups of people so it is nice to be branching out in this way."

Training and Consultancy Initiatives (T and Ci) is also on the move, being a new addition to the TOPS business centre this month.

It is run by Gill Elsworth and Tina Wright, who is from Heywood and specialises in disability equality and access issues, giving motivational training and consultancy.

Gill said: "Things are moving fast for us and it will be a great new start."

Also represented was Virtual Typing Services, run by Heywood-based Carmel Lambert, which provides copy and audio typing and proof-reading.