Issue 2July 2009 www.homebusinessnetwork.co.uk 9
PROFILE :: LISTED PROPERTY OWNERS CLUB COMMENT
How to make the most out of
working from home
By Karen Gill
HOme working is ever popular with more and more
people recognising that technology has given us
the flexibility to work anywhere. Overwhelmingly,
however, women are setting up businesses from
home to give them the flexibility to work around their
schedules, more often than not allowing them to work
around childcare and family commitments as well as
achieving a better work-life balance.
That said, home working presents its own challenges
such as self-motivation and those starting out
frequently miss the sociability and sharing of ideas and
resources that comes with office-based work.
Having set up everywoman.com 10 years ago, we
have experienced first hand the challenges of setting up
in a spare room and then growing to take on office space
and staff. everywoman began as a resource for women
wanting to set up in business, but who didn’t know where
to begin. Today we have over 35,000 and are the leading
online resource for female entrepreneurs.
many of our members work from home and they
come together on the everywoman network to share
how to make home working work. If you are thinking
of starting a home business here are some tips from
us and our members:
Property services listing is
Establish a separate work area
Identify where you intend to work and separate this
from the rest of the household. The space should
proving a firm foundation
be specifically an area for work so that you can’t be
distracted by other family members or household chores.
When you finish your day, close the door and resist
the temptation to check emails last thing at night. Treat
By Rob James worked from home in the exhibitions “We offer our members all the
home working like you would an office job - get up, get
business and in the early 1990s advice they need and also provide a
dressed, keep to a schedule, take breaks and plan ahead.
“A friend once told me that to be worked on the Heritage Homes Yellow Pages-type book of service
successful in business, all you have to section of the Ideal Home Show and providers, people who understand the
Network
do is form a club in something,” says 70 realised, as the owner of a listed VAT implications of owning a listed
In the absence of daily face-to-face liaison, online
year-old Peter Anslow, co-founder of The building, I knew more about the building, which is a very important
professional networking is a life-saver for small
Listed Property Owners Club (LPOC). subject than the exhibitors.” aspect to grasp, and who have been
businesses. First, build your profile on the big
And it seems it carries some truth, Peter soon found that he had trading for at least three years.
networks such as LinkedIn, but don’t forget that social
as Peter, along with business partner created something that drew huge “We also operate primarily
networking sites like Facebook and Twitter are also
Jim Kirby, has built the business interest as he doggedly built his through direct mailing and of course
valuable for business as much as your social life.
entirely from what started out as an database of potential members. the website, with 99% of members
make sure you join groups that are relevant to your
evening and weekend club. being owners of listed buildings, the
sector, posting comments and links to other articles to
With more than 500,000 listed remainder made up of surveyors
raise awareness of your business, positioning yourself
properties currently in the UK, it
❝
Other than getting the odd and architects.” as an expert in your field. Search for niche networks
seems a natural move for a central
telling off from my wife for
After converting part of his home that might be more related to your area, background
‘hub’ of those property owners to be into an office, Peter has little in the
or location. As well as tools for marketing products
created to share their understanding,
spending too long in the office,
way of outgoings but forecasts an and services, online networks can be a platform for
knowledge, worries and concerns I’m very happy with life.
idea-sharing and a useful source of advice.
about planning procedures and ever-
❞
annual turnover of around £750,000.
The LPOC has five full time and three The everywoman network launched earlier this year
changing legislation. part-time staff as well as the services
and has over 4,000 female entrepreneur members
Back in 1993, as a dedicated “It was built the hard way, it took of VAT, insurance and legal specialists.
who share information and resources, doing business
enthusiast and listed property three years of visiting libraries “The success of the business is not
together on a daily basis. Conversations and threads
owner, Peter did exactly that, co- to build up the contact details we something I really expected. I was
include tips for marketing your company on a budget,
founding the LPOC to help advise needed, but at the same time we still working in exhibitions when it
the benefits of using Twitter for your business and
owners about their privileges, were finding that we had a niche started,” adds Peter. “But it seemed
how to secure investment.
obligations and responsibilities. in the market, we were looking at to just take off and other than getting
Now, 16 years the wiser, Peter the interests of owners, whereas the odd telling off from my wife for
Invest in yourself
reflects on why his club-cum- organisations such as the Society spending too long in the office, I’m
Don’t overlook the value of training. Business owners
business, run from his beautiful for the Protection of Ancient very happy with life.”
are notorious for overlooking their own personal
Hartlip cottage in Kent (pictured), Buildings (SPAB) were more
development, but there is no more important
www.lpoc.co.uk
has succeeded. “I had always focused on the building itself.”
investment in a growing business. There are a great
many opportunities for free or subsidised training
thanks to programmes such as Train To Gain. Next
HOME BUSINESS CLINIC
From the Home Business Forum
www.homebusinessnetwork.co.uk/forum
month’s Business Transformation Programme takes
place on 18 August in London and is fully funded for
Piers Lawson asks: Which you have said you are not. So, you could look at the Sme business owners.
“Due to the remote location in which I live and work, I am potential for broadband from the 3G mobile phone network
restricted to only 8mb on the broadband line due to the state of but would have to check if any of the five networks have 3G
Get out of the house
the exchange and the distance of our house from the exchange. coverage in your area.
Don’t become a prisoner in your own home. Although
What other options for broadband and internet access do I have? What options do you have? I can see only two. First look online networking offers support, nothing compensates
What’s good and bad out there? What good ‘bundles’ are there? into satellite broadband. I hesitate to recommend this for face-to-face interaction with potential contacts.
We have a satellite dish but do not subscribe to Sky (yet)! Any because while some say it is entirely satisfactory, others
Research ahead of attending industry events so you
advice, thoughts or experiences?” find it not so. But, if it’s the only option then it’s better
know who you want to meet and make sure you follow
Philip Flaxton, Chief Executive, Work Wise UK replies:
than nothing. As a start you could investigate Avanti
up and monitor the effectiveness of your networking.
“Based on the content of your question I think at present
Broadband and Astra. my second suggestion would be
to consult with nearby residents as to the possibility of
The everywoman National Conference on 18 November
your options are somewhat limited. With regards to your is a one-stop-shop of workshops and panel discussions
line speed I suspect that your local exchange has less
getting a shared service installed. This could be a leased
with the UK’s most inspiring business figures designed
than 3,000 lines and as such has no local loop unbundlers
line service from BT or even a shared service from a
to help female entrepreneurs overcome the challenges
operating. Your service therefore, whoever the ISP is, will
satellite provider such as Avanti.”
of business ownership.
be provided through BT Wholesale. As BT Wholsale normally Got a question for our experts?
has only ADSLmax modems in smaller exchanges the Write to: Home Business Network Clinic, Red Lion Lodge,
maximum speed you could theoretically recieve, were you Bentley, Farnham, Surrey, GU10 5HY, or email:
Karen Gill mBe is Director of everywoman.
physically located next to the exchange, would be 8 mb/s.
clinic@homebusinessnetwork.co.uk
www.everywoman.co.uk
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