centred around supporting “There are so many amazing
family and community life and women in the area running
the increasing number of like- great businesses but, at the
mined ‘Mumpreneurs’ who end of the day, we all share the
have also taken the decision same concerns and experience
to ditch their corporate lives the same challenges so it’s nice
in favour of setting up their to be able to network over a
own businesses. morning cuppa and realise that
we’re not alone!”
“Self-employment is often the
only way women can combine Sue also runs the popular Kids
earning an income with Car Boot and Swap Shop
maintaining the flexibility they events in Alderley Edge, which
need to realistically manage she’s also rolling out to
raising a family,” said Sue. Macclesfield from February as
demand as been so high.
The trend for women to set
up businesses once they have “Like all good ideas, the
had children is on the rise, and concept behind Kids Car Boot
has become the fastest and Swap Shop is incredibly
growing sector of the small simple,” commented Sue.
business community. “Any parent will vouch for the
fact that having kids results in
Research revealed at a 2009 an overwhelming volume of
SUE POLLEY
summit hosted by the Equality toys, equipment, books,
and Human Rights clothes and games.
Every issue we will be examining an individual whose style we
Commission (EHRC) that
admire; whether that’s their style of management, leadership
potential levels of “In the current economic
approach, entrepreneurial genius or indeed fashion sense!
entrepreneurialism among climate we all need to watch
This month; As Mother’s Day fast approaches, we discover a
women with children are the pennies so Kids Car Boot
real “Mumpreneur” who is going from strength to strength…
much higher than those found and Swap Shop is the perfect
within the general population, place to either sell or swap
If ever there was a magazine “At the time I was a HR indeed figures highlighted at unwanted goods or pick up
title which sums up Cheshire Advisor for a multi-national oil the summit that a bargain.
‘Mumpreneur’ Sue Polley’s company in Manchester which ‘Mumpreneurs’ contribute a
outlook on life, it’s WorkLife. was extremely demanding. staggering £4.4 billion a year “Moreover, we actively
I enjoyed my job but I was to the UK Economy! encourage parents to involve
The 40-year-old Mum from constantly stressed and it just their children at the events
Wilmslow is one of the didn’t feel right that my In response to this trend and to learn some valuable life
growing band of women who daughter Caitlin was spending after coming across many skills such as negotiation,
have opted for the world of 9-10 hours a day in nursery - other entrepreneurial Mums enterprise and the importance
self-employment after realising that’s not what I became a during the course of her work, of recycling. In addition, the
that their former high profile Mum for.” Sue and a friend Helen events are supported by
corporate careers were not Wilkinson set up an informal Barnardos who come along at
compatible with what they The difference between Sue networking and support group the end of every event to
wanted from their lives after and many other women is that for like-minded in women in collect any unwanted or
having children. she decided to do something East Cheshire called Happy unsold goods that people
about the situation and, seven Mondays Networking in don’t want to take home.
“My situation is nowhere near years on, she is now happily September 2009 and the
unique,” says Sue “I was one self-employed. group has proved incredibly “In fact, Barnardo’s estimate
of thousands of Mums out popular so far. that, since March 2009, our
there who, for financial She has set up a couple of events at Cheadle and Alderley
reasons, had no option but to local enterprises which are “The emphasis of our Edge have raised more than
return to work after having my going from strength to meetings is informality and £10,500 for the charity which
daughter in 2002. strength, all of which are knowledge sharing,” says Sue, is fantastic.”
For further information on Happy Mondays Networking and Kids Car Boot and Swap Shop please log onto WORK - 21
www.happymondaysnetworking.co.uk or www.kidscarbootandswapshop.co.uk
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