Lyndsey Morgan from Norton first came to Five Lamps in September 2014 asking for help and advice in starting her own business named ‘Lyndsey Morgan Make Up and Fitness’
The Fitness Training side is aimed at both adults and children. She offers one to one and group sessions to adults, and she provides local children with Superstar strength, Animal Magic Yoga, Primary Pilates and Choreography sessions. As well as fitness Lyndsey also offers a mobile make up and styling service.
Having been employed in these sectors before, Lyndsey had lots of experience and felt confident about the work and her motivation to make a success of it is clear to see. However, she had never ran her own business and understandably, was slightly apprehensive about the prospect.
Five Lamps Enterprise Coach, Ian Garforth gave Lyndsey one to one help, advice and guidance. He met with her throughout the preparation phase and placed her on the New Enterprise Allowance programme, which provided her with mentoring advice, help with her Business Plan and some financial assistance post start up.
Following some thorough market research and operational preparation work, Lyndsey saw that there was a healthy demand for her services and that her business idea was definitely viable.
She attended some of Five Lamps’ ‘We mean Business’ workshops which cover ways to find and keep customers, how to network, social media and how to use it to benefit the business, legalities, health and safety, finding premises, Tax, NI and self-assessment.
Lyndsey was ready to start trading in September 2014, less than a month since she first came into Five Lamps! Ian Garforth said:
“It was a pleasure working with Lyndsey as she was so pro-active with her research and preparation work and very thorough. I think customers see her positive attitude and confidence and want to work with her”
Two months after start up, Lyndsey’s hard work is paying off. She is finding plenty of work and enjoying being her own boss and she has found the challenge rewarding.
Lyndsey said:
“Five Lamps meant that I could confidently begin working as a sole trader – something I had always wanted to do but never felt that I was supported enough to feel confident in this venture. They provided this support and much needed guidance, advice and a friendly contact just to clear up any queries I had. My mentor Ian was excellent and encouraged me throughout the process providing essential information and regular email contact which was great. The different elements to my areas of business are all going well and I really appreciate the guidance given and feel it was the best thing I could have done. I recommend Five Lamps to anyone else who is seriously wanting to go self-employed but just needs a helping hand”
The NEA contract is delivered by Five Lamps and is part funded by the European Union, ERDF fund.