Founder Wendy Ward tells unLTD all about her ‘adaptable, supportive and value for money’ company.
I was inspired to start my business by…
My time in recruitment for 16 years where I was responsible for recruiting into not for profit and third sector organisations. When I developed my business from all sectors to one, the not-for-profit sector seemed to be the fit as I have experience in bid writing and marketing/fundraising as well as supplier engagement and brokerage.
My favourite thing about running my business is…
The flexibility it allows me to work around my family and my chronic illness. I suffer with degenerative disc disease as well as having autoimmune diseases which affects my energy levels. I so love to see the joy on the faces of my clients, though, when I have saved them money on their bills or have written a successful funding bid or fundraising calendar for them.
The three words that best describe my business are…
Adaptable, supportive and value for money.
Sheffield City Region is a great place to start a business because…
There is so much help around from government departments, networking groups and the Chambers of Commerce – you can‘t go wrong as long as you ask for help!
Sheffield City Region is a great place to grow a business because…
There is support available at all business levels, whether you are a one-person band or a multi-national looking for export advice.
The best advice I ever got was…
Decide what you are best at and do that! I really wish I had taken on this advice much sooner than I have done –
I was trying to help everyone, which isn’t easy.
The worst advice I ever got was…
From the DWP in 2008 – you qualify for Employment Support Allowance and should never work again!
The organisations that have supported me and my business include…
Networking organisations like 4N, BNI, the Chambers of Commerce in the Sheffield City Region, as well as so many small and medium business owners who have supported and cared about me and my business.
The main challenges facing my industry/sector are…
The lack of funding available for the different types of charity and not-for-profit as well as the competition for people’s money when fundraising. So many good causes and the public get asked too much all the time.
In 5 years’ time I expect my business…
To be still run by me with a couple of part time staff/support personnel who assist with online marketing, brokerage administration and PR.
