South Gloucestershire organisation given direct support to
improve business
Cats Whiskers Face Painting, an
entertainment and promotional events business run by Helen Eyre, recently
participated in the Adapt to Survive programme.
Set up in 2003 and based in South Gloucestershire, Cats Whiskers Face Painting
provides face painting and balloon modelling events with a particular emphasis
on the corporate market.
Adapt to Survive is a business
improvement programme jointly funded by the South West Regional Improvement and
Efficiency Partnership and the local authorities in the West of England
(excluding Bristol). The programme provides support to implement change and is
delivered through workshops, mentoring and vouchers.
Adapt to Survive was recommended to
Helen Eyre as a means of finding further advice to help her business. Helen joined the programme to tap into this
advice and ensure that her business was moving in a financially sound
direction. Helen said: “Twelve months ago I was at a cross-roads, I
did not know what direction to take the business in. I joined Adapt to Survive with the aim that
the programme would provide me with support in making these tough decisions.”
The initial part of the programme
was to attend an interactive half day workshop.
The workshop facilitator was Brian Steel. Helen said:
“I really enjoyed the workshop.
Brian provided me with a step-by-step guide which outlined the steps to
success. I still refer to it now as it
contains very useful information which I can use to ensure I keep on track.”
Adapt to Survive also provided the
business with support from a business mentor, Coral Jones. Helen said: “Coral has been a fantastic help
to my business. It has been great to have someone to bounce ideas off and share
my insecurities and fears for the business with. These have often been unfounded, but Coral
has helped me see this.”
Despite operating in a tough
economic climate Cats Whiskers has seen an increase in turnover and profit. Helen set the business target of an improvement
of 25% which has now reached 33%. Helen
said: “I believe that Coral has directly
helped the financial side of the business as she has given me the confidence to
make decisions and also provided me with a confidential arena where I can
discuss the business finances, often what is missing when you run a business as
a Sole Trader.”
Helen used the Adapt to Survive funding
to fulfil two development needs, training and social media. The business use of social media was disjointed
therefore Helen undertook a social media review. This helped to reduce the time
spent on managing social media initiatives whilst increasing the impact. She also attended a balloon modelling
workshop which provided her with new skills which she was then able to pass
onto her team.
By joining Adapt to Survive Helen
has brought about change and improved efficiencies in the business. Helen has worked with Coral to produce a
business plan to take her business forward.
Helen said: “The programme has provided me with a forum to discuss
business issues not only with Coral but with support from GWE Business West as
well. Adapt to Survive has given me the
reassurance to know that I am making the right business decisions.”
To find out more about Adapt to
Survive contact Juanita McLaren-Brown on 01225 338 383. For further information about Coaching for Results please contact Coral Jones on 01275 843923 or visit www.coaching4rslts.co.uk or www.coaching4rslts.com or for Cats Whiskers
Face Painting please contact Helen Eyre on 0117 370 6147 or visit www.catswhiskers.biz
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