News / Social enterprise
Helping mums get back into work
Mums who are thinking of returning to work after having children will have access to all the resources they need thanks to the launch of a new business.
Siobhan Grant (pictured above) came up with the idea of Mums4Work last year in what she calls a “eureka moment”.
She decided that what was lacking in her own life was contentment at work, which she felt had a knock-on effect on her children, and decided to work for herself, helping other women who feel the same.
There will be two portals at the Mums4Work office at St Werburgh’s Community Centre: one for women who have never been employed and need help writing CVs or require confidence boosting and motivational coaching, and the second for women who previously held senior roles and find it tough to get back into a job they feel they deserve.
“We should be offering flexibility in roles,” Siobhan said. “We should be offering mums the opportunity to go back to work with the transferrable skills they have gained for years.”
At the launch of Mums4Work, inspirational women and men swapped ideas.
One of the speakers at the event attended by Mayor Marvin Rees and Asher Craig, his cabinet member for neighbourhoods, was Sue Tumelty, the executive director of HR Dept.
Sue said that she felt she had lost herself after having children: “I was always somebody else. I was a mummy, I was David’s wife. I was so-and-so’s friend. But I wasn’t me. So I decided I’d go back to work.”
After working for somebody else she quickly realised that she wanted more and founded a business which now operates in 80 countries and will be opening in Australia later this year.
She urged parents to not give up: “You might have a business inside you that you could start. If you’re qualified in something, and you’re passionate about something you can start in a small way and grow. And that might actually be your answer. Never stop believing in yourself.”
Another mum, Jade Royal, who has three children, started her entertainment business TripleR Special Touches 18 months ago after going on a course run through the Job Centre with Brave.
Last year the business provided the entertainment at 40 children’s parties, five christenings, and two baby showers.
Charmaine Lawrence hopes to be able to pass a legacy and a business down to her children. She is still a youth worker but also runs not one but two companies, Mogul Minded Group and N9ne Cosmetics.
For more information about Mums4Work, visit @mums4work
Read more: My Bristol Favourites: Charmaine Lawrence