I have worked all my life in public sector organisations (Prison Service, NHS, University) and I LOVE the job security: I never took chances in my career, I was a steady worker who climbed the ladder over 20 years. Most of my background was working in Finance within those organisations, and I was fortunate enough to be given the chance in the late 90s to do the AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) qualification, which I completed. This gave me the confidence to achieve promotions going forward.
In 2005 I joined the University of Sunderland and worked for 7 years in the management accounts department, where I worked closely with a faculty, monitoring their budget and financial position. In 2012 I was offered a position within that faculty to do some project management, business planning and business process reviewing. I accepted and during this time I completed a BA(Hons) Business Management, and a MSc in Leadership & Management.
Then in 2016 there was a bombshell!... the University had to lose 130 support staff, and a redundancy payment was offered across the staff. My job no longer existed in the new structure, so I took the decision to take the payment and leave, not knowing what I was going to do!
So I ended up "signing on" with the Job Centre. It was not the best experience I have ever had, and it was all so foreign and quite intimidating for someone who had never been in that position. I was half-heartedly applying for jobs, but I kept getting knock backs as I was over qualified. So, I looked for things I could do myself, work from home, be self-employed. I asked my work coach at the DWP if there was someone I could talk to about becoming self-employed and he put me in touch with Colin at the South Durham Enterprise Agency (SDEA).
I arranged to meet Colin the next week and we have a very interesting meeting! I went in with the idea of setting up a crafting business as I make gifts on a very small scale and thought I could expand this. However, after a 20 minute discussion with Colin, I decided that I really should put my qualifications to good use and try and set up as a self-employed bookkeeper... Beckwith Bookkeeping & Business Support was created that night!
With the support from SDEA, my idea became a reality. I tentatively put a post on Facebook with my details and what I was about to embark on, shared it with my friends and family, and the next day I received a call from an old school friend who had passed my details on. I received a call that afternoon and secured my first job! It was only 4 hours a week, but it was more that I had at that time!
I attended a networking meeting with my new client, who introduced me to someone who needed accounting/business support, and I started working with him the next week for 2 days a week.
While all this was great, I still had 2.5 days to fill. I needed to be full time as I am a single parent with 2 boys. I needed the money and applied for a part time job with a very small company. I got the job and everything was good, until this small company relocated and it was a bit far to travel, and also I felt like I had taken a step back in my career, so I made the decision to leave and look for more self-employment! During this time Colin was a great support, not that he made any of my decisions, it was extremely valuable to have someone who could listen, discuss and support me in what I was doing.
The week after I left the job, through an advert on LinkedIn, I secured 2 days work with a new client, at a much higher rate of pay than the job I left. A couple of days later I received a phone call from someone who wanted a bookkeeper and I had been recommended to them. I met my new client and I have now secured 2 days with them, at a similar rate of pay as the job previously mentioned.
Colin and the SDEA have been there, supported me, advised me in every possible way throughout my journey. Their expertise is invaluable, and I know I can arrange to meet Colin at short notice, or ring to have a quick chat when I am in a panic about everything! Although I know I could have done it by myself, hand on heart I think I wouldn't have got this far without Colin and the SDEA. I would have ended up going to work for someone else and not fulfil my lifelong dream of being self-employed, as it would have been the easy option.
I am currently in my 6th month of trading, and financially I am earning more than I ever have, and I was on a great salary at the University. It all seems a little too good to be true sometimes, but I am proud of what I have achieved in a short space of time, and I thank Colin and the SDEA from the bottom of my heart for everything they have helped me to achieve.
You can find more inforamtion on Imelda's business on LinkedIn Facebook and her website
