How Mum Plus Business can help single mothers

A good work/life balance is important but especially so when you are a
single parent. Your natural instinct is to try and do everything which is
especially difficult in today’s fast paced society where limited time and
flexibility can become so overwhelming. It is so easy to rush from place
to place carrying out errands and fulfilling obligations much like a fire-fighter
extinguishing the latest blaze to spring up in a burning building. The problem
with this approach is that you will most likely remain in this state, always
playing catch up and never taking the time to shape your life around you
and your family. I believe that the latest shift is already somewhat underway,
representing a move back to the individual – where you remain at the centre.
In some sense we see this process happening on price comparison websites
and internet forums all over the world where individuals are arming
themselves with the necessary knowledge and skills to take control of the
situation and improve their quality of life. This information may lead to a
cheaper car insurance premium, better value food shopping or more suitable
choice of work.

We at Mum Plus Business (MPB) believe wholeheartedly in this transition
and that people can achieve great success by a combination of hard work,
dedication and self- belief. Indeed majority of the most successful entrepreneurs
have precisely these qualities which have led directly to their success. If the
chances of being triumphant are high with one motivated individual all the more
so when two or more compatible and dedicated mothers team up. At MPB we
provide the environment for mums or mums to be to find a compatible business
partner in a mutual field of interest and location. There are many benefits of
teaming up including, increased confidence and diversification of skills, as well
as more social interaction and support. Starting your own business can be a
lonely and daunting experience especially when looking after children and this
is where MPB may offer that much needed help.

Mum Plus Business is a new innovative free online service to help local
mums form business partnerships. We cater for mums and mums to be of
all ages, backgrounds and levels of experience helping them form successful
business partnerships. Maybe a mother has already thought of a business idea
or she could be the perfect match for someone looking to launch a new business.
Simply creating a profile and searching by industry sector and/or location may
provide the necessary start. The key aim of Mum Plus Business is to connect
motivated local mothers in a similar position who can collectively support each
other whilst also complementing each other’s skills. In certain cases an individual
may be lacking the confidence, motivation or a particular skill to independently
create their own company but can be very successful in a partnership. Like in
any walk of life, nothing is without risks. One needs to be careful when it comes
to both trusting people and parting with money. The site also offers a secure
messaging system so all communication can be done internally. We advise our
members to meet initially at a public place and always to exercise common sense.

We have recently developed partnerships with local Jobcentre Plus centres
and are continuously trying to expand our services, including the running of
an enterpriseclub specifically aimed at mothers wishing to start their own
company. Our company is built on our members and we are always interested
in hearing their feedback – which so far has been very positive and has further
enabled us to improve the service. We hope with time to continue to make a
real difference to the lives of mums in combining motherhood with the
practicalities of running a successful business.

Esther Radnor,
Mum Plus Business