Small Business Stories

Idit Ginsberg is the founder of Iyador Marketing offering social media services to startups and small and medium sized businesses. Having ran an event planning company for ten years before the pandemic hit, Idit shares her story of how she had to pivot very quickly and start a new business last year. 

What We Cover: 

- How Idit started Iyador Marketing 

- The challenges of scaling a new business

- How to market a marketing business

- Combining social media marketing and event business 

Connect with Idit Ginsberg: 

- https://www.iyadormarketing.co.uk/

- https://www.facebook.com/IyadorMarketing

- https://www.instagram.com/iyadormarketing/

- https://www.linkedin.com/in/idit-ginsberg-socialmediaqueen/

Connect with Small Business Growth Club:

- https://www.smallbusinessgrowthclub.simplero.com

- https://www.adminandmore.co.uk

- https://www.linkedin.com/in/virtual-assistant/

To Join Small Business Growth Club go to https://smallbusinessgrowthclub.simplero.com/product_categories/36159

To try our networking group go to http://smallbusinessgrowthclub.eventbrite.com

Yvonne Hemmings is an automation consultant and strategist for online service providers who want to save hours and money every week by letting specialist software work its magic in the background. She is the founder of Automation Made Simple and works with time-poor business owners who are spending too much time each week on repetitive processes like client onboarding, booking calls and invoicing.

What We Cover: 

- How Yvonne turned from a VA into automation consultant

- How automation can help business owners save time and scale

- Is automation going to take away or create more jobs?

- How to persist during the first year of s business

- Yvonne’s favourite automation tools

- Advice for aspiring business owners 

Connect with Yvonne Hemmings:

- https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonne-hemmings/

- https://www.facebook.com/yvonneautomationmadesimple/  

Resources: 

- Automation Made Simple https://automationmadesimple.co/

- Book Automation Training https://www.subscribepage.com/nocodetraining 

- Zapier https://zapier.com/ 

- Integromat https://www.integromat.com/ 

- Parabola https://parabola.io/ 

Connect with Small Business Growth Club:

- https://www.smallbusinessgrowthclub.simplero.com

- https://www.adminandmore.co.uk

- https://www.linkedin.com/in/virtual-assistant/

To Join Small Business Growth Club go to https://smallbusinessgrowthclub.simplero.com/product_categories/36159

To try our networking group go to http://smallbusinessgrowthclub.eventbrite.com

Claire Harris is the founder of Pets 2 Places, UK’s first pet taxi franchise offering transport to any destination a customer chooses. An animal lover herself, she has been in the business for over 5 years and have built up a lot of knowledge about how to transport the correct way. She specializes in helping elderly and less abled people, with certificates in manual handling of older persons and guiding for blind people. 

What is Covered:


- How Pets 2 Places came about as a business idea

- How to join a franchise the right way

- The pros and cons of applying for awards

- How Pets 2 Places is going global

- Why you must consider hiring a VA 

Resources: 


- Pets 2 Places https://pets2places.co.uk/ 

- Connect with Claire Harris https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-harris-80780512a/ 

- https://www.facebook.com/Pets2Places 

- Prestige Awards https://prestigeawards.co.uk/ 

- Milton Keynes Business Achievement Awards http://www.mkbaa.co.uk/ 

- The E-Myth: Why Most Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About it, by Michael E. Gerber 

Connect with Small Business Growth Club:

- https://www.smallbusinessgrowthclub.simplero.com

- https://www.adminandmore.co.uk

- https://www.linkedin.com/in/virtual-assistant/

To Join Small Business Growth Club go to https://smallbusinessgrowthclub.simplero.com/product_categories/36159

To try our networking group go to http://smallbusinessgrowthclub.eventbrite.com

Bonita Ackerman du Preez is a qualified Registered Trauma recovery therapist, specialising in PTSD, trauma, grief recovery, anxiety and stress management. She has spent 23 years teaching and 4 years as a therapist, and she runs her own business called Future Edge Therapy. 

What We Cover:


- How Bonita became a therapist and who her clients are

- The importance of constant practice and education as a therapist regardless of earning money from it

- The power of referrals  

- Cash flow, time and energy levels as the biggest challenges of running your own business

- How coronavirus has built online therapy business

- Scaling to corporate therapy and learning from other people’s mistakes 

Connect with Bonita Ackerman du Preez: 

- LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonita-ackerman-du-preez-8ba31613b/ 

- Email [email protected] 

Resources: 

- https://www.future-edgetherapy.co.uk/ 

- https://www.facebook.com/FutureEdgetherapy/ 

- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCndl1pdJjBa-erAxJ8u7WNg 

- https://www.instagram.com/future_edge_therapy 

Connect with Small Business Growth Club:

- https://www.smallbusinessgrowthclub.simplero.com

- https://www.adminandmore.co.uk

- https://www.linkedin.com/in/virtual-assistant/

To Join Small Business Growth Club go to https://smallbusinessgrowthclub.simplero.com/product_categories/36159

To try our networking group go to http://smallbusinessgrowthclub.eventbrite.com

Catherine Morgan is a money coach and award-winning financial planner for women, a speaker, podcaster and bestselling author. She is on a mission to reduce financial anxiety and increase financial empowerment and resilience for 1 million women around the world. Catherine wants to de-mystify financial jargon and emphasise the importance of focusing on women's financial behaviours, not financial products. 

What We Cover: 

- Catherine’s “entrepreneurial itch” and how she founded three businesses

- The common problems with people’s relationship to money

- The mindset shift from employee to self-employed to employer

- The challenge of growing and expanding your mindset as your business grows

- Marketing as storytelling and selling transformation, not the product

- Setting intentions vs. setting goals 

Connect with Catherine Morgan: 


- https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-morgan/ 

- https://twitter.com/themoneypanel/ 

- https://catherinemorgan.com/ 

- https://www.instagram.com/catherinemorganmoney/ 

Resources: 

- The Money Panel https://themoneypanel.co.uk/ 

- The Money Panel on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/themoneypanel/ 

- In Her Financial Shoes Podcast https://catherinemorgan.com/ihfs-podcast/ 

- Profit First by Mike Michalowicz https://www.amazon.com/Profit-First-Transform-Cash-Eating-Money-Making-ebook/dp/B01HCGYTH4 

Connect with Small Business Growth Club:

- https://www.smallbusinessgrowthclub.simplero.com

- https://www.adminandmore.co.uk

- https://www.linkedin.com/in/virtual-assistant/

To Join Small Business Growth Club go to https://smallbusinessgrowthclub.simplero.com/product_categories/36159

To try our networking group go to http://smallbusinessgrowthclub.eventbrite.com

John Tippett is a self employed business concession owner at Card Industry Professionals. He is focused upon saving businesses costs on "Chip 'n Pin" by offering cost effective and transparent solutions for SME's to take all types of card payment across a physical terminal, EPOS, telephone or web based sales with well known payment gateways. John is also involved in a few other businesses and has been working for himself for 18 years. 

What We Cover: 

- What kind of services Card Industry Professionals provide

- How the COVID pandemic has affected online card payment processing services

- How running a few companies can be actually relaxing and flexible

- The challenge of finding time to sit down with a client and help them save money 

- Advice for people looking to start their own business

Resources: 

- Card Industry Professionals https://cardindustryprofessionals.co.uk/ 

Connect with John Tippett: 


- LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-tippett-20a16511/ 

- Facebook https://www.facebook.com/john.tippett1 

Connect with Small Business Growth Club:

- https://www.smallbusinessgrowthclub.simplero.com

- https://www.adminandmore.co.uk

- https://www.linkedin.com/in/virtual-assistant/

To Join Small Business Growth Club go to https://smallbusinessgrowthclub.simplero.com/product_categories/36159

To try our networking group go to http://smallbusinessgrowthclub.eventbrite.com

Matt Besford is a Recruitment Consultant at AC Recruitment Search, specialising in care recruitment. Although he’s been with the company for only a few months, he is now in charge of pushing this young business forward, generating leads and building the leading position within the care industry. AC Recruitment’s dynamic and experienced team of recruiters sources the best talent in the care industry for permanent, temporary, full time, part time and interim positions.

What Is Covered: 

Resources: 

- LinkedIn Recruiter Lite https://business.linkedin.com/talent-solutions/recruiter-lite 

- Indeed Job Search https://www.indeed.com/

Connect with Matt Besford: 

- LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-besford-b7195b194/ 

Connect with AC Recruitment Search: 

- Website https://www.acrecruitmentsearch.co.uk/

- Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ACRecruitmentSearch/

- LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/ac-recruitment-search/ 

Connect with Small Business Growth Club:

- https://www.smallbusinessgrowthclub.simplero.com

- https://www.adminandmore.co.uk

- https://www.linkedin.com/in/virtual-assistant/

To Join Small Business Growth Club go to https://smallbusinessgrowthclub.simplero.com/product_categories/36159

To try our networking group go to http://smallbusinessgrowthclub.eventbrite.com

Jill McCulloch is the Owner and Leadership and Business Coach at Coach You. She empowers business and organisational leaders to fulfil their potential, make confident decisions and inspire integrity, responsibility and respect in their team. Combining over thirty years of business experience, marketing qualifications and twelve years of certified Co-Active Coaching, Jill supports high potential individuals to define and project their personal brand.

What Is Covered: 

Connect with Jill McCulloch: 


- Coach You https://coachyou.co.uk/  

- LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jill-mcculloch/ 

- Twitter https://twitter.com/jillcoachyou/ 

Resources: 

- Change Your Life in Seven Days by Paul McKenna https://www.amazon.com/Change-Your-Life-Seven-Days-ebook/dp/B01MSWDKIL 

- Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill https://www.amazon.com/Think-Grow-Rich-Landmark-Bestseller/dp/1585424331 

- Positive Intelligence https://www.positiveintelligence.com/ 

Connect with Small Business Growth Club:

- https://www.smallbusinessgrowthclub.simplero.com

- https://www.adminandmore.co.uk

- https://www.linkedin.com/in/virtual-assistant/

To Join Small Business Growth Club go to https://smallbusinessgrowthclub.simplero.com/product_categories/36159

To try our networking group go to http://smallbusinessgrowthclub.eventbrite.com

Simone Cowley is the founder of Guardian Angels Childcare, a Nanny and babysitting agency providing excellent childcare to families in Milton Keynes and surrounding areas with an MK postcode. Simone has 24 years of childcare experience herself and she has worked and enjoyed various roles including a nanny, teaching assistant and foster carer.

What We Cover: 

Connect with Simone Cowley: 

Connect with Small Business Growth Club:

- https://www.smallbusinessgrowthclub.simplero.com

- https://www.adminandmore.co.uk

- https://www.linkedin.com/in/virtual-assistant/

To Join Small Business Growth Club go to https://smallbusinessgrowthclub.simplero.com/product_categories/36159

To try our networking group go to http://smallbusinessgrowthclub.eventbrite.com

Rob Harris the CEO of Your Financial Friend. His passion is to empower people with the tools, information and skills to grow their money, investments, pensions and to take ownership of their financial future. Seven years ago he sold his wealth management practice and became an educator, teacher and mentor. He offers one-to-one sessions and teaches his Money Awareness course.

What Is Covered:

- What is the difference between a financial advisor and financial educator

- Why it’s important to present yourself in the right way at networking events

- The balance between face-to-face and online networking and marketing tools

- Trust, control and emotional issues around money and finance

- The key thing to convey the value of what you offer to potential customers

Connect with Rob Harris: 

- https://www.yourfinancialfriend.co.uk/ 

- https://www.linkedin.com/in/financialcoaching/ 

Connect with Small Business Growth Club:

- https://www.smallbusinessgrowthclub.simplero.com

- https://www.adminandmore.co.uk

- https://www.linkedin.com/in/virtual-assistant/

To Join Small Business Growth Club go to https://smallbusinessgrowthclub.simplero.com/product_categories/36159

To try our networking group go to http://smallbusinessgrowthclub.eventbrite.com