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BUSINESS MUM OF THE YEAR AWARD 2008 BUSINESS MUM OF THE YEAR AWARD 2008
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Meet Sarah Steel and the rest of 2007’s finalists. Get tips on how to write a winning application for 2008.
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Have you ever wondered how much mums who own their own businesses contribute to the economy, or what makes them so successful?

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Mum Magnates - 2008 Research

The Juggling Act - 2007 Research

Yell Ltd

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Reading, Berkshire
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United Kingdom
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Katie Mayne

Highly Commended: Katie Mayne, Guildford, Surrey

Katie's company - Tiny Talk - focuses on developing the way babies communicate before they can even speak. The initial idea was born out of Katie's 12 years of experience as a Primary School teacher and followed some of her post-graduate research which suggested that babies showed understanding of language earlier if they were subjected to both speech and signing. When her first child arrived in 2001, Katie immediately tested out the theory and achieved amazing results. Katie's friends asked her to give them lessons and she realised she had the seed of a great business idea. Six years later, Tiny Talk now has franchises across the globe, while Katie herself has launched a successful range of books on the topic.

www.tinytalk.co.uk

Katie’s tips:
  • Make sure you do your research carefully – specifically to ensure there is demand for what you are planning to offer
  • Prepare for your business to take over your life in the beginning! You will need plenty of passion and enthusiasm to keep driving you
  • Have a clear business plan from the start so you know each goal and the path of how to achieve it. Be prepared to have a flexible plan in case exciting opportunities come along too.

Tip on filling out the application form:
  • Allow plenty of time! You want to get it just right – if you start early you will have plenty of time for ‘tweaking’. Also, provide lots of quotes as references - this will strengthen your application.
We hope you find the information on this site helpful and that it encourages you to develop your ideas.
Top ten contactsBusiness mum contacting suppliers

Quick links to the top ten Yell.com classifications recommended by Sarah Steel and other finalists of the 2007 Prowess Awards. Because mums know best…

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Advertise your basic business details on Yell.com, Yellow Pages 118 24 7 and in Yellow Pages - for free!

Your Comments

I've been in business for a year now, running Generation One magazine - a local parenting magazine in Hull and East Yorkshire. I started the magazine because I had no support network after the birth of my son, Charlie and I realised lots of other Mums are like me - in their 30s, away from their families and with their friends working full time.

My advice would be to not be afraid of being yourself, warts and all. I started off thinking I had to wear a suit and act like a candidate for The Apprentice. I've learned that respect for others and good relationships lead to good sales - not any magic hard sell formula. The magazine has gone from strength to strength because other people recognise what I feel. Sometimes you need to stand up and be counted. It's scary, but it's not all about numbers, running a people business is incredibly valuable too.

Claire Boynton, Hull