They’ve done it...
Having the energy to go it alone
Wednesday 27th August
An Accrington woman has proved that there really are No Limits to what people can achieve when they have the energy to set up their own business.
Lynda Moore launched Greenhouse HIP in February this year after coming up with the idea over the festive period.
The business provides a full Home Information Pack advice and sourcing service to estate agents and solicitors in Hynburn and the Ribble Valley.
Lynda said: "After working with a local charity on a campaign called 'Keep Warm - Keep Safe' which involved me helping the public to save money on their energy bills I decided I wanted to train as a domestic energy assessor.
“Once I was qualified I worked with a HIP provider for a while before deciding I wanted to go it alone. That's when I got in contact with David Ball at No Limits Get Set".
No Limits Get Set offers tailored start-up support, complete with ideas development, one-to-one advice with accredited business advisers, workshops and access to finance.
David and the team talked Lynda through every aspect of setting up a business, including business planning and forecasting, marketing strategies and applying for funding.
To date Lynda has received £1,200, which she used for advertising in the local press and to buy a document exchange facility that has enabled her to save money day-to-day.
"As I deal with confidential and important documents such as leases and local searches I knew that one of my biggest outlays would be paying for special or recorded delivery on these items. By purchasing this equipment I am already seeing the cost benefits. It also speeds up the whole process of the transfer, allowing me to get things done much more efficiently," she said.
Over the next six months Lynda will be paid another £1,000, which she plans to use to market her business to other prospective clients in the area.
Greenhouse HIP is already working with a number of leading estate agents in Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley including Duckworth’s in Accrington and Hewetson’s in Clitheroe.
Lynda explains: "I can offer a much more personalised service than some of the larger national providers as I'm only on the doorstep and contactable all the time.
“One of my clients recently moved to me from a national company as they found that they couldn't get through to the right person and it was taking longer and longer to receive the completed packs. Now I just get the seller information and take all the hassle away from the estate agent.
"Of course, none of this would be possible without the invaluable help and advice from the team at No Limits Get Set. They were so easy to deal with and really helped me to get to grips with the technical side of setting up a business.
"And the help doesn't just stop, I have a progress meeting with the No Limits Get Set team in a couple of weeks, where we will look at what has been done so far and what I need to do to continue to build on my success. I am also going to attend their bookkeeping course so I can get to grips with that side of the business too."
No Limits Get Set project leader, Rona McFall, said: "Lynda is the perfect example of someone who really wants to make a success of their businesses and has been open to help and advice from all aspects of the programme.
“It is great to see that she is continuing with her progress meetings and that she will be booking herself on another course. It's those who are open to learning and not afraid to ask for help that really excel in business and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for Greenhouse HIP.
Lynda concluded: “I really can't thank the team enough. The process was so easy and I wouldn't have been able to do this without them. I am enjoying work more than ever before and am determined to be a big success.”
