Portobello Business Centre - Urban Kids, Small Business Success Stories

Untitled Document

Search : FAQs : Contact Us

Untitled Document

HOME

Success stories - Urban Kids

Here are some real life stories which chronicle the ups and downs of starting your own business and illustrate how the Portobello Business Centre can offer vital help

Innocent : Urban Kids : Holistic Silk : Asquith : FreshMinds : Damaris :
Coco-Ribbon

Urban Kids provides a mobile crèche and safe, quality childcare services at events ranging from weddings to corporate conferences. The business was started by Sarah Seisay in January 2003 and it works with housing associations and local authorities in West London, providing regular and one-off services. Sarah has a background in social care, working with young people, is a mother of two boys aged four and six and a registered childminder.

Sarah takes up her story. "I originally had the idea at the beginning of 2002 after discovering that there was nowhere I could leave my children for short periods to engage in community activities. The great thing about Urban Kids is that we come to you!

"I knew I needed a good strong business plan but I had no real idea of how to go about creating one. I went to see Maria Stammers at the Business Centre and she was a tremendous help. I was really starting from scratch with nothing but the bare bones of my idea which of course I believed was a strong one.

"It took almost a year to refine and fine tune the business plan and this was where Maria's help was absolutely invaluable. She guided me through the whole process, helping me with everything from market research to financial planning.

"The process was well worth it because the end product was a very professional plan. Maria also helped me to approach organisations for grants and I've now had help from Octavia Housing Association, toy manufacturers Vtec and IKEA.

"So far the business has been going very well. We've been working for housing associations and other clients like Brent council. We also provided a crèche at a Department of Trade and Industry event to launch new policies for working families at 10 Downing Street where I met Tony and Cherie Blair.

"I'm hoping to expand the business from its current West London focus to become London-wide and I'd like to set up franchises. I'll certainly be going back to the Business Centre for help in achieving that. I have a lot of praise for the PBC and the proof of that is the fact that I've already been recommending them to people I know who are thinking of starting up a business."

Untitled Document

How we can help
Consultancy
Finance
Success Stories
FAQs

not signed in...

Useful Downloads
Registered Users Only

Latest Site News:

Untitled Document