celebrating-poundbury-magazine

Continued from page 63Five minutes walk away, in PummerySquare, the first phase of Poundbury, you’llfind Sinead McCarney, 31, who is the proudowner of boutique children’s shop Hey Baby.After working as a baby shop managerin London she had her second baby anddecided that they would all like to move outof London to the country.“The shop just popped up online and it wasa very strange coincidence and we thought,yes, we can make that work,” she said.Sinead and her fiance fell in love with theshop and the area and made the move inJune 2014, along with her two sons aged fiveand one.“I am not surprised that there are a lotof female business retailers here,” she sayswith some confidence. “I think Poundburyspecifically is ideal for independentbusinesses. Most are started up by motherswho need flexibility for their children andthat is probably the biggest draw for womanstarting up here.”Across the square from her is SueMcCarthy-Moore of Stitchinghouse Design.She was a true pioneer in Poundbury afterstarting her business from her GuinnessTrust home in 1994 where Poundbury wasin its infancy. She was a single mum at theSinead McCarneyHey BabySue McCarthy-Mooretime and said people were “very supportive” ofher and her passion to work hard to establishher business. Twenty one years later and shehas one of the longest serving businesses onthe development, which is testament to herdetermination to succeed.In an office with a view of a beautifulfountain sits Maria Kemp. She owns asuccessful estate agency Kemp & Co, whichtoday employs seven members of staff. Maria,a working mum also, originally opened anoffice in Challacombe Square in 2008 anddescribes being taken aback by the kindnessfrom the residents, community and supportshe was given.Starting in the estate industry business at 22,Maria entered a very male dominated worldand it wasn’t until she was 35 that she decidedto take the plunge and make a go of it alone.“I was determined to do it my own way. Ihad the vision and wanted to provide a lifefor myself on my own terms,” she says. “Butthe business just grew and grew so quickly. Iremember moving into Challacombe Squarewondering how we were ever going to fill allthe space and five years later needing a biggerpremises.”Maria’s business acumen has been recognisedthroughout her industry and last year she wasalso proudly awarded Professional of the Yearfor Dorset in the Venus Women’s Awards.Maria KempKemp & CoStitchinghouse DesignRESIDENTIAL SALESDorset residential propertysales and letting specialistsRESIDENTIAL LETTINgSDorset residential propertysales and letting specialistsResidential property sales and lettingspecialists: 01305 2518008, Dinham Walk, Poundbury, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 3WUResidential property sales and lettingspecialists: 01305 2518008, Dinham Walk, Poundbury, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 3WU64 65