Business Action | Midsummer 2020
Midsummer 2020 issue of the independent North Devon-based business magazine covering news about business and enterprise in the area. This issue includes the winners of the 11 categories of the Business Action Awards 2020 and the North Devon Business of the Year. The area covered includes Barnstaple, Bideford, Braunton, Chulmleigh, Combe Martin, Holsworthy, Ilfracombe, Lynmouth, Lynton, South Molton, Torrington, Woolacombe and more.
Midsummer 2020 issue of the independent North Devon-based business magazine covering news about business and enterprise in the area.
This issue includes the winners of the 11 categories of the Business Action Awards 2020 and the North Devon Business of the Year.
The area covered includes Barnstaple, Bideford, Braunton, Chulmleigh, Combe Martin, Holsworthy, Ilfracombe, Lynmouth, Lynton, South Molton, Torrington, Woolacombe and more.
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NEW NEGLIGENCE BUSINESS<br />
Sneak-a-peek at an innovative<br />
Many entrepreneursstarta<br />
businessasresultofan<br />
experiencewhichtheyfeelwas<br />
lackinginsomeway.<br />
WhenMariaBirchneededa<br />
pregnancyscanbeforeanNHS<br />
onewasavailable,shedecided<br />
tobookaprivatescan.An<br />
NHSsonographerherselffor<br />
sevenyears,Mariawas<br />
impressedwiththeclinic’s<br />
facilitiesbutfeltthe15-minute<br />
appointmentwasrushed.<br />
Thismadeherthinkabout<br />
herownpatients.Her<br />
pregnancyexperiencegaveher<br />
first-handexperienceand<br />
muchgreaterinsightintoher<br />
ownworkandshebeganto<br />
developanideashealready<br />
hadtoopenherownclinic.<br />
“Irealisedthatopeninga<br />
localclinicwouldnotonly<br />
provideamoreconvenient<br />
optionforlocalwomen,but<br />
thatIwasalsoinaunique<br />
positiontodesignascanthat<br />
gavepregnantwomenlikeme<br />
everythingtheywanted,<br />
regardlessoflocation,”says<br />
Maria.<br />
“Icouldprovideamuch<br />
morepersonal,friendlyand<br />
memorableexperiencethan<br />
anywhereelse.SoIstartedto<br />
planwhattheperfectservice<br />
mightlooklike.Istudied<br />
pregnancyscanningclinics<br />
aroundtheUKandabroad.I<br />
studiedotherbusinesses<br />
famousforprovidingagreat<br />
experience,likeDisneyland<br />
Parks.Igotcarriedawayinthe<br />
excitementofcreatingthebest<br />
scanningexperienceIcould.<br />
As businesses reopen,many<br />
ofthesameoldchallenges<br />
remain,eghowtogetthebest<br />
outofyourstaffandhowto<br />
recruitthebesttalentforyour<br />
business.<br />
Recentunprecedented<br />
eventshavepresentedaunique<br />
situationinwhichemployees<br />
mayhavebeendrivento<br />
discloseadisabilityorhealthconditionforthefirsttime.A<br />
conditionwhichhadnot<br />
impactedontheirabilityto<br />
workpreviously,butnowplaces<br />
themas‘newlyvulnerable’.If<br />
thisishappeninginyour<br />
business,Devon’s‘BeReady’<br />
new business<br />
Sneak-a-peek Ultrasound founder Maria Birch with daughter Mabel<br />
“ButwhenIbegantocreate<br />
abusinessplan,realityhit<br />
home.Openingaclinicmeant<br />
takingabigfinancialrisk.”<br />
Alongwithmakinga<br />
considerableinvestmentin<br />
specialistequipmentand<br />
premises,Mariahadtoweigh<br />
uptheprosandconsofgiving<br />
upthesecurityofherwellpaidposition,whichshe<br />
enjoyed,fortheriskand<br />
uncertaintyofstartingher<br />
ownbusiness.Andshehadto<br />
decidewhethertostarther<br />
businesswhilestillpregnant.<br />
“Althoughbeingpregnant<br />
wouldmakeitmore<br />
challenging,itwasalsoa<br />
strongmotivator,”addsMaria.<br />
“Ifeltasenseof<br />
responsibilitytosupportother<br />
parents-to-be.Andthe<br />
thoughtofcommittingtomy<br />
passionofscanningpregnant<br />
womenwasexciting.<br />
Still ready to help<br />
EmploymentHubishereto<br />
help.Itcontinuestohelplocal<br />
employerswiththe<br />
employmentandrecruitment<br />
ofstaffwhohaveadisabilityor<br />
long-termhealthcondition.<br />
Theserviceoffersguidance<br />
andlinkstospecialistsupport<br />
andfinancialaidviathe<br />
governmentAccesstoWork<br />
grantfundingscheme.This<br />
includesspecificmentalhealth<br />
guidance,whichmaybecome<br />
moreprevalentasthenation’s<br />
‘stayalert’campaigncontinues.<br />
Newonlinedisability<br />
awarenesscoursesarenow<br />
availablefromourwebsite.If<br />
youarelookingtoupskillstaff<br />
duringfurloughorcontinue<br />
stafftrainingsafely,takealook<br />
atwhatisonoffer.<br />
Securingemploymenthas<br />
alwaysbeenasignificant<br />
challengefordisabledpeople.<br />
Thisisnowcompoundedby<br />
thefactthattheymaylosethe<br />
securityofexisting<br />
employmentorfindthemselves<br />
amongstanincreasingly<br />
“That’swhyIdecidedto<br />
takealeapoffaith.”<br />
Mariaopenedthedoorsto<br />
Sneak-a-PeekUltrasoundin<br />
BarnstapleinDecember2019.<br />
ResponsetoMaria’sservice<br />
hasbeenoverwhelmingly<br />
positive,asshownbyclient<br />
reviews,although<strong>2020</strong>has<br />
beenverydemanding.<br />
First,Mariagavebirthto<br />
healthydaughterMabel.<br />
Secondly,Coronavirus<br />
impactedMariaandthe<br />
business,justasithasevery<br />
otherbusinessanditclosedfor<br />
scansinMarch.<br />
However,Mariarealised<br />
thatantenatalsupportduring<br />
thepandemicwaslimited,with<br />
noin-personantenatalclasses,<br />
fewermidwifeappointments<br />
andlittleornopeersupport<br />
forexpectantmothers.As<br />
concernedforothersasmuch<br />
asforherself,Marialauncheda<br />
free,monthlyprintnewsletter<br />
called‘WombToWorld’.<br />
Sneak-a-PeekUltrasoundis<br />
openagain,althoughoffering<br />
arestrictedservice–seeweb<br />
siteandFacebookfordetails.<br />
Reflectingonher<br />
experienceofstartinga<br />
business,Mariaconcludes:<br />
“Thejourneymademeamuch<br />
strongerperson.<br />
“Yes,openingtheclinicwas<br />
arisk,butIwishI'dhadaccess<br />
toSneak-A-PeekUltrasound<br />
whenIwassixweekspregnant<br />
andfeelinganxious,soI’m<br />
delightedwiththeoutcome.”<br />
■ Detailssneak-a-peekultrasound.co.uk<br />
competitivelabourmarket.<br />
Whenyouareready,please<br />
contactussowecanhelpyou<br />
ensureyouarelookingafter<br />
yourstaff,recruitinginclusively<br />
andthinkingaboutthe<br />
thousandsofdisabledpeople,<br />
wholikeeveryoneelse,just<br />
wanttogetbacktowork.<br />
■ Ifyou’dliketofindout<br />
moreabouttheBeReady<br />
EmployerHub,getintouch<br />
viareadydevon.org.ukorcall<br />
01392241124.EmailDebbie<br />
Stafford,ProjectManager<br />
(debbie.stafford<br />
@devon.gov.uk)orSue<br />
Windley,ProjectCo-ordinator<br />
@businessactionm | <strong>Midsummer</strong> <strong>2020</strong> | business action 11