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businessupdate

News

Tuesday November 20, 2012

Team set to clean up with latest business

ntrepreneurs Ross and Claire Porter are looking to clean up with their latest business venture. The husband and wife team, from Pontllanfraith, near Blackwood, have launched Lady Muck Cleaning company, a quirkily unique commercial and domestic cleaning business. The married couple set up the venture after both being directors of one of Wales most successful independent recruitment firms. The pair say their new business is looking to employ some 50 fully trained and qualified staff within the first year of operation. Ross, aged 40, said: We feel there is a clear opportunity for a cleaning business like Lady Muck and its unique brand to make a positive impact on the industry in South Wales. Over the years that I was been involved in the recruitment industry I was able to build up an extensive network of business connections which I now hope to use to help develop this new venture. Former Newport business student Ross, established a successful recruitment company Draig Personnel with wife Claire in 1999. He said their new service sector business will offer a portfolio of services ranging from a one-off spring clean to regular contract cleaning and as a cost-effective supplier of janitorial requisites. When I carried out client visits in my recruitment days customers would often remark about the poor service they were getting from their cleaning companies, said Ross. A number of clients suggest that Draig ought to offer a cleaning service as they knew the very high standards we would to deliver. I guess that was what planted the seed for Lady Muck Cleaning. Ross, head of sales and

Is fear of failure hampering your business?

A fear of failure is hitting Welsh entrepreneurs, with 68 per cent admitting that theyve put off making important businesses decisions during the last 12 months in case they make the wrong call, more than any other region in the UK. New Barclays research carried out among senior decision makers in small and medium businesses in Wales, reveals the tough economic climate is causing this business paralysis, as 58 per cent state the economic environment has changed their approach to making business decisions. A total of 18 per cent of Welsh business owners say they now play it safe and their focus is now purely on the day to day, while 29 per cent admit that economic uncertainty has made them much more hesitant about longer term decisions. This impact of BoFFs Businesses overcome by Fear of Failure could not only hamper individual business success, but could also collectively stall the UKs economic recovery. Darren Farnell, Barclays Business Banking regional director for Wales, said: At the time of making important business decisions its only natural to be scared of getting it wrong. It can feel like you are taking a big risk whether that is decisions about staff, products, finance or even your marketing strategy. Despite the tough external environment, there are many opportunities to be seized upon and the ability to make important decisions is vital to the growth of all businesses and the overall UK economy.

marketing at Lady Muck, said: Our experience means we know how to manage large labour contracts and to deliver true value for money at the same time. Crucially we also know how to recruit and retain staff of the highest calibre and quality. Mother of three Claire, aged 35, managing director of the new business, said: We have worked hard to create a unique Lady Muck brand which reflects what we will be offering to clients which is good old fashioned value for money cleaning. Our research has shown us that people, both in the office environment and at home, are tired and frankly fed up with the current cleaning company service they are offered with its one size fits all, take it or leave it, mentality. Claire said: Well be offering contemporary cleaning with old fashioned values. Sure times are tough at the moment but this means an individuals me time has never been as precious as everyones lives are so busy. What well be delivering is a total service, everything from cleaning to express ironing and almost everything in between, which allows our time poor client to get on other aspects of their busy lives. The couples previous business, Draig Personnel, was acquired, for an undisclosed sum, by the Newport-based Acorn Group in 2011. Ross, a former Welsh Young Business Achiever of the Year finalist and Gwent Young Entrepreneur of the Year, started Draig above a travel agency in Caerphilly. It grew to boast a candidate base of more than 16,000 and a turnover in excess of 3m. It was among the fastestgrowing businesses in Wales, with a customer portfolio ranging from long-established multi-corporations Claire Porter, of Lady Muck Cleaning to one-man businesses.

Venture aims to help people sell themselves

Former FTSE 100 bank employee Sian Richardson, of Raglan, has set up a business aimed at helping people sell themselves in an increasingly tough jobs market. Sian, who in her spare time crews for her husband Peter who is a hot air balloon pilot, launched Career Master CVs to offer professional help to people at all stages of their career. She said: Our aim is to help people achieve success in the role they want, whether they are unemployed and looking for a new role or working towards the next stage in their career. We have a range of career services including CV writing, CV cover letters, preparing for an interview and creating a LinkedIn profile. With the rising numbers of unemployed people starting their own businesses, we also offer business planning and new business start up support and mentoring. Sian, who was made redundant after 23 years working for a FTSE 100 bank, said: It quickly became clear that there is very little practical and affordable help out there for people with a long career behind them, but with a great deal of experience and skills to offer. Also, when people have been with a company/organisation for a long time and perhaps risen through the ranks, there is often little need for them to have a CV and, if they have any internal interviews for a new role, they are usually familiar with the interviewer and type of questions they may be asked. Many people are now in the position of having left the company/org and have to start thinking about putting a CV together and getting through interviews to find their next job. I decided to set up the company and use the skills and knowledge I had acquired in my previous roles, which included specialist retail recruiter and HR manager, to provide practical and affordable help to others and help them to find a new job quicker. In addition, having worked with businesses for a number years while with the bank and having been a new business mentor with A4e under the New Enterprise Allowance, I wanted to help people who had a burning desire to start up their own business but werent really sure where/how to start.