A market strategist who describes herself as a ‘professional nag’ has been named North Tyneside’s Business of the Month for January.
Elly Roper, from Whitley Bay, works with freelancers and small business owners to develop tailored marketing plans and networking opportunities.
She set up her business, ‘Mint Marketing’, after a career working in the marketing industry.
Elly explained: “Working in marketing is famously not very family-friendly. With two little girls at home, aged five and six, I started to feel like I was missing out.
“I decided to give freelancing a go for a few months, pretty certain I would end up back in a full-time marketing role before the summer was up.
“But instead, things took off and I couldn’t be happier. Now I have the life I want, spending loads of time with my kids while doing work that actually makes a difference in real peoples’ lives.
“I am a market strategist and professional nag… seriously!”
She was supported by North Tyneside Council’s The Business Factory – which, supported by the European Regional Development Fund, shines a spotlight on the quality of new businesses based in the borough each month with the Business of the Month campaign.
Elly admits it hasn’t been easy setting up on her own, and money has been tight, but the challenges have been far outweighed by the benefits of being able to spend more time with her family and growing her business.
She added: “The support I’ve gotten from The Business Factory has made a massive difference to my business. Being worried about money, I had a one-on-one session with The Business Factory's specialist accountancy consultant Gavin Spencer who set me on the right track straight away.
“I’ve taken nearly every course they offer, each time being met with the most welcoming and helpful team.
“The networking events run by The Business Factory and North Tyneside Business Forum have given me invaluable connections to other local businesses, which is so important when working alone - you need to have a network of people to bounce ideas off.
“And finally, I do love to be beside the seaside! North Tyneside, with its sprawling beaches and quirky cafes, is a really special place to call home.”
Find out more about Seriously Mint: http://seriouslymint.co.uk/
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
The project is receiving up to £825,000 of funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (and in London the intermediate body Greater London Authority) is the Managing Authority for European Regional Development Fund. Established by the European Union, the European Regional Development Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support innovation, businesses, create jobs and local community regenerations. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding