Business-startup Rose-Marie and Don
Rose-Marie and Don attended a Start-up Business course at GCDA and have since re-launched their business, Flavours of Jamrock
Rose-Marie and Don tell us their story:
Don
The course was wonderful, very informative and it showed us how to structure our business and get the different aspects of planning and marketing, so that we could excel to the next level which was what we needed to really help us get to where we wanted to go. Because we’ve got a product, but it was to help us get that product out there. So that course was excellent in structuring what we needed to do to move it forward.
Rose-Marie
Not only that, it really made us feel more confident. We had all these ideas and, when it was broken down by Claire, it was so easy to follow and made you just want to get going. It propelled us into re-starting our business. After Covid, I was on long-term medication and that kind of messed up my thinking, and it made me want to give up. But I am so glad that I stepped outside of that space because completing the course made me believe that things can improve. So I’m very happy with what we’ve done, and proud, if I should say so myself!
Don
People may tell you that you’re too old and you can easily be made to feel that’s true. But the only time you are too old is when you’re in the box and they put the lid on! I think you’re never too old. You learn every day. We’re in the 60s club so it’s never too late!
Obviously it’s challenging as you’re going back into the classroom and you’ve got to take new things on board. Being off long term sick, you don’t know what your learning capacity is going to be like. But as I said, the delivery from Claire and how the course was structured made it so easy to absorb and easy to communicate. And Claire was available to answer questions and open our eyes to opportunities. Plus everything was documented on paper so you could easily go back over anything you weren’t clear on. So there were no issues or difficulties. Somebody coming on to the course for the first time would understand.
So if you have an idea, don’t sit on it! Because ideas can be sporadic, so if you’ve got an idea and you want it to go to the next level then get that training, and apply it to your idea and you will excel.
Rose-Marie
When we saw this course we jumped on board because we were that desperate. We thought we were at the end of the road so this was resurrection time for us. That’s what it was about, dusting off and getting back up.
Don
We are now looking at further courses we can do to further our business. There are some on marketing and in particular social media. I am very interested in that because we need a social presence as I think every business needs that.
Rose-Marie
And also a course on food allergens and labelling; that would be a very useful for us.
Don
It’s so great that the courses are fully funded and that the council is providing this. Not every borough is as fortunate as ours. It’s good to have that mechanism and that support. If you haven’t got a direction or you want to get back into learning or change employment, then there is something here for you. It’s actually wonderful.
Rose-Marie
At the beginning I didn’t know they were funded! But I will be taking full advantage of any other support we can get!
Rose-Marie and Don Rowe
Flavours of Jamrock
Start-up Business
GCDA
