BusinessWings.co.uk

Your website is fairly self-explanatory regarding the type of people it is targeting. What services does it offer?

Gillian: I launched WorkingMums.co.uk to help mums who have had successful careers get back into jobs they love, but with a more flexible approach. The site started primarily as a job site focusing on most mums’ need to either work from home, or have part-time, project-based or freelance work without having to sacrifice the level of career they had reached before having children.

GILLIAN WORKING AT HOME

Employers benefit from the service too, by finding committed and experienced professionals who can fill the hours they are looking for.

Do site users have to pay subscription?

Gillian: Mums register for free and can apply for jobs online. Employers pay to post jobs on the site and contact candidates.

How’s it going so far?

Gillian: We have had an overwhelming response – almost 1,500 mums and over 250 employers have registered already!

And moving forward?

Gillian: Over the next few months we are focusing on building the community side of the site to make it more interactive and informative. We’ll be providing advice and discussion forums, as well as directories for child-related products and services, so we become a one-stop shop for working mums needing help and advice on anything from childcare to online shopping.

Why did you decide to set up the business?

Gillian: I used to have quite a high-flying career, and when I had my first child I realised how difficult it was to combine a full-time job with being a relaxed and dedicated mum. I started to look at my options for a more flexible approach to work and realised there was huge potential in connecting employers who need skilled professionals on a part-time or temporary basis, and mums who wanted a degree of flexibility in their jobs to maximise the time they could spend with their children.

Having worked at organisations with contrasting attitudes towards family-friendly working policies, I decided to set up my own company to cater for the businesses who did appreciate the vast experience and high calibre of professionals who had become mums and were unable to find suitable work to fit in with their family commitments.

Now I have the best of both worlds: not only does WorkingMums.co.uk answer my own need to work from home, but I am also helping other mums get access to forward-thinking employers.

Starting a business with two young children must have been quite a challenge…

Gillian: Especially when they both got chickenpox within a couple of weeks of each other just before we launched!

My friends thought I was mad when I first started the business, but in many ways having an outlet for the business side of my brain is what keeps me sane. I do a lot of late nights and weekend working – but so do many mums, so I just feel lucky that I have a choice about when I do my work.

Working from home can be a bit isolating at times, too. I’ve never had a problem being motivated to get started, but I miss the sociability of the office environment and getting out of the same four walls. I make an effort to get out and see employers and business partners when I can so I don’t become a hermit!

Doing everything from scratch is tough, too. Getting to grips with the technical know-how, accounting and marketing all at the same time takes some effort.

How have you dealt with the teething problems (excuse the pun)?

Gillian: Mainly by getting plenty of help! I am lucky to have a great support network too – I couldn’t do it without my husband Leigh. He is very supportive and has a background in finance and the internet which helps a lot and both of our families help out with the children.

I’ve also taken on a few extra mums to help with the day-to-day running of business and specialist areas such as PR. Because we all understand the pressures of having a family as well as working, we are flexible with our hours but also thoroughly dedicated to making sure we achieve our goals – mums are great multi-taskers!

Technology also helps massively; I couldn’t run the business without VoIP [Voice-over-Internet] phone and broadband internet. One of my ‘mums’ works remotely – she picks up office calls and has access to the content management system and databases from her own home.

You’ve really proved that running a business can coexist with motherhood…

Gillian: The key is being really organised and planning things in advance so you always know where you are and can fit everything in. That sounds very regimental but it also means planning in plenty of time for relaxing and having fun.

I find it helps to not stress out if things don’t quite go to plan. If you end up looking after one of the kids who is poorly all day rather than working, then don’t worry, everything will get done sooner or later and you’ll find a balance.