Today I wrote an application for seed funding via 'She Inspires', which is a company that aims to empower women in business. It is an initial financial grant offered to females in Leicestershire who are either planning to, or have recently started their own business, and includes on-going business support over the next 2 years - what an opportunity!
The application was 1000 words about myself, why I want to start a business, what I have already achieved and how I plan to grow my business in the future. And of course, they wanted to know exactly what I would spend the money on - well that bit was easy, because in my head I could spend the grant 10 times over!!!
It did get me thinking though, that the reason I am in a position to start my own business now is that it is the first time in my life where I have had the financial backing of a husband to allow me to take the risk of not earning anything for a while, and it potentially taking even longer to establish an income that can be relied on.
I separated from my children's father when my youngest was 2 years old, so since then there has only been me bringing money into our household. I embarked on a career in social care, which whilst it was never going to make me rich, was reliable and consistent with opportunities for promotion so it became something I couldn't ever afford to leave to risk trying to make it on my own.
So I guess this is just me expressing gratitude, that I now have a supportive and encouraging husband who is happy to tighten his belt alongside me in order to allow me to pursue my dream, and also lucky there are schemes such as this to help out other women like me.
Wish me luck with my application - but whatever the outcome it has already benefited me by bringing a smile to my face and a warm feeling inside!