Wirral-based business incubator Whitfield Business Support (WBS) is running against the grain of a predominantly white, male, middle-aged regional business community. Its founding director Justine McLaughlin is a driving force behind the business. She is passionate about encouraging both women and teenagers to release their inner entrepreneur and seriously consider setting up their own businesses.
Ms McLaughlin, a Liverpool John Moores University graduate and recipient of the ‘Most Outstanding Young Professional of the Year’ award at the 2014 Wirral Tourism Awards, gained experience in a variety of roles including general manager of Monte Carlo Restaurant in Heswall and marketing assistant at UK leading car assessing firm Laird Expert.
She is now the Digital Director at WBS responsible for creating design solutions with a strong visual impact. Justine’s designs are used for a huge variety of products and activities such as websites, advertising, books, magazines, posters, computer games, product packaging, exhibitions and displays, corporate communications and corporate identity.
She revels in developing creative ideas and concepts, choosing the appropriate media and style to meet the client’s objectives. It is a role which demands creative flair, up-to-date knowledge of industry software and a professional approach to time, costs and deadlines.
“I have always been extremely passionate about business and keen to learn about the mechanics of how businesses run,” she said. “After numerous roles across sectors I knew I wanted to work more closely with business owners to help share my knowledge of digital marketing. In April 2015, alongside co-director Nik Ellis, we launched Whitfield Business Support.
“Our mission is to provide a dynamic and proactive ‘business incubator’ service helping a range of firms from start-ups to SMEs. We do this with a broad-ranging support package including initial start-up, accounting and funding to IT, recruitment, consultancy, mentoring, marketing, web and graphic design, and branding support.
“We help business owners who want to concentrate on delivering their core service and avoid time-consuming business management distractions which frequently require specialist knowledge. Importantly, our team consists of entrepreneurs who have a firm understanding of what is required to be successful in business. They have experience of the pitfalls and opportunities in business which is essential when advising people how to navigate their own journey. Combined with our trusted partners we can provide cost-effective solutions for firms experiencing basic teething problems, or who want stronger guidance or specialist support.”
In little more than 18 months WBS has supported a total of 100 clients. It is unique in Wirral in terms of the range and depth of services. The team has been gradually developed with seven full-time staff including a total of five women. In 2016 Ms McLaughlin also took responsibility as chairperson for Heswall Business Association (HBA) in a bid to unite the local business community. The broader mission is to stimulate greater footfall to the area, in part through large community events like the recent four-day Christmas Festival.
“It is central to our ethos to be outward looking at Whitfield Business Support,” she said. “We are always aiming to engage with other businesses and create relationships for mutual benefit. The HBA has always had great potential as an umbrella organisation bringing together various associations and providing one strong voice for business owners, residents and those with a vested interest in the vitality of our community.
“In 2017, we plan on working closely with Wirral schools on a ‘work experience/ business mentoring’ partnership. This will involve taking on a number of student for work experience. We are also looking at the possibility of setting up a more structured business mentoring partnership to ‘hot house’ and encourage young entrepreneurial talent. For many people, and young women in particular, the idea of running their own business never enters their head. This is due to a variety of reasons. But we are looking to reach out to the younger generation to ensure it not because of a lack of ‘knowhow’ or encouragement.
“We believe the key to breaking the same predicable cycle of white, male, middle-aged men dominating senior business roles is about capturing the imagination of a broader cross section of people at a younger age. It’s about instilling belief and making more people aware of what they can do, and how they can do it.”
For more information of Whitfield Business Hub visit the website: to www.whitfieldbusiness.co.uk or call 0151 342 6365