• Business Gateway Fife helps entrepreneur secure a ‘Be Your Own Boss’ grant to buy essential equipment
Practising what she preaches has helped Lisa Proudfoot set up her own business, offering one-to-one counselling and holistic therapy sessions, whilst still working for NHS Fife.
The 31-year-old, from East Wemyss, launched Levenmouth Counselling Service and Lisa's Holistic Therapies in Buckhaven last month after spending four years training as a counsellor and qualifying in Reiki and Indian head.
Now, thanks to help from Business Gateway Fife, Lisa, who still works as a rehabilitation assistant for the NHS, has received a grant from Fife Council’s ‘Be Your Own Boss’ (BYOB) initiative, which assists entrepreneurs based in regeneration areas of Fife.
The £500 funds will allow her to purchase essential equipment, such as a massage bed, massage stool, towels and aromatherapy oils, which she would otherwise not have been able to buy.
Lisa said: “Business Gateway has been fantastic. Not only did my adviser help me with the BYOB application, he gave me a lot of great ideas and taught me all about insurance, business planning and public liability. I was delighted when I heard that I’d secured the BYOB grant too. I’ve back, shoulder and neck issues so being able to buy the bed so early on is particularly great news as it will help me raise clients to the correct height during a treatment session so I don’t aggravate my problems.”
She added: “I’m very lucky to be able to continue doing the job I love at the NHS whilst also running my own business. Working in rehabilitation sparked my interest in counselling, as I am fascinated by what makes people tick, but working whilst also studying and setting up the business did bring its own stresses. However, I’ve been able to use many of the skills I’ve learnt and enjoy both my roles.”
Charles Doeg-Smith, Business Adviser, Business Gateway said: “BYOB was launched in 2007 to help residents living in disadvantaged communities In Fife set up in business. Offering free access to business workshops, one-to-one advice as well as the opportunity to apply for grants up to £500 to help with the cost of starting up, BYOB has, to date, helped 579 Fife businesses get started. Lisa is passionate about helping others and is successfully utilising social media platforms and word-of-mouth to generate interest in what she does. We’re delighted that our advice and the grant have given her the business acumen, confidence and equipment she needed.”
As well as offering holistic therapies and one-to-one counselling, Lisa is now looking to expand her repertoire by learning colour therapy later in the year.
She said: “Being able to offer clients the opportunity to combine additional therapies like Reiki and Indian head massage with Transactional Analysis sessions, which look at how a person’s childhood, social situation, past medical history, education etc. affect how they cope with different situations now, I am providing my clients with a service that supports their mental, physical and emotional well-being. I’m also arming them with a multitude of skills and techniques that will not only increase their self-awareness and self-esteem but will allow them to relax and give them the confidence they need to deal with any situation that arises.”
For more information on Levenmouth Counselling Service and Lisa's Holistic Therapies, which is based at Number 53, Unisex Hair & Beauty Salon, 53 Randolph Street, Buckhaven, call Lisa on 07944 551987 or visit the business on Facebook.
For more information on how Business Gateway can help your business grow and prosper visit www.bgateway.com or call 0845 609 6611. Alternatively contact your local office on 01592 858333.