Case studies

Ali Blythe – Domestic Bliss

Ali Blythe of Aylsham is 53 and recently left her job with social services to set up in business with her daughter Katie Daniels, a builder. Experience as a teacher, a foster carer and then for social services helping the elderly meant that working with people came naturally to Ali. Wishing to combine their skills, Ali and Katie recently set up Domestic Bliss, a home maintenance service which offers everything from cleaning and painting to gardening and hanging curtains.

Their client base has rapidly expanded and the business is now looking to take on staff. About half of their clients are pensioners.

“I don’t think of myself as older, I’m just me!” says Ali. She found that the courses and training offered by Broadland District Council and Engage with Business were invaluable at helping her turn her dreams into reality.

“Nobody else offers that kind of support and mentoring, it was very supportive and so accessible. “My age has not hindered me at all; in fact I actually think it has helped, particularly with our elderly clients who would rather have me carrying out their domestic jobs than a young person. Being older has helped me secure more contracts.

“Setting up my business was also easier for me. I don’t have a mortgage to pay any more and the kids have left home, so it’s not such a huge risk to set up a business for me as it would be for someone with a young family”.

“Going into business this time round has actually been much easier because there is far more support now,” says Steve Hannant from Taverham, Norwich.

‘Olderpreneur’ Steve recently started a business called The Flag Wizard which sells flags, banners, bunting and flagstaffs via the internet www.theflagwizard.com

Previously a partner in a business for 25 years, Steve retired from that role but wasn’t ready to fly the flag of retirement just yet.

“I wanted to go back to self-employment. I’ve worked in this industry for a long time and things have changed a lot, with the internet becoming a very important part of business".

“My motivation was working back on my own again, with my own direction, motivation and views on how to do things. I like to be in control of my own destiny,” he said.

“You have to be motivated to work at any age and being in my 50s is no different.”

Steve’s customer base is predominantly commercial businesses and his decades of experience and understanding of the products is a real plus for potential customers.

“My experience has really helped when setting up and I have had huge support from Broadland District Council and Engage With Business which has made things a lot easier this time round,” he said.