European Social Fund in England

‘The project helped me get back into “thinking mode”. Now I’m my own boss’

Lone parent Susan McCree Crandon had a great idea for a business – but no idea how to get it off the ground.

The mother-of-three, who had been out of work for seven years, wanted to set up her own company providing female security staff for events, bars and clubs.

But it was only after enrolling on a European Social Fund (ESF) supported project that Susan’s dreams became a reality.

“I met Lucy (an advisor at the project) at a lone parent group in Battersea and she asked if I’d ever thought about being my own boss,” said Susan, 46, from South London.

“I told her I’d like to set up a business in security. I already had my Security Industry Association licence and I thought my previous background – I was a youth worker for 10 years - would help because security is all about communicating with people.”

Susan went along to Urban Voice’s premises in South London and enrolled on ‘The Business’, a project which provides creative enterprise training for women from ethnic minority backgrounds who want to get back into work and progress their careers.

The first part of the programme - entitled ‘Create Change’ and described as a ‘part personal development, part wealth-creation’ course - really helped Susan to think positively about the future.

She then went on to attend sessions on all elements of setting up and managing a company, including writing a business plan, organising finances and marketing a business.

“In the 12 weeks that I was on the course I was able to get back into ‘thinking mode’ not just being a mum,” said Susan, whose children are fourteen, seven and one. “Urban Voice were fantastic and made me think ‘maybe I could do this’.”

At the end of the programme Susan and a friend who had also been on the project launched their company, ‘Secure Pink’. The pair are now working hard to secure contracts and are even hoping to bid for part of the 2012 Olympic security contract.

Project information

‘The Business’ is run by Urban Voice UK and covers residents living in the boroughs of Wandsworth, Lambeth, Merton and Sutton in South London.

The project is targeted at women from ethinic minority backgrounds aged 20-plus who want to enter creative employment or who are interested in setting up their own creative businesses/social enterprises.

Training is tailored to suit the participant’s own individual needs and includes the six week ‘Create Change’ personal development/wealth creation training as well as a range of workshops and seminars.

The project is co-financed by London Councils and is expected to receive around £250,000 from the European Social Fund.