Coronavirus: Lockdown ‘blessing’ for women setting up business

Lockdown has been a “blessing in disguise” for Vivienne Jade Read.

Struggling to balance childcare and her work as an insurance consultant during the COVID restrictions, she decided to set up her own catering company.

Vivienne is one of a growing number of women who have been spurred on to start their own businesses following lockdown, according to an organisation that supports firms in Wales.

Now there are calls for more support to be given to help other women.

For the 26-year-old from Newport, working from home while looking after her two-year-old son proved to be “impossible” – but she said it gave her the push she needed to follow her dream to work for herself.

“I needed to take a decision whether I wanted to stay where I was or whether I wanted to take a plunge, or leap of faith,” Vivienne said.

She described lockdown as a “blessing in disguise” as the money she saved from not paying for childcare allowed her to buy a static van to run her catering company from.

Her new business has given her independence and she said it has allowed her to pay for full-time nursery for her young son.

She added: “Obviously work and home life is a lot more stable – I’m not relying on just a part-time wage.

“It’s been really busy down here as well, so I’m just really positive about it.”

Business in Focus, which delivers several business support services in Wales, said the pandemic had led to people reflecting on their lifestyles and wanting a better balance in life.

It claimed it had seen a “massive increase” in women coming to it for business advice in August compared to the same time last year.

Read more: bbc