An award-winning North East businesswoman is encouraging people to make best use of new Government legislation offering flexible working for all.
Sarah Pittendrigh, who runs Simply Bows and Chair Covers in Northumberland, has always been a passionate advocate of flexible working practices. Sarah established her business with that in mind and also to meet the needs of parents who wanted to get back into the workplace and run their own business or those with specific hobbies and commitments.
New legislation, introduced a month ago (June 30th) means that every employee now has the right to request flexible working hours after the government extended the right previously reserved for carers and those with children.
Sarah established Simply Bows and Chair Covers in 2008 and has just completed her most successful year to date. The franchise network- which operates from Aberdeen, down to South Wales and into Essex- has completed over 1500 weddings and events and has fitted more than 120,000 chair covers within the last five years.
Sarah herself has a son and also keeps horses so always wanted a business that could work with her lifestyle. Many of her franchisees have children and grandchildren or other jobs that can fit around the work needed to make Simply Bows and Chair Covers the success that it has become.
The company offers flexible working options and the ability to set up a business that already as a highly-regarded, nationwide reputation.
Sarah explained: “This new legislation has been a long time coming- everyone needs flexibility in their lives. As a working Mum, a farmer’s wife and a passionate horse-rider, I was always frustrated at the limitations in the workplace. Simply Bows and Chair Covers has always offered total flexibility to both my staff and my franchisees. As a result, I see a much happier, healthier and more productive team and that can only be a great benefit.“
Kimberley Gosden runs Simply Bows and Chair Covers in Essex. Kimberley added: “After working for a charity for 14 years, and being tied to the restrictions of working in an office, I was looking for an opportunity to do something different that could work for myself and fit around busy family life. Owning a franchise of Simply Bows and Chair Covers offers me great flexibility in how I organise my time so that it fits around everyone and everything that life entails. Simply Bows and Chair Covers is very much a family driven brand that is highly successful so I see it as a great, positive thing for my children to witness.“
Simply Bows and Chair Covers has won over 14 business awards, including the coveted British Chamber of Commerce Most Promising New Business accolade in 2012 and accolades such as the Franchise Marketing Awards ‘Best Website’ finalist, second only to McDonalds, 2012 Newcomer of the Year at the North East Business Awards and Best Small Business in North East Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. The company has also been picked out by Dragons Den, Theo Paphitis, as part of his #SBS – a competition he runs on twitter to identify promising small businesses.
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