Twenty four year old Rosemary Snead from Goole in Yorkshire is an ambitious young woman – with one successful business up and running and a second in the pipeline!
Rosemary, a 3D design graduate who specialised in Jewellery capitalised on the cold winter by setting up a successful knitting business, working in schools teaching knitting as a skill to primary school children aged between six and 11 years. She went on to develop this business by selling goods, such as scarves, bags, purses and snoods, at craft fayre’s and boutiques across the region.
Now the weather has changed and her product is out of season, Rosemary is capitalising on her experience of hair modelling and is opening a ‘rent-a-chair’ hair salon. Rosemary will manage the business, handle the reception and use the shop as an outlet for her knitted products.
Rosemary has been able to grow her knitting business and consider her second business through the support she received from Next Step, the adult careers advice service that exists to help people achieve their ambitions by providing free careers information and advice to enable individuals to move forward in work and life and take control of their destiny, putting them on the road to success.
Initially being referred to Next Step via Job Centre Plus for CV advice, Rosemary met adviser Ian Thompson, and it’s his support that enabled her to use her skills to build her business.
Rosemary said:
“After graduating from Manchester Metropolitan University in 2010 I found it difficult to find a job. I was claiming Job Seekers Allowance and looking for employment at the Job Centre when I was told about Next Step. Initially I was looking for advice on developing my CV, but instead I was encouraged to use my skills to start my business, and I haven’t looked back.
“Recognising my product is seasonal, I knew I’d have to do something else throughout the summer. I model and have been used as a hair model in the past, and this is what gave me the idea to set up a hair salon, that I could also use as an outlet for my knitted products.”
Knitting is a skill that not only Rosemary values. A small group of 14 pupils from Whitley Primary School in North Yorkshire receive knitting lessons from Rosemary at their weekly craft club. Jean White, deputy head teacher at Whitley Primary said:
“Knitting is a dying art, so it is fantastic for our school to offer pupils a unique opportunity to learn a skill that not many people use these days. Both boys and girls alike take up the challenge and they usually finish the course of learning with a product to use or give as a gift. Rosemary teaches the children in a friendly atmosphere that allows the children to develop their social skills as they sit and chat with one another throughout the lesson. We really value this learning opportunity in our school.”
In addition to teaching in Whitley Primary School Rosemary also teaches knitting in another School and the Morelands Centre.
Adviser Ian Thompson, from the Next Step service, which is available online by searching for Next Step, or calling 0800 100 900 to talk to an adviser or to arrange an appointment with a local adviser face-to-face said:
“The Next Step service gives people the confidence to access the support they need to take the next step in managing their own learning and improving their working lives. Rosemary is a fine example of someone who is utilising her skills to build her own business. She left university and struggled to find a job that would utilise her skills. But by using her intuition, business flair and skill she is teaching a craft, earning a living and is on her way to opening a second business – a huge achievement for Rosemary.”
People can register online with ‘My Next Step’, a secure, personal online space where they will be able to assess their skills, build a CV, find a suitable course and discover what other support, including financial assistance, could be available. They will then be able to store their information securely. Or, Next Step is available online by searching for Next Step, or calling 0800 100 900 to talk to an adviser or to arrange an appointment with a local adviser face-to-face.
ENDS
Notes for Editors
Next Step is available to all adults in England, aged 19 and over (or 18 and over if a Jobcentre Plus customer), whatever their qualification, skill level or employment status, fuelling the potential of millions of adults, through three integrated service channels:
- Online:direct.gov.uk/nextstep
- Telephone: 0800 100 900, 8am – 10pm, 7 days a week
- Face-to-face:Call 0800 100 900 to arrange an appointment in your area
The service is also available, over the telephone, with bi-lingual advisers in the following languages:
Punjabi 0800 093 1333*
Sylheti 0800 093 1444
Somali 0800 093 1555
Urdu 0800 093 1118*
Gujarati 0800 093 1119
Polish 0800 093 1114
French 0800 093 1115
Farsi 0800 093 1116
Lines are open Monday to Friday, between 9am – 5pm. *Urdu and Punjabi lines are open 9am – 8pm
Careers services in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the Devolved Administrations.
Skills Funding Agency
The Skills Funding Agency funds and regulates adult further education and skills in England.
It is responsible for channelling funding swiftly, efficiently and securely to further education colleges and other providers, primarily in response to customer (employer and learner) choice on programmes. It operates through customer focused services: National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) and Next Step.
Media contacts:
Laura Tiplady, press officer, Skills Funding Agency, laura.tiplady@skillsfundingagency.bis.go.v.uk, 07799861229
Nicola Putnam, PR Manager, Skills Funding Agency, nicola.putnam@skillsfundingagency.bis.gov.uk, 07808 917739
Email the press team at PressOffice@skillsfundingagency.bis.gov.uk
