Caroline Marsh sees Entrepreneurs Graduate
THEY represent some of Britain’s brightest fledgling entrepreneurs who, after an intense three month mentoring programme, were this week sent on their way to turn those innovative ideas into fantastic business successes.
Mentor Caroline Marsh knows what it takes to get to the top, a one-time airline stewardess to millionaire businesswoman who is frequently in demand on the speaking circuit. She developed the “Concept to Cash in 90 Days” initiative which earlier this year took 10 creative business brains, captured their ideas and nurtured them onto the right pathway
From a muffin maker to a tennis coach, a natural skin care specialist to someone setting up their own cleaning business, Caroline has helped each of the fledgling entrepreneurs to develop their businesses; trawling through their plans, developing strategies and learning how to market their enterprise.
To mark Global Entrepreneurship Week, Caroline organised a send-off party at the Grange Holborn Hotel in London’s West end for the graduates, who are interestingly all women, and many from ethnic backgrounds.
“It was a great day for me seeing others create their world of possibilities,” explained Caroline, “They all share how having an idea, having the skills and the support, was the key to success. Some had kept under wraps ideas from seven years ago which have only come to fruition in the last three months.
“Concept to Cash is a platform which allowed these ladies to turn their passion into profits. The programme included three intensive “boot camps”, a series of strategic business workshops, a fortnightly webinar, one-to-one coaching and access to key industry experts and financial planning.
“This graduation day was a true testimony of how it is possible to find opportunity in the current economy. They each learned about the power of believing in your product, creating a strategy on how to market and sell your product.
“They are determined to make their businesses work and well on their way towards boosting the economy.”
Caroline is a highly successful buy-to-let property investor who made a name for herself after featuring on Channel 4’s “The Secret Millionaire”.
She also launched the new initiative called “Mastermind Alliance” at the event where some of Britain’s brightest business brains were available to help fledgling entrepreneurs.
This is a fresh step on from the “Concept” initiative, developing further the ideas of the graduates and also newcomers to the programme by working alongside Caroline and some of the UK’s top entrepreneurs.
The 12-month Mastermind Alliance programme will show new entrepreneurs how to put their skills into practice through mentoring and regular guidance.
Among the graduates were:
Idda Olagbaiye from West Dulwich, London (childcare): “My business was just casual until I joined Caroline’s boot camp at which point a light bulb went in my mind and opened my eyes”.
Florence Nyaruwa from London W10 (catering): “I learnt from Caroline what my passion is, how to create a business based on this and how to go about marketing it.”
Shola Adejonwo, Carshalton, Surrey (child consultant): “I’ve learnt the skills required in setting up the business and enterprise. It has taken me from a casual worker to being in charge of my business. I’ve learnt to make my business work for me, rather than me working for my business.”
Donia Narh, Bexley, Kent (education): “Don’t give up, utilise the resources you have, expand on them and don’t overlook the gift you have. Concept to Cash helped me to gain the understanding for what I need to have a successful business and to believe in myself. The mentoring has been exceptional. To have the support from someone who is already successful and give you the support, plus you know that you’re not going through it alone, has been phenomenal.”
Caroline Gossage, Dorset (tennis coach): “Using your passion leads you to financial freedom.”
Caroleen Palmer, North Ealing, London (natural skin care): “Caroline gave me the inspiration to see something through to the end – something I’ve wanted to do for years. Her support and knowledge of business has been fantastic, as well as her support of my ideas. I’ve been able to start a product that was in my mind and using my passion I’ve been able to take it through to actually producing the idea which I’m very proud of. You get advice, go to seminars and you aren’t left on your own. This helps you to build on your product and knowledge, and it gives you confidence.”
Aritha Abraham, Greenwich, South-East London (cleaning business): “Concept to Cash has helped me believe that my product is worth putting out there to the public. I found the whole social media part interesting, and how updating and adding information to websites can help promote your business. I had no idea how to market my product, but now I have a blog, Twitter account, business cards and leaflets. Before, I was working in my business, now I’m working on my business.”
Adejoke Abudu, The Guud Food Company “All I had were ideas and I wasn’t too sure where I was heading. With Caroline’s help, she steered me in the right direction. We took one of the ideas and started on it from scratch. I didn’t have enough resources, but Caroline gave me the get up and go. Without Concept to Cash, I would still be sitting on my ideas and not doing anything about them.”
Editor’s notes:
Caroline Marsh is one of Britain’s brightest young entrepreneurs. The mother-of-one, who lives in Gloucestershire with husband Mike, grew up in Zambia and had a tough childhood sharing responsibilities for looking after the family following the death of her father when Caroline was just 13.
Caroline fulfilled her life-long dream of becoming an air stewardess when, at the age of 19, she was selected from 5,000 hopefuls to become a flight attendant with the airline Zambian Express. It was at that point that Caroline realised that if you set yourself a goal, you can achieve it.
She moved to the UK in 2002 with Mike, working for a marketing company, before going self-employed a year later promoting everything from cereal bars to cars.
Then, in 2006, Caroline and her husband were inspired by entrepreneur and property investor, Steve Bolton at a business conference in Alicante, Spain, talking about cash-positive property investment in the UK. The couple already had a few investment properties, but the conference and the one-to-one mentoring boosted a lucrative investment business which Caroline continues to grow today with astonishing results.
In 2008, Caroline appeared on Channel 4’s “The Secret Millionaire” spending 10 days being filmed in the deprived Liverpool district of Toxteth, with two-year-old son Ashley in tow. As a result of her experience on Merseyside, this inspired Caroline to give money and ongoing business support to two community groups in Toxteth.
Caroline has been sharing the secrets of her success at large business conference and conventions, as well as with schools and community groups, inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs. She has featured in both national and international publications with her inspiring rags to riches story.
In 2011, she launched another business concept which helps aspiring entrepreneurs turn their passion into profits with “Concept to Cash in 90 Days”. Using tested proven strategies, the programme works with the entrepreneurs teaching them how to start, run and manage a business for success.
The programme has proved very popular and is looking to go global in 2012, along with the follow-up “Mastermind Alliance”. This is a programme for already established businesses to get mentoring support from some of the UK’s most successful businessmen and women.
For more information visit:
Email: caroline@carolinemarsh.com
Twitter: www.twittercom/caroline_marsh
Facebook: www.facebook.com/secretmillionairecaroline
Telephone: 01793 729208 / 07500 705845
For pictures, more information or to arrange an interview contact redheadPR:
Maria Bretti on 07854 819 213 or email: maria@redheadpr.co.uk
