NORTH East entrepreneur Sarah Pittendrigh has launched a new consultancy that aims to support the next generation of business leaders.
Founder of the award-winning event linen business, Simply Bows and Chair Covers, Sarah Pittendrigh is now looking to support other business owners, emerging entrepreneurs and those at a crossroads in their professional lives with the knowledge she has gained from her own personal and business journey.
Sarah, who turned her life around after facing bankruptcy when the corporate event company she co-owned was forced to close, started Simply Bows and Chair Covers after spotting a gap in the market.
Having worked with numerous hotels on events, she spotted a gap in the market for luxury chair decor and table linen. From there she transformed her idea into a lucrative business that has gone on to be franchised across the UK and awarded numerous business accolades.
More recently, she has also launched a property development business with her husband, Bradley Hall Farm Developments, overseeing a multi-million pound redevelopment of the former family farm.
Her experience of success, failure, entrepreneurship, franchising, growing pains and personal experiences of anxiety at the height of her career have driven her to launch Sarah Pittendrigh Consultancy.
Sarah said: “I feel that over the years I have gained such varied experience from personal bankruptcy to setting up a business as a single mother to winning Most Promising Business in the United Kingdom in the British Chamber of Commerce Awards.
“Those highs and lows mean I can use my hindsight to give guidance to business start-ups, owners looking to scale a business and individuals at a crossroads in their life or career.”
Speaking of the bespoke service her clients will receive, she added: “This type of consultancy is something I could have benefitted from at all stages in my career, we all need an experienced but understanding mentor to talk to, as even when you are flying high you can have doubts and fears.
“I act as a non-executive director to owners wanting to grow their company, offer one-on-one life coaching sessions to individuals or workplace consultancy to teams.”
Sarah’s no-nonsense approach to her new venture is based on her real life experience and she plans to offer support and practical advice at every stage in a business journey. She says: “If something is holding someone back, we can identify that together. From struggles with anxiety and fear of failure, to practical business challenges such as franchising and funding, I believe I have so much to offer and can’t wait to get started.”
Watch an overview of Sarah’s journey here or hear her thoughts on tackling anxiety here.