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2010 award winner Lilian Mains from Zodiac Training talks to bdaily

Lilian Mains won the Women Into the Network ‘Susan Dobson Award’ in 2010. She tells bdaily about her business, Zodiac Training, what winning the award meant for herself and her company whilst she also explains what benefits her association with WIN has brought.

Could you tell us a little about your business?

Zodiac is now the largest private training provider in the North East in terms of Skills Funding Agency (SFA) contracts for Apprenticeships and Adult Training. We have in excess of £5m worth of SFA contracts for this year, August 11 – July 12, in addition to other contracts we have to support the unemployed back into the work place. This year Zodiac is looking to grow generically and by acquisition and to continue development geographically by carrying out more training nationally with our existing clients and new clients.

What did winning the award do for you on both a personal and company level?

The Award was a real morale booster for me personally and I received lots of good publicity and congratulations from the business world. I was also invited to speak at events which I found ‘stretching’ but very enjoyable and fulfilling as well as very rewarding as I received some lovely feed back from the attendees. I also received invitations to some very nice corporate events!

From the company’s point of view, winning the Award was very beneficial. We made sure we used the PR we gained from it on our web-site and displayed information in centre. From a ‘winning business point of view’, we have ensured that we have included this in our bids/tenders for future business opportunities, which I am sure helps raise the credibility of the management of the organization.

What benefits do you receive from WIN and why should others get involved?

I feel everyone running a business (ladies) should consider entering, as there are a range of categories – something suitable for everyone. The benefits appear right from the beginning, i.e. when completing the entry form it makes you stand back and ‘look’ at what you have done and what you are doing. It helps you appreciate the achievements, which all too often busy entrepreneurs rush past whist dealing with the next ‘issue’. The fact that you are trying to look at yourself from the ‘outside’ I think helps you analyse more clearly than you would normally what you should be focusing on: development and growth of your business, and if you have staff it helps your team focus as well.

Attending the event is inspirational. It involves meeting a lot of interesting people and it is a really special event - and good fun. If you are lucky enough to be short-listed then that is a great sense of achievement to know that you have received this recognition, and this is enhanced if you are selected as a winner. By entering you are continuing your entrepreneurial spirit of trying, and if you don’t win, then you enter again and try again! You learn something each time and gain something from the experience.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Joining WIN allows you access to like-minded women who are willing to share their experiences.

Tickets to attend the North East Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Awards evening are £75 + VAT (£65 + VAT for WIN members), including a drinks reception, a three-course meal and live entertainment.

To book tickets, please e-mail awards@womenintothenetwork.co.uk, call 0191 385 6619, or visit: http://www.womenintothenetwork.co.uk/awards.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jonny Marshall .