Partner Article

Community at the heart of new business idea

A community-minded Manchester man is focusing on helping vulnerable people after setting up his own business.

Mark Dooley, from Fallowfield, launched his own company, Inside and Outside Maintenance, in August and works with local residents in Manchester as a handyman and source of advice and knowledge about repair and maintenance work.

Formerly a social worker, Mark, 44, took voluntary redundancy after time spent at Manchester City Council and decided to set out on his own while engaging the assistance of business start-up support specialists Blue Orchid.

Mark’s business involves assisting vulnerable groups in the community, not only by carrying out maintenance work on their homes himself but also through helping people avoid paying too much for materials and services.

Having worked with the general public for many years, he recognised the potential for vulnerable members of society to pay over the odds for jobs which could have been done for significantly less.

Blue Orchid was able to offer Mark one-to-one advice in order for him to complete a business plan, while he also accessed their training sessions on topics such as bookkeeping and auditing, all of which enabled him to get his business off the ground.

Mark said: “I recognise there can be a certain amount of financial exploitation when it comes to having repair and maintenance work done and that there is requirement for a community-based handyman service which can be called upon when there is a need for practical support and assistance. I’m looking to minimise the risk of financial pitfalls and prevent these problems for vulnerable groups of people.

“Blue Orchid has helped me to get my business off the ground and I’ve been very happy with the service they have offered and the brilliant way the support has been provided.”

Stuart Ridgway, a business advisor at Blue Orchid, who has worked with Mark, said: “It’s been great to see Mark’s ideas become reality - he’s used his experience in working with the public to develop those ideas and has learned new skills along the way. It’s been a pleasure working with him and I’m confident Mark has what it takes to achieve real success.”

For more information about the services provided by Blue Orchid, please visit http://www.blueorchid.co.uk/

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