Local Woman Quits NHS To Start New Business
Gillian Lord with her granddaughter Maisy. (picture: Steve Lord)
A speech therapist from Shaw has been telling Saddleworth News about leaving the NHS to set up her own business. After ten years in the health service, Gillian Lord started out on her own two months ago, and has already managed to take on several new clients from the local area.
Being her own boss has also allowed Gillian more time with her two-year-old granddaughter Maisy, who lives in Delph.
Gillian had been working in central Manchester, and said that’s given her plenty of experience in dealing with a wide range of speech and language difficulties in young children, particularly those with Down’s Syndrome.
She commented: “In terms of understanding the scale of the challenge facing young children, parents and teachers, I couldn’t have had a better start to my career than in Manchester. Knowing the difficulties, and the pressures on the NHS, made me realise I could find a niche for my own consultancy.”
Gillian added: “Leaving full-time employment was a massive decision, especially during the current economic climate, and I had lots of reservations before making the final decision. But that’s when the encouragement, help and support of your family is so important.”
She’s already doing her best to get herself established around Shaw and Saddleworth: “I’m really busy at the moment trying to make myself known at local nurseries and pre-schools in the area. It’s quite different and I’m learning new things about marketing and accounts.”
But Gillian said she’s confident she’s done the right thing: “There’s a new sense of freedom, excitement and being in control. I decide which days I work. Running my own business has given me the flexilibity I needed, and it’s helped restore my work/life balance.”
You can get more information from Gillian’s website here.
Author: Jude Gidney - Editor
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