Elaine Wylie Training, Coaching & Mentoring, was established in 2001 providing business skills training, mentoring and coaching, working mainly with SME business entrepreneurs. The business offers a range of products and services including personal and professional development and is delivered at all levels within the private, public, voluntary and community sectors.
Originally from Bangor, I spent over 20 years in England with a career in sales management in the private sector. Coming back to settle in Fermanagh in 2004 was as a result of my husband working and falling in love with the area. Following redundancy in 2001 I took the opportunity to set up my own training & coaching Business. I already had a BA and training qualifications but decided to embark on personal and corporate coaching accreditation to add to my skill-set Also at that time still being in England, I joined several networks and undertook some business enterprise training to try to understand what was involved with the whole venture of setting up in business for myself.
The main benefits of running my own business over the years, have been to have the freedom to make my own choices and set my own goals. Although often working long hours I am lucky to have the facilities and space to work from home, creating customer driven business training solutions and knowing that my service really makes a difference to my customers.
I believe the success of my business has been down to firstly believing in myself, and having the ongoing support of my husband. It was important that my business idea was based on knowing what I am talented at and having a keen interest in other people. My business and marketing plans are very important but I must also know when to be flexible and understand that my relationships with my customers are key to my business success.
Starting and growing a business you face many challenges. The challenges I faced included not having a regular income for 12 months, nor having the corporate support system I was used to and as a sole trader the feeling of loneliness, not to mention moving address 4 times during my first 4 years in business. I overcame these challenges in the early days by doing some part-time work to supplement my income, by joining good networks for support and sharing business ideas, becoming customer led and not product driven, building up a team of associates and quickly realising that all business sectors have similar challenges. Over the next few years I aim to offer more accredited programmes to larger organisations, develop more training programmes for women, to build up our B&B business and to continue working with people who need the confidence and skills to get the work or business they really want.
I totally believe that being a member of several good Business Networks has been a critical factor in my business success; through participating in events, sourcing contacts and referrals, meeting some great associates and being able to ask for help. All within a supportive environment that encourages business owners who, like myself, are very good at what they do, but need a hand sometimes to manage both themselves and their business more effectively.
