Do you want a better work-life balance? SmartPA Partner, Sarah speaks frankly about what initially attracted her to SmartPA, and her experience so far.

Do you want a better work-life balance? SmartPA Partner, Sarah speaks frankly about what initially attracted her to SmartPA, and her experience so far.

“I left college when I was 17 and went to a work placement in Lloyds Banking Group, I never thought I would own my own business back then. To be honest, I’m still quite shocked when I wake up and remember that I do own my own business.

Since joining Lloyds Banking Group in 1993 I served around 10 years altogether in a variety of teams, mainly specialising in complaints. I left the business, moved to Spain and had a baby, at one point only to return to the same office in six years later!

Moving around Lloyds Banking Group made me realise that my role didn’t work for a positive work-life balance, and sometimes I felt demotivated at the end of the day. Often I’d walk home from the office feeling deflated and kept thinking that I was helping to line someone else’s pockets more than my own.

I started to research business opportunities and came across SmartPA. It’s different, it’s a very clever model. Usually, a partnership gives you a bit of branding, a manual and a goodbye when you hand your money over but not SmartPA.

SmartPA gives you an in-depth training course, marketing and social media support as well as guiding advice on prices for work requests. Of course, there’s also the guaranteed client and business perk too. For me though, it’s the on-going support that I find beneficial and worth my investment.

I began my training while working full time in November and launched my business in March 2016. In May 2016 I invoiced out to clients for £2,000.

I’m loving being in control and running my own business, it’s using all of my skills. I’ve landed on my feet, the team at Head Office have been brilliant and very supportive. When I power down my laptop at the end of the workday I feel; I’ve done a fantastic job today and I’m going to benefit from that.”

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