Train 2000 - The Centre for Women's Enterprise and Employment

When mother-of-two Sally Woodcock took the decision to leave behind her career as a business manager she turned her sights on setting up her own business.

"Being a mum, I knew that I wanted to become self-employed because I needed the flexibility, but I just didn't know what business I could set up. One Sunday morning I was sat having coffee with my dad, who had always been self employed and he suggested that I become a hairdresser.

"I wouldn't like to cut peoples' hair I told him, but I wouldn't mind doing it for dogs - and that was it, I decided to become a dog groom and within just a matter of days I was booked on a training course and was heading very quickly towards setting up my own business."

Sally says she had always loved dogs but it had never dawned on her that this could be the foundation for her very own business - but within weeks Ruff Cutts was up and running.

"I offer a very personalized service, I am a mobile dog groom and go out to peoples' homes and take all of my equipment with me.

"I have been amazed at how quickly the business has taken off. The demand has been really high and rather than getting off to a slow start, I have almost found it difficult to fit everyone in. I am delighted with the way things are going and I am building some regular customers."

Sally, who lives in Nantwich in Cheshire, said that in her local area most dog grooming takes place at salons and involves customers having to drop their pet off for the day.

"I am able to offer a tailor-made service and my customers don't have to go out of their way at all, they don't have to leave their dog anywhere and they can stay with their pet whilst they are groomed."

Sally whose children are now 12 and 13 admits that although dog grooming is a far cry from business management she couldn't be happier.

"I am thoroughly enjoying being self employed" she said, "It's so much better, for instance during the school holidays I am able to fit my appointments around my children."

The 38-year-old added:

"Although I enjoyed my previous career, I don't miss it at all. I get so much job satisfaction from my work now and it's lovely to see how nice the dogs look once I have finished grooming them."

"When I came to Train 2000 I already had a lot of business knowledge because of the industry I had previously worked in. Even so, Train 2000 proved to be invaluable to me. I received one-to-one advice and it was good to know that there was an organization there which could help me if I needed it and there was always some one to go to, to check that I was doing things right."

If you would like to find out more about Ruff Cutts, or would like to book your dog in with Sally, please give her a call on 01606 789076.