Small Stratford district entrepreneurs say free two-week Rebel School business course has been life-changing
SOME big retail businesses in Stratford may have struggled to stay open in recent weeks, but a whole bunch of small businesses have leapt into life.
It’s all thanks to a free two-week starter course run by the Rebel Business School and hosted by Stratford District Council at thePlay House – which one participant has called “life-changing”.
The most recent course finished last Friday (8th March) – with another coming up in summer. There is no fee involved, and individuals are given all the guidance they need to start their own business and be their own boss.
Stratford nutritionist and alternative medicine practitioner Vicki Holtom signed up for the course after accidentally coming across an advertisement for it on the SDC app while checking which day to put her bins out.
“I had a decade-long dream to put all my ideas into my own business, but had no idea where to start. I saw the course and thought ‘Wow’, so signed up straight away,” she said.
Even though Vicki was initially nervous she, like the 30 others who also signed up, there was no looking back.
“It was amazing right from the start,” said Vicki. “I knew immediately it was for me – a lot of business courses are intense and heavy-going, but the Rebel course was very interactive, upbeat and realistic.”
Vicki continued: “You learn that you don’t need a bank loan or loads of money to start up. It was just so motivating, it gave me the skills and the self-belief, so by the end of my first week I thought, ‘Right, I’m doing it. I’m going to put this into practise’.”
Supported by her husband Dan, and children Beth, 11, and Ellis, 14, Vicki decided to launch her business on the date her late son Adam, who was born prematurely in 2008, would have turned 16.
“Adam died when he was two days old, normally we light a candle, but this year we launched my business website.
“We have been quite isolated as Ellis has congenital cardiac condition which he can’t be cured, and I’ve been his full-time carer – it means we’ve missed out on things like kids clubs.
“So the four of us gathered round and pushed the button for my website to go live – the course has literally been life-changing.”
Vicki’s business is called AEB Wellness (www.aebwellness. net), in tribute to her children. A qualified nurse, Vicki helps people achieve better health by taking a holistic approach, using her skills and knowledge as a nutritionist and reiki practitioner.
“Using a holistic approach, I address specific health concerns or challenges and offer advice for optimising well-being and longevity,” explained Vicki.
“Everyone taking the course was amazing and so supportive, we’ve all become bonded. There were 30 of us with lots of different interest and ideas: bakers, craftspeople, writers, life coaches, speakers,” she said.
Watch out for the Rebel graduates and their unique local businesses, which includes: Mildred & Me, Paula Wilkinson Jewellery, Artemysia Leather, Nutrition2energise, author Joe Murtagh, Olive & Cheese Deli, Tracy Lombard Proofreader, Envy Consulting and Imperatyv.
Good luck, to every one of them.
