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Life after redundancy despite ‘lack of help’
Margaret Close who has started Maggie's Den in Murray Street
A FORMER Garlands call centre worker has proved there is life after redundancy by setting up her own business despite a “lack of help”.
Margaret Close has opened Maggie’s Den, a cafe and take-away in Murray Street, Hartlepool – and also helped two women, Nicola Purdy, 40, and Veronica Knappett, 46, off the dole queue by giving them part-time jobs.
Margaret, 56, was one of 1,158 Garlands workers laid off when the company went bust in May 2010.
Having worked for five years in the canteen of the Hartlepool Marina-based offices and with 30 years’ catering experience, she was eager to find work immediately.
But she claims she was met with a number of obstacles in setting up on her own.
Margaret spoke to Hartlepool MP Iain Wright about the apparent lack of help for small businesses.
She found she was not eligible for a grant as she had not been unemployed for six months and there was no help towards running costs, staff wages or even publicity to help her cafe – which sells home-made goods and hot dinners – get under way.
And she said she has even been told by the Performing Rights Society (PRS) for Music she is not allowed to have a radio in the shop without a £155 licence as it breaches copyright laws by playing music in a public place.
Margaret, from the town’s Tennyson Avenue, said: “I was gutted when Chey Garland came in and closed Garlands down.
“I didn’t go to the unemployment office because I had never been there in my life.”
She said there was no canteen work available so she worked for a short time in homecare before setting up on her own, using savings and a loan.
“I went everywhere you can think of but nobody would help because I hadn’t been on the dole for six months,” said the mother-of-four and grandmother-of-six.
“I’m keeping afloat at the moment.
“I’m managing to pay the staff but obviously I need the customers to help me do that.”
Mr Wright said: “I have mentioned this to Government ministers.
“There might be help available, say from the council, they might have a fund available.
“I’m keen to help because I want to see more businesses in town.
“But I’m frustrated that at a time when we need more help to allow businesses to grow more than before, we are seeing help and support cut.”
A spokeswoman for the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) said as Margaret had not visited Jobcentre Plus, advisors would not have been aware of her position.
But she said help was available for start-up companies at www.businesslink.gov.uk, www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment or www.dwp.gov.uk/adviser/updates/new-enterprise-allowance.
A Department for Business, Innovation and Skills spokesman said: “There is quite a lot of help available.”
The spokesman highlighted a number of packages, including the Government’s StartUp Britain scheme, a campaign launched last year to support entrepreneurs.
A spokesman for PRS for Music said a licence to play radio was needed so artists and composers can benefit from a royalties income.
They added that a licence for shops is from £73.60 a year or £1.41 a week.
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Monday 28 May 2012
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