Yeadon woman hopes to help mums find a better balance (From Wharfedale Observer)

Yeadon woman hopes to help mums find a better balance

3:27pm Friday 11th January 2013 in Local news By Jessica Nightingale, Gazette and Observer reporter

A Yeadon mum is on a mission to get parents starting up their own businesses in light of changes to benefits and maternity leave.

Emma Hague, a mum of two, is an accountant, business coach and entrepreneur.

She is passionate about helping fellow mothers to find a better work and life balance.

Her mission is to help 100 West Yorkshire mums start their own businesses in 2013.

She will give free talks during February and March at the Kids Clubhouse soft play centre in Horsforth and at the new Hobbycraft Superstore in Guiseley for mums who crave a better balance.

She will also run workshops at Chevin Country Park Hotel in the spring and group coaching programmes from the summer months.

Many mums work in a job they'd rather not be in, simply to pay for someone else to look after their children

Emma Hague

She said: “With new reports every day of changes to the child benefit system, Working Tax Credits and maternity leave entitlement, self-employment is fast becoming the only workable solution for many mums with young children who don’t want to – or simply can’t afford to – work full time and pay childcare costs.

“While more and more people are deciding to work for themselves through necessity, many women, mums in particular, seem to believe they just don’t have what it takes, be it time, money or skills – and so are settling for a less than ideal situation where they are, in effect, working in a job they’d rather not be in, simply to pay for someone else to look after their children.”

A 2012 Netmums survey of 4,000 mothers revealed that 88 per cent of those working full time would rather work part time or stay at home with their children.

The most popular pattern of work was part-time employment, but in total half of all those surveyed would prefer to have a different role in the family – not just a different job, but a different pattern of life.

Register via mumshavedreamstoo.co.uk or by calling 0800 145 5750 to attend the free talk sessions. Dates and times will be posted on the website.

Alternatively, e-mail info@maternitymoneymaker.com or call 0800 145 5750 to contact Emma directly.