Go Global Art
Andrea Chung is a serial entrepreneur, graduate Engineer and business executive with a passion for art, travel and culture as well as a desire to help artists and makers in developing countries succeed in the art world. She graduated from the 2015 RSA Trust Inspiring Women Programme and is now the proud owner of Go Global Art, an online art marketing platform and sales forum for the best emerging artists around the globe.
Andrea developed her business with the help of the RSA Trust Inspiring Women Programme, which is an intensive 6-month programme designed to provide women with extensive business training, personal coaching and mentoring sessions with a Business Adviser to enable them to start and manage their own business.
Andrea said, “The regular advice sessions provided the vital accountability and support structure to ensure my business made progress towards its targets. It was also instrumental in helping me register and select a business operating structure as well as point me in the right direction to find an accountant, web designer and graphic designer.
“Being a member of a team of women who understand the challenges of entrepreneurship was invaluable. We exchanged business ideas and brainstormed solutions in a very friendly and supportive environment. Even after the conclusion of the RSA Inspiring Women course, the team still meets regularly and we support each other in moving forward with our respective businesses.”
Since its launch in July 2015, Go Global Art is already presenting artists from; Argentina, Australia, Chile, China, Ecuador, Hong Kong, Israel, Jamaica, Kenya, Lebanon, Malaysia, Serbia, South Africa and Trinidad.
The future looks bright for Go Global Art as sales are increasing and a growing number of people who like art are realising that investing in original artwork is a viable option for them. “We will focus on growing our customer base and acquiring corporate customers, forging partnerships with boutique hoteliers and interior designers. Then we plan to expand our offering, by diversifying into other products like handcrafted jewellery and crafts.”
MSFT Management
Lennie Varvarides is a Let’s Go Business Hub user with a growing business. She is the owner of MSFT Management and represents actors in stage, film and television. The company specialises in representing and managing the careers of professional actors and supports them with finding work in the entertainment industry.
MSFT Management is proud to have worked with some of the busiest production and agency houses in London. These include; BBC Films, Sky Vision, Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO and Daybreak Pictures.
In early 2015, Lennie started working from the Let's Go! Business Hub. “I found working from home impossible - there are so many distractions, as a businesswoman and a mother, there are always too many other things to do at home such as housework, cooking, walking the dog etc. At the Hub, I can just focus on business. Life happens at home but work happens at the Hub.”
Lennie has benefitted greatly from being a Hub user - not only taking advantage of the opportunities to attend workshops and get practical advice from Enterprise Enfield’s Business Advisers, but she has also found the Hub a great place to meet other users, network, share ideas and collaborate over a cup of coffee.
MSFT Management has been established for 5-years, it is expanding fast and has just taken on its first employee, Lennie says, “We have grown from a micro business into a small business. Reaching the 5-year mark is a huge milestone for us.”
Ecologic Energy
Ecologic Energy, established in 2008, is a family owned specialist installer of energy efficiency measures to residential and commercial properties. Its vision is to be, “THE, one stop shop for energy efficiency in north London”; one that has a great reputation for quality and great customer care.
As part of its commitment to excellent customer service, Ecologic Energy was looking to develop and enhance its quality systems in order to better manage the customer relationship and workflow. Under Enterprise Enfield’s Retrofit London Programme , the company was able to access free expert help to review its existing corporate documentation (environmental, health and safety and quality) , to identify gaps and obtain practical advice and guidance on how to make improvements..
“The support given to us by Enterprise Enfield has helped us both directly and indirectly,” said Sophoclis Sophocli, Managing Director, “As a small business it is difficult to develop new systems without the support of experienced professionals, our Business Adviser, Rachel Widdows, provided invaluable advice on the format and content of the materials that we developed. Without this feedback we would not have the quality systems that we have today.”
Enterprise Enfield also assisted Ecologic Energy establish relationships with a number of private landlords, through various workshops, which resulted in seven properties owned by three different landlords gaining grants for substantial insulation works. The business .has recently completed a £1.7 million project (50% in Enfield) and has also secured a £500k heating grant aimed to help vulnerable households in the borough.
Retrofit London was a programme part funded by the European Regional Development Fund and led by the London Borough of Enfield working in partnership with Enterprise Enfield, North London Chamber of Commerce and the London Boroughs of Haringey, Waltham Forest and Lewisham.
