Meet Hewson Business Support’s Founder: Virtual Assistance Services

Wed, 27 Feb 2019 by Liz Rosling

Jo Hewson founded her virtual assistance business in 2018, following her dream to become an entrepreneur that helps other businesses succeed. With over 10 years of experience working in industries including accountancy, surveying, architecture and law, Jo found that her varied skills were easily transferrable to set up Hewson Business Support.

Member of the Redditch Business Over Breakfast (BOB) Club, Jo gives invaluable support to growing businesses. Through virtual assistance, Hewson Business Support provides services in:

• Marketing

• Mailchimp Newsletters

• Specialist Legal Secretarial Support

• Event Management

• Proofreading & Editing

• Social Media Set Up & Scheduling

• Secretarial & Transcription

Businesses can benefit from Hewson’s virtual assistance on a pay as you go contract priced at £30 per hour, this enables clients to pre-book support with no ongoing commitment. Clients looking for more long-term service can purchase a retainer package, which can aid with company budgeting. As part of our #WomenInSMEs campaign we chatted to Jo about her experience building Hewson Business Support as a female entrepreneur.

My Business

Jo: I am a Virtual Assistant working with time poor business owners. I help with e-marketing – newsletters, landing pages etc, social media management, PA services, transcription services, WordPress website building and management, and much more!

My aim is to help business owners to be able to concentrate on building their business whilst outsourcing all the things that are on that never ending “to do” list that are still on that list weeks later.

The Journey

Jo: I started my business in April 2018 after a disastrous 2 years running a business with a friend. That business died a death along with my friendship of 29 years! A horrible time! However, I learnt a lot during that time and out of the ashes of that business Hewson Business Support was born.

I didn’t want to go back to a 9-5 job, I wanted to work for myself and although it was scary I just went for it and I’m so glad I did.

Successes & Challenges

Jo: My greatest success has been growing my business from nothing to having a client base of 20 clients in 6 months and that client base is constantly growing. I am earning more money a month now than I’ve EVER earnt in my life in any full-time job I have ever had.

Challenges – It’s hard work. I am constantly chasing work opportunities, some I get, some I don’t. Constantly juggling my lovely clients is hard work sometimes, I need to keep them happy and I need my work to be up to a high standard. I worry constantly about it all going wrong and losing all my clients and if I am good enough to do this, all the kind of worries I think every businessowner has.

Advice to Female Entrepreneurs

Jo: I would say to any female entrepreneurs starting out, just go for it! Do it! You have probably been thinking about doing it for a long time now, take that leap! You will never know if you don’t try and if you leave it and leave it you will never just do it!

Expect it to be hard work, expect the ups and downs. If it was easy everyone would be doing it. The only person stopping you from just going for it is you! Don’t let self-doubt get in your way. You can do it, it just takes hard work, resilience and a desire to succeed. And you will have days where you think I don’t think I’m cut out for this, but we all do and the highs outweigh those little niggles of self doubt!

Comment on the #WomenInSMEs Campaign

Jo: I meet a lot of women who run their own businesses and have collaborated with a few and they are awesome! These are strong independent women who run both a business and a family, which effectively is two businesses. I think women should support each other more and not run each other down! When women work together they do amazing things!

Connect With Hewson Business Support

• Facebook: Hewson Business Support
• Instagram: @hewsonbizsupport