Meet The Sponsors: Donal Bannon, Partner of Morecrofts Solicitors

#IAmEnterprising is in full force! The deadline for submitting the first Business Briefs is over, and Business Bootcamp is on its way! So we thought that now would be the perfect time to introduce the sponsors of #IAmEnterprising. The sponsors are a massive part of the competition and help to make up the Prize Package for the winner of this year’s #IAmEnterprising!

Firstly, we are delighted to introduce Morecrofts Solicitors! This is Morecrofts second year as the headline sponsor of #IAmEnterprising and they are generously funding the £1,000 cash sponsorship that makes up the £3,000 Prize Package. This £1,000 cash can be used by the winner of the competition in whichever way they see fit to help them start their business. Whether that’s buying equipment, renting premises, buying marketing materials or throwing a launch party for the business! The £1,000 cash can be used for anything to do with the business idea!

So who are the wonderful Morecrofts? We found out…

‘Morecrofts is one of Liverpool’s oldest most respected businesses. In fact, you might be surprised to learn how old.

Established in 1813, we have been in existence longer than many of our city’s most recognisable landmarks. St George’s Hall, both iconic cathedrals, even the world famous Liver Building, were all built whilst we have been busy practising law on behalf of the city’s people and its businesses.’

Morecrofts Solicitors is one of Liverpool’s oldest Family Law Solicitors and most respected Private and Commercial Law Firms, now offering services nationwide. They pride themselves on legal excellence and exceptional customer service, a formula that has resulted in clients returning to them time and time again.

Donnal with the 2015 winner; Kate Johnson of Gallery Cocoa

So now you know that who Morecrofts are, we’ve got some words of wisdom from Donal Bannon, who is a Partner there. Donal has been instrumental in the #IAmEnterprising competition, participating as a judge at last year’s Championship Event and will be helping the team at this year’s Business Bootcamp.

Here are Donal’s words of wisdom to the #IAmEnterprising competition entrants…

‘I would advise those entering the competition to plan their presentation for the Championship Event carefully, and think about their presentation. It should be clear who their target market is, how their business will be profitable and not face cash flow issues and what, if any, is the potential for growth’

#IAmEnterprising 2015 Winner, Kate Johnson of Gallery Cocoa Starts Her Business As 2016 Competition Commences!

With the return of our #IAmEnterprising competition with City of Liverpool College for the second year running, close on the horizon, what better opportunity was there to catch up with last year’s winner; Kate Johnson! Kate went on a roller coaster journey with us last year and was crowned the first ever winner of the #IAmEnterprising competition, receiving a £3,000 prize package which included £1,000 cash from Morecrofts Solicitors to help her get her business underway. We sat down with Kate to find out what she’s been up to and how she found the #IAmEnterprising competition!

Want to win big like Kate? #IAmEnterprising is for all City of Liverpool College students to enter! If you’ve got the seed of a business idea and want to turn it into a reality, then you’ve got to get involved! You could win a £3,000 prize package, including £1,000 cash from our wonderful headline sponsors, Morecrofts. The journey is starting soon, so if you are a student yourself, or know someone who is, be sure to tell them about #IAmEnterprising. They can find out more using the contact details below!

If there is one woman who can wiggle her way into the Pastry Kitchen of The Savoy Hotel in London whilst there for afternoon tea, it’s the talented Kate Johnson! Kate, the winner of our #IAmEnterprising competition with City of Liverpool College and founder of Gallery Cocoa and maker of fine chocolates and patisserie has such a passion and energy for her craft that we weren’t at all surprised that she wiggled her way into the professional pastry kitchens for a look around!

The Women’s Organisation first met Kate back in February of 2014 when we were part of City of Liverpool College’s Enterprise Club and she was completing her NVQ Level 3 in Patisserie and Confectionary. She then found out about the #IAmEnterprising Competition that we were running with the college, giving students the chance to win a massive £3000 prize bundle to help them start up their own businesses. Following Business Bootcamp, Kate worked closely with Melanie Williams from City of Liverpool College's Enterprise Club. Then followed a nerve-wracking pitch in front of judges, business experts and #IAmEnterprising sponsors, Kate was crowned the winner of the competition, and has been working hard all year on her business, Gallery Cocoa. 

We finally got the chance to sit down and have a chat with her about her journey, the #IAmEnterprising experience and the future of Gallery Cocoa.As well as running her business, Kate also works in museum and gallery education and has done for the past 15 years, at the moment she is splitting her time between this and developing her own business. 

But how did it all start? Where did her passion come from? ‘It started with me just experimenting at home, using cookbooks and TV programmes and I started to do more and more. At that time it was mostly baking, and then I found out about a 6 week course at City of Liverpool College, run by Claire Lara, the winner of MasterChef. I took her 6 week fine dining course, and that’s how my relationship with the college began’. After this she took another 6 week course before signing up to Level 2 ABC Pastry and began thinking about setting up her own business, although she says; ‘The timing was just never right for me to do it at that point.’

Although things began to align when she signed up to complete her Level 3 at City of Liverpool College, a day time session, meaning she dropped one day at her other work and spent one day a week with her tutor; Siobhan Sweet, expanding her knowledge and skills of patisserie and pastry. When Kate saw our signs for the #IAmEnterprising completion, she knew she should just give it a go; ‘The competition just forced me to go and do it. Rather than thinking about it all the time.’ Kate herself admits that she is the type of person who likes to plan and plan rather than dive straight into something. ‘Especially with my own business, I was worried about getting it wrong.’

But she didn’t get it wrong! Kate attended our Business Boot Camp and went away again to develop her business plan further using the templates and guidance from friends and her tutor, Siobhan Sweet who she says; ‘Is an amazing chef and brilliant support.’ Kate then pitched and made chocolates for the judges to try so they could see her work. And what was her reaction when she found out she had won? ‘I was over the moon! It was so reassuring to know that other people thought that my business idea was strong enough and believed I could do it. It was a massive boost! The support from the sponsoring businesses has been brilliant.’

Since the end of the competition, Kate has been working closely with The Women’s Organisation and Senior Business Adviser, Francine Taylor, as well as attending nearly all of Bernie’s Social Media training courses! ‘Francine has been great and the support here has been brilliant.’ As well as this she has been busy developing (and tasting!) her products, sourcing her lovely packaging and starting to think about the brand of Gallery Cocoa. Next year will have even bigger plans in store for Kate as she will soon out-grow the Production Kitchen she’s installed in her own home and will need larger premises to be able to properly store and make her delights! ‘I would also like a retail shop or premises; I think there is a space for that in Liverpool, so that’s something to think about for next year too.’

So is Kate glad that she made the jump and entered the #IAmEnterprising Competition – we think so. She says; ‘The instant support network that it created, of people who are so willing to help, has been brilliant! It’s also made me think about areas that I would not have previously thought about and forced me to actually get on with it and put together my business.’ And getting on, she is! 

We can’t wait to see what the next year holds for Kate and Gallery Cocoa and are delighted that #IAmEnterprising, City of Liverpool College and The Enterprise Club helped to make her plans and ideas into a reality! 

Want to enter #IAmEnterprising?

Email -  iamenterprising@thewo.org.uk

And check out Enterprise Club

And follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram - @IAmEnterprising 

Morecrofts Solicitors Announced as Key Sponsor for #IAmEnterprising College Competition

Moercroft’s Solicitors have announced their plan to support a new Student Enterprise initiative to the tune of £1,000.

City of Liverpool College have linked with local enterprise support agency The Women’s Organisation to showcase the entrepreneurial talent lying within their students and staff through an innovative programme culminating in a business pitch competition.

#IAmEnterprising will offer students support to develop their business ideas over a series of events between now and May 2015, competing against one another to win an overall £3,000 prize package of investment.  The prize will include the £1,000 cash sponsorship from Morecroft’s solicitors and £2,000 worth of business services to help the winner to launch and sustain their business. Also contributing to the prize package by way of services to support business start up are Chic Networking, Downtown in Business and Agent Marketing.

Donal Bannon, Head of Commercial at Moercroft’s Solicitors says “We are delighted to be the main sponsor of this innovative competition and to support young entrepreneurs in the local community as they strive to create a viable and successful business.  Moorcroft’s through its annual Merseyside Independent Business Awards have supported established local businesses and view this competition as an excellent opportunity to encourage and identify future business leaders to realise their potential”

Elaine Bowker, Principal at the City of Liverpool College said: "Entrepreneurship is a key engine of growth for the UK economy and it's vital that we support students who want to be the next business owners and leaders of the future.  Our partnership with The Women's Organisation is all about inspiring students and empowering them to develop their own business ideas create their own business opportunities and take control of their future careers."

Students who have a brilliant business idea are encouraged to find out more about the project via www.iamenterprising.blogspot.com

To keep in touch with the developments of the programme follow #IamEnterprising along with @TheWomensOrg and @COLCollege on twitter or visit