Join & Connect

New research has found mumpreneurs are a rapidly growing economic force to be reckoned with, having generated £7.2bn for the nation’s economy through their enterprising small businesses last year. Move over Alan Sugar.

The report from think tank Development Economics found that businesses founded by mumpreneurs (mothers with children under the age of 18) were growing at an unprecedented rate and supported 204,000 jobs. By 2025, the report predicts that these businesses will increase, generating a further £9.5bn for the UK and creating 217,600 jobs. The report adds that the most popular industries for savvy mothers ranges from health services, tech start­ups to online retail and management consultancy.

Three cheers for enterprising mums everywhere!

At Hub Dot we are proud that mumpreneurs can share their stories and connect, so here three inspiring women share with us how motherhood sparked their business idea and changed their careers for the better...

‘Moving to London as a successful designer and architect in 2009 with my two kids in tow, I struggled to find a way to sign my children up to meaningful and fun after-school activities. I unlocked a deep desire ignited by motherhood to start working on Mykidsy, a one­stop shop to book all after­school, holiday and weekend activities. It was my mission to become the global marketplace for busy parents. We now even fill the gap in education by offering our own classes on coding, entrepreneurship and mindfulness. My career change was quite drastic and some friends thought I was crazy putting aside such a successful first career, but this has created the harmony I was looking for to balance my talents with motherhood. Who says either should be compromised?’ – Yasmin Mahmoudieh

‘After a period out of the workplace following the birth of my second child, I started to become very aware of the impact not utilising my skills was having on me and the barriers in returning to work. I felt a sense of apathy setting in, a disconnection. I very much felt drawn back to the working world, but my daughter was only six­ months ­old and I only had one hour or so a day to re­connect. But I felt that within that hour I could do so much. It was around this time that my son started at school and I became very aware of the talent drifting from the school gates. I would often ask the other mums, ‘what did you do before having children?’ and people almost looked shocked ­ one mother said to me no one had asked her this in 10 years. So this sense of personal frustration and need to find another way lead me to create Beyondtheschoolrun.com – the place to engage, inspire and connect parents with the wider working world in the hours available to them. Since launching I have been invited to Downing Street twice and recently won ‘Britain’s Top Real Role Model’.’ – Louise Webster

‘I have always been creative with a career in fashion, marketing, and sales for 20 years, this was before kids. Six years ago my life was rocked when I was faced an advanced life threatening cancer. Looking at my two­year­old across the room, I had to reach deep down and gather my strength to get through it. Art became a therapeutic release for me, and fun for her. It helped us get through those early days during my treatment. Suddenly emotions were coming to me with every little piece of art my child was producing. Taking a step back and watching her gave me inspiration and made me realise these treasures need to be preserved. Mykidsartbook.com was born. I created a business that enables me to be my kid’s mum, work when I want, and provide a bespoke keepsake for other families all over the globe.’ - Ann Becchetti