Richmond hailed as capital of female entrepreneurship

Richmond upon Thames has emerged as a hub for female entrepreneurship with three residents recognised among the UK’s 100 most impressive female founders.

Valentina Rebeschini, Goldie Putrym and Eva Thorne were among around ten other Londoners selected by Small Business Britain as part of their f:Entrepreneur #iAlso100 campaign on 1 March.

Three of the London contingent acknowleged hailing from Richmond has brought the trio closer together as well.

Putrym said: “To know that two of them live within 20 minutes of me is just unbelievable.

“We are now in touch regularly and support each other where we can.”

Small Business Britain is a non-profit organisation run by Michelle Ovens CBE which champions over 5.5 million small businesses in the UK through a series of campaigns, networks, training and reports, and in 2018 it launched f:Entrepreneur #iAlso100.

This campaign celebrates the multi-achievements of women running businesses by profiling 100 inspirational female entrepreneurs from across the country every year, with the aim of increasing female-led businesses from 20% to 30% by 2030.

It offers a host of events, training, and networking opportunities to boost skills, capability, and confidence, and this year it saw a significant growth in entries.

As well as promoting their businesses, it celebrates women who balance work with an array of other responsibilities, such as family, volunteering, mentoring and community support.

Rebeschini, Putrym and Thorne also received a letter from the mayor of Richmond, Richard Pyne, who expressed his heartfelt congratulations for this acknowledgement.

Rebeschini is a Richmond-based photographer who founded Photography by Valentina over 15 years ago.

Her photography business specialises in capturing maternity, newborn, and family moments.

The award marked a profoundly significant moment in her journey, and emphasised the importance of campaigns which bring small business owners together to foster growth and increased confidence, making entrepreneurship as inclusive as possible.

Rebeschini said: “I wish I had had this ten years ago when I was just starting out my business.

“Through time I’ve come to realise just how important networking is, even just feeling supported on an emotional level can make all the difference, especially when starting out.”

When the Italian photographer moved to London in 2007, she began by working for a wedding photography studio, and described her transition to freelancing as a scary and lonely experience.

She said: “When I quit my job I really started to doubt my decision, I had very few connections at the time and it was extremely tough to get clients.

“It made me feel quite lonely at first, it was very limiting because I did not have a network of colleagues I could rely on or a group which I felt a part of.”

Putrym experienced similar feelings of loneliness after launching her business two years ago.

Through Allecza, she is on a mission to end food allergy fatalities and to help families with food allergies and eczema understand how not to let their condition get in the way of living a full life.

Putrym said: “Unlike the corporate world, running a business can lead you to feel quite isolated and lonely.

“But having other mum business owners just round the corner who I can draw on for inspiration, advice, or just share day to day wins or struggles with, is really fantastic.”

The entrepreneur had previously served as both an aeronautical engineer and a journalist, and is currently writing academic books and conducting research for both the Rapid Eczema Trial bathing study and the Food and Allergy prevention study at Southampton university.

Both women drew parallels between owning a business and motherhood.

Rebeschini said: “Having a business could be compared to motherhood, because that too is a rollercoaster of emotions.”

Putrym related to this and explained that her mission to change the world began precisely with motherhood.

She said: “My first child was diagnosed with eczema at ten days old and had her first big allergic reaction at seven and a half months old, and this gave me the excuse to start delving deep into medical research.

“It was petrifying, but in a way it was absolutely life changing because it showed me what I should and want to be doing with my life, it’s given me a real purpose.”

Thorne, also a mother, acknowledged the obstacles which may prevent women from starting their own businesses.

Through The Garden of Eva she brings the preserves and condiments of her American South heritage to the UK, with a significant focus on lowering food waste.

Thorne said: “It is hard to juggle responsibilities, especially if you have children, you’re caring for aging parents, or have other caretaking responsibilities.

“But remember those who are trying are further ahead of those who aren’t.”

Before embarking on the project over four years ago, Thorne worked as a governance advisor in Liberia, led the policy and research team at one of Tony Blair’s organisations in London, and was part of the Institute of Global Change.

She said: “I was a university professor, I have a PhD from MIT, but this is the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

“I think there is a gendered component to this, as women we tend to be harder on ourselves and doubt ourselves more.

“We tend to have to fight some of the negative messages that we get about what our place and role is, and that’s why it’s so important that we build a network of support, to have other women encourage us to keep going, keep pushing.”

The trio had several key points of advice for women who wish to start their own business.

Rebeschini said: “Have the courage to begin.

“I wasted so much time trying to create the perfect website, the perfect brochures.

“Deep down perfectionism is just a mask for one’s fear.”

Thorne added: “If you have a dream, a passion, maybe even it’s just a faint whisper in your heart, go for it, one small step in front of the other, and if you’re scared, so what? Do it scared.”

Putrym said: “The more representation there is of women of all kinds in business, the more it will give them the courage and ‘permission’ to follow their dreams.”

Feature image credit: Claudia Macaluso