I have had a varied career. Starting out in many years ago working as a checkout operator in Asda for 9 hours per week.  As a single parent of a 3 year old I soon realised that the only way I was going to improve our lives was to move up the career ladder.  I enrolled in night school on a supervisory manangement course and asked if I could work alongside the store training manager to learn the ropes, to cut a long story short I was lucky enough to be promoted to Store Training Manager, Regional Training Manager and finally Customer Services Manager.  Following the birth of my son, I had hoped to return but suddenly he became quite ill and over the next few month furher problems arose, after many rows with health care professionals I finally found some one who would listen.  He was evenutally diagnosed with Aspersgers syndrom, (a form of Autisim).  I embarked on child care qualifications as a way to understand and help him play, communicate and develop.  We were asked to leave a local parent and toddler group after yet another confrontation, so I opened my own, after we were asked to leave the local school nursery, I decided to open a playgroup, I was then approached about opening an after school club and holiday playscheme, So I set about wrtiitng a business plan for start up funding, untertook a fast track management course, so I could gain registraion with Ofsted, found premises, employed staff, and opened for business,  When I went on maternity leave I transferred the business to community ownership.  18months later I began working for Gateshead Council as an economic development office, developing out of school clubs and holiday playschemes across the 20% disadvantged wards in Gateshead, providing business start up support; business planning, cash flows, Ofsted registration and and start up support to anyone who wanted to start a childcare business.  I was promoted to Senior Childcare Development Officer and managed a team of 7 development workers.  In the main writing funding bids to the New Opportunity Fund, I then moved on to the Neighbourhood Nursery Initiative and gained funding from ERDF, Dfes and LSC to build 8 new nurseries.  I then moved on to ONE North East as an Appraisal Officer and finally as a Culure and Tourism Specialist Advisor, supporting cultural organistaion gain Agency funding.  I was made redundant in September 2010 when the new Government decided to abolish the RDA. So what next..... thankfully for my and my family's sanity, three weeks later, I started working for the Social Invesment Business , fab organistion check them out; www.thesocialinvestmentbusiness.org  assessing grant applications for the Department of Health, ta short term contract till the 31 March 11, I then pounded the pavements and collected Census forms till early May. Whilst all this was going on I was reasearching and developing my business idea to open my an Alternative, Bespoke, Indiviudual Funeral business!! and I am about to open for business, I was lucky to get a small start up grant from Gateshead Council's Ecomomic Development Team, the very team I onced worked for! I didnt realise how difficult choosing a logo and strap line would prove to be! The Website is about to go live, I must say I have struggled with the content so its 'work in progress' I am learning all the time, and need help with Marketing . So I embark upon another new chapter.... Told you my career was varied!