Council supports new sewing service

A new business start-up in Beverley town centre, providing a clothing alteration and repair service, has enjoyed an excellent start to trading.

Supported by East Riding of Yorkshire Council's Business Services Team, Christine’s Sewing Service, in Dyer Lane, is also able to undertake alterations and repairs to soft furnishings, laundry and ironing and, as an agent for Johnsons Dry Cleaners, a drop-off and pick-up point for dry cleaning.

Small and medium sized enterprises, like Christine’s Sewing Service, are essential to the lifeblood of the East Riding economy, with more than 12,500 operating in the area, providing jobs and generating wealth.

After working for Johnsons Dry Cleaners in the town, proprietor of Christine’s Sewing Service Christine Taylor was faced with unemployment when the Beverley branch closed earlier this year.

In April, Christine decided to approach the council’s business services team, who helped her develop a business plan and enrolled her on a range of workshops.

Through the council’s Local Enterprise Development and Business Growth Initiative (LED&BGI), Christine also received day-to-day support from enterprise coach Darren Roberts and says his advice and guidance has been essential to her business start up.

Christine said: “I had worked for Johnsons Dry Cleaners for 15 years, 11 of those were at the Beverley Branch. When it closed I was faced with the choice of finding another job or opening my own business.

“I went to the East Riding Business Centre in Beverley and got some information about how to start my own business and also received helpful support from Darren.

“We’ve been open a week and it has already exceeded my expectations, whether it is because of returning customers who haven’t had anywhere to go after Johnsons closed or new customers, I don’t really know, but it is going really well.”

Councillor Jane Evison, cabinet portfolio holder for economy, investment and inequalities at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, visited Christine’s Sewing Service and was impressed by Christine’s ambition and start to trading.

She said: “The council takes its role as a driver of economic growth very seriously and, through its business services team, provides practical support and guidance to help future entrepreneurs develop their business ideas and get them off the ground.

“Christine’s Sewing Service is a fantastic example of a start-up business and she has done remarkably well in developing her business plan and identifying an excellent location for her business.

“It is fantastic that Beverley will continue to benefit from Christine’s expertise in clothing repair and alteration and we wish her every success with her business going forward.”

Christine now hopes to grow her business and potentially take on an apprentice in the future.

“I’d like to take on an apprentice in the future so that I can pass on my skills because there just aren’t enough people doing sewing and tailoring anymore.”

Christine’s Sewing Service is open from 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday, and 9am-3pm on Saturdays, with a shop in a prime location in Dyer Lane.

For further information, contact Christine on 01482 860854 or email christinessewingservice@yahoo.co.uk.

For further information about the range of business services offered by the council, visit www.eastriding.gov.uk/business or contact your local business centre.