“I strongly believe that in life when things like this happen and we are forced to reroute, it’s because something far better lies ahead, we just need to trust the process – as scary as that can be. Surround yourself with people who support and motivate you. Make a plan, believe in yourself and don’t give up.”

In a couple of months’ time I will be celebrating one year as a self employed Virtual PA.

If someone had told me last February when I had newborn baby that later that year I’d be starting my own business, I wouldn’t have believed them.

Up until my maternity leave I’d been working as an Executive Assistant in the City for almost three years, I loved my job and despite feeling guilty for it, I was quite looking forward to going back. Last June I took the journey into my old workplace, for what I thought was a routine meeting to discuss my options for going back after maternity leave. It was one of the first times I was child free since I had my son, it was sunny, warm and I actually felt a bit excited about returning to work in November (although I had the Mum guilt about that obviously).

Instead of going through my flexible working application, they told me they were restructuring the team. My options were to either take voluntary redundancy or a full-time role with little opportunity to work from home.

The news was a kick in the teeth.

This was a far cry from my part time, flexible working proposal and I knew working full time wasn’t going to work for me.

I left the office that day with St Pauls ahead of me, the warm summer air now feeling hot and suffocating. The happy optimism I had just an hour ago had been replaced by feeling deflated and emotional. Going back to my job was going to be a return to the ‘old me’ and I think that was the hardest thing to let go of. I’d struggled with the transition from ‘pre baby me’ to Mum and in time, it made me realise that work was the final thread of the old me I was desperately clinging onto. I was never going to be the independent City girl knocking back Prosecco after work and dancing on the table before making a frenzied scramble at midnight for the last train.

I called my partner. And then called my old boss. He had recently left the business, I thought a lot of him and still do so I knew he’d have some good advice. He told me lots of people would love to be in my position, taking redundancy whilst on maternity leave.

I just had to calmly think about what I really wanted to do.

Very quickly, I knew what I would do. I had hoped to set up my own business as a Virtual PA around the time my son started school, which was obviously a few years off. Whilst pregnant we’d moved house, and whilst we were only 30 mins from my family, we were also an extra 30 mins from London by train. Both of which would make commuting, childcare and in the future, school pickups incredibly challenging. The time seemed right to do it now, with a redundancy package that would pay the bills for a short time and help with the few set up costs I had, my partner and I decided it would be the best thing for us all.

On 1st September, the day after I officially left my old job I registered as a self-employed Virtual PA. Since deciding I would take redundancy, I had spent as much time as I could researching everything I needed to have in place, from insurance to the legalities, how I’d get clients, market myself and so much more.

I was excited, nervous, scared and on top of that I had a 6 month old baby to look after. I started very slowly. I had some referrals from some old colleagues and I gradually took a couple of clients on. I felt the pressure financially because we’re not in a position where I could have too much time without earning money. I need to contribute to the mortgage and bills, so I knew I had to get some clients quite quickly.

But I knew it wouldn’t happen overnight, I’ve had to hold my nerve a lot.

Around January, my redundancy money was running out. I wasn’t finding any new clients and I thought maybe I’d have to give up. However, within a few weeks, and purely down to hard work and putting myself ‘out there’ things changed dramatically and 6 months later I’m earning over three times the amount I earned in January. My work is getting better and better and I have no regrets about taking redundancy.

At times when I’ve been ready to throw the towel in, I force myself to think about how far I’ve come.

My friends and family tell me what an inspiration I am which makes me so proud, sometimes I don’t think I give myself enough credit for how far I’ve come in such a short space of time, in my first year of being a Mum which I’ve certainly found a struggle at times.

I had a traumatic birth and suffered from post-natal anxiety but amongst all of that I found the will, determination and self-discipline to start my own business

My advice for anyone facing redundancy is don’t be scared, it doesn’t define you.

It could be a fantastic opportunity to do something you have always dreamed of. I strongly believe that in life when things like this happen and we are forced to reroute, it’s because something far better lies ahead, we just need to trust the process – as scary as that can be. Surround yourself with people who support and motivate you. Make a plan, believe in yourself and don’t give up.