DOC Electrics

Through hard work, talent and enterprise, Janet Green and her husband Derek had established a successful family business.

But following the credit crunch, DOC Electricals began to struggle like countless other companies, and the couple were forced to think how they could make business boom again.

Then Janet found out about the Network and Grow scheme run by Wigan Council – and the company has gone from strength to strength.

Janet said: “We were looking for opportunities to expand and diversify. Small businesses tend to get quite insular - you can sit in front of the computer and work away, but that doesn’t generate the results.

“My first session at Network and Grow blew me away. I learned all sorts of things I’d never even thought of, and I realised the scheme had a lot to offer. “

Through Network and Grow, Janet realised that there was a world of opportunity available in meeting up with other local businesspeople.

She said: “It has been an absolute eye-opener for me. The whole networking arena is full of vibrant people looking to talk about what you’re doing, swap stories and support other people who have been through it. It’s a fantastic resource for us, and we’ve already got an awful lot out of the events".

“People say that they are too busy to network. But it doesn’t matter how hard you work, you have to go out and sell yourself.”

Through networking, the couple found out about a national competition which has inspired them to focus on their ambition to establish a niche in the green energy sector. Now they have a business plan in place and a direction for the future.

Janet said:  “It all happened off the back of having the confidence to do it. I really don’t think I would’ve done this without having gone to the seminars.

We’re now going ahead with what we believe is the way forward for us to grow and give us a unique selling point, and we wouldn’t have got to this stage without Network and Grow.”