Gillian Woolcock's blog

I have been in business now since about the middle of March this year. Business has been slow, even though I have sent out letters, been to meetings, etc. I also became a life member of Raw Business Ltd, an on-line and physical networking organisation that publishes a magazine called "Raw Business Magazine" - obvious, of course.

I had been reading their magazine on line and also some of their on-line articles and found that the spelling in some of the articles was atrocious!

I grabbed my courage in both hands, decided to write them an e-mail, pointing out that spelling in the articles was bad and that they could well do with using my services. I was actually thinking of writing the articles for the various contributors.

After about a week, I heard back from them. Yes, they would be very interested in using my services as a proof-reader and we finally came to an amicable agreement.

Well, not having thought at all about proof-reading, it now looks as if I am going down that route.

Not only have they started to use my services, but I went to a BNI meeting the other day, mentioned what I did, and another firm has said that they would use me as a proof-reader. So it looks as if my business is beginning to go from strength to strength.

I print below the testimonial from Raw Business Ltd.

Testimonial for Gillian Woolcock of Woolcock Typing Services

Gillian proof reads our publication, Raw Business Magazine. She has always been polite, approachable; a pleasure to work with and her standard of work is a credit to her enthusiasm and passion for language.

Proof reading an entire magazine can seem a daunting task but Gillian approaches the task with dedication, drive and with a real wish to provide quality results.

Gillian returns completed proof read articles to us quickly and promptly and we are delighted with the results.

Thank you Gill.

Tom Mapes
Communications Manager,
Raw Business Ltd
www.rawbusiness.com

Woolcock Typing Services was finally launched in the middle of March 2010 after several months of verifying that our services were needed.

We offer the following: letters; invoices; memoranda; long documents; copy typing; legal documents; medical reports, inventory reports, surveyors’/builders’ reports; general reports and a lot more.

My name is Gillian Woolcock and the Director of the Company. I have been a secretary since 1973 when I started work in the Transport Department of Spillers Agriculture Ltd, a subsidiary of Spillers Foods Ltd. Working for the Transport Director and his assistant. I remained with that firm for almost 7 years, when I was made redundant and expecting my first child.

I then worked for a few months at the beginning of Homebase (Sainsbury GB) in Purley Way, Croydon.

I then worked part time for a number of firms, whilst raising my children, as my husband was made redundant a number of times.

I finally gained employment in a law firm in Croydon in 1991 and have been a legal secretary ever since, working in various departments, some of which I have had to hit the ground running, not knowing anything about the subject.

In December 2006 I was made redundant, yet again, and gained long-term temping jobs until July 2008 when I was made redundant from my “permanent temp” job. Apart from a 3 month temping stint over the Christmas period of 2008 I have been unemployed.

I did not wish to become self-employed. I did not like the idea of having to make out invoices, pay my own National Insurance or tax, or even keeping my own accounts – this scared me rigid, but being cajoled, coerced and firmly pushed in that direction by the Job Centre, I finally succumbed and started my own typing services company. To this end I have been on a number of Government funded courses to enable me to become self-employed.

My rates are very reasonable. I can work from home or on site within the London area. My typing speeds are 80-90 wpm with a very high level of accuracy and all documents are proof-read. I have a fast turnaround.

I do provide a service, which other secretarial services are unable to and that is that I can type from dictation or manuscript in Spanish, from manuscript in French and German. I am able to accept scanned documents in .pdf format and will shortly be able to take on dictation on a .wav file format.

I am a member of the Bromley Business Club, South East London Chamber of Commerce and have just become an annual member of RAW Business Ltd and am on LinkedIn.

For further information, please visit my website: www.woolcocktypingservices.co.uk or you can e-mail me on: gill@woolcocktypingservices.co.uk, mobile: 07910 642 536.