A WOMAN who worked teaching students to launch their own businesses has set up a housekeeping company.

Sarah Legge, 35, from Choppington has joined the Entrepreneur’s Forum’s If we can, you can Challenge which aims to help grow and launch small businesses in the North East.

Legge’s firm Maid to Butler provides affordable house-keeping, butler and nanny services all under one brand. She believes she can get help from others in the campaign’s online community as well as sharing her expertise.

“Before setting up the company I thoroughly researched the concept and it soon became clear nobody was offering a similar service,” she said.

“I have big plans for Maid to Butler and I am in the process of recruiting staff so I have the infrastructure ready to meet demand when I launch later this month.

“It has been a tough learning curve so far as there is a lot for me to learn such as financing, branding and marketing, and all of the legalities around employing staff. There are many elements behind the scenes that have to be in place before the launch.”

For the last four years Legge worked for Go Wansbeck, supporting in the development of students’ enterprising skills, qualities and attributes. A big part of that role is to encourage young people to set up their own business, and consider it a viable option after leaving education.

She said: “I had worked for the council since I left university in 2001 enjoying the culture and security but the consultancy work I have been doing for the last couple of years made me realise starting a business is not as difficult as I’d previously thought.”

As a working mum with two young sons, she is keen to achieve a good work-life balance

“While I understand the risks involved with setting up a business, I have created a great opportunity to be with my children. I have a lot of work to do to get the Maid to Butler ready but I am excited about being able to take control and be my own boss.”