Work It Like A Mum
Work It Like A Mum
BONUS EPISODE: Start 2026 Running Your Own Scalable Business
In this special bonus episode of The Work It Like a Mum Podcast, we're joined by the incredible Rebecca Newnham — straight from her car! We discuss entrepreneurship, flexible working, and how to begin 2026 with a scalable business plan.
Rebecca shares her insights on the franchise model, building regional service-based businesses, and how women can create multiple streams of income without sacrificing flexibility or freedom.
What We Cover:
- Why more women should consider entrepreneurship and flexible business models.
- How to scale a business beyond yourself without losing control.
- The benefits of the franchise model for flexibility, support, and rapid growth.
- Freelancers and the future of work: why flexibility matters now more than ever.
- Tips for networking, client acquisition, and building impact locally.
- How to set intentions for 2026 and plan for a thriving business year ahead.
Key Takeaways:
- Flexibility isn’t just a perk; it’s essential for productivity and well-being.
- Scaling a business takes planning and investment, but it allows your business to grow beyond just you.
- A franchise model can provide support, structure, and freedom while giving others the tools to succeed.
- Networking can occur anywhere, from supermarkets and playgrounds to online platforms, and can lead to genuine opportunities.
- Combining corporate experience, freelancing, and entrepreneurship can create a fulfilling and varied career path.
Why Listen:
Whether you’re a mum thinking about starting your own business, a freelancer curious about franchising opportunities, or simply interested in flexible ways to grow your career, this episode is packed with actionable insights, encouragement, and real-life examples of building a business that works for your life.
Show Links:
Connect with our host Elizabeth Willetts here
Connect with Rebecca on LinkedIn here
Visit the Get Ahead website here
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And here's your invite to our supportive and empowering Facebook Group, Work It Like a Mum - a supportive and safe networking community for professional working mothers. Our community is full of like-minded female professionals willing to offer support, advice or a friendly ear. See you there!
Hello and welcome to today's Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn Live. I am chatting today with the gorgeous Rebecca Newenham, who is I made a bad um for the wrong time in Rebecca's diary, but she is graciously joining us from her car today. So thank you so much, Rebecca, for joining us as we talk about how to start 2026 running a scalable business. Which is exciting. Because I know you love talking about entrepreneurship.
SPEAKER_01:I love talking about entrepreneurship, Liz. Um, and I also love that setting intentions for the new year. I'm a huge believer in that. So yeah, always like talking about this kind of topic. And I think we're racing, like you said earlier, we're racing to Christmas, aren't we? But it doesn't mean that you can't start having a little plan in your head as to what 2026 might look like.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, absolutely. Why should you think should more women consider entrepreneurship?
SPEAKER_01:I think I yeah, it's interesting, isn't it? Because the women I generally speak to have generally had an experience of a relative or a friend that's running their own business, which gives them um a sense of what it might be like. But I think sometimes it can be, oh, I could never do that. It's that sort of closed mindset. So I think for women, we're naturally able to juggle things we want and crave that flexibility. And I'm also seeing a real shift now. And I was speaking to somebody yesterday about, you know, our our our pie of what we do. So your career doesn't have to fill the whole thing, it doesn't have to be traditional in quite the same way. And and you, Liz, are a prime example of that with the utility warehouse that you've been doing this year. That actually there are lots of different income streams, so entrepreneurship gives us that flexibility to do a wide range of different things that each give us energy and joy in different ways.
SPEAKER_00:I think what's interesting is obviously running a scalable business because I we you know we sort of work are in that circle now where there's a lot of women that we know that run their own businesses, but they're not scaling it or they haven't scaled it. And I think they've stayed as solar print solarpreneurs, and a lot of people want to do that, and you know, hats off to them. What do you think? You know, how can you scale a business? What are the different ways I guess you can scale a business?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah. Um, and I guess it's interesting that, isn't it? So I've met over the 15 years of running my own business, I've met a wide variety of different people doing different things, and there aren't that many that have taken the so-called plunge to scale. While I knew from the very beginning that I didn't want to be doing all the work myself, I didn't want the business to be just about me. I wanted to give opportunity to other people, but I wanted to scale and grow it because it's like for me, it was like, well, what's the point of just doing it on my own? I want to be able to make it bigger than me. And I think sometimes it's confidence thing people and think, well, how can I possibly grow this bigger than me? But and you know, and it it's like everythingless, isn't it? It comes at a price scaling because it's not cheap and you have to invest in things, but what you do get is that energy in what your your business, your baby developing and growing without you, and I love that, and I love the fact that I've been able to see you so you broke up a bit there.
SPEAKER_00:So you've obviously been quite intentional about scaling your business, um, and that's how obvious that you've scaled you know, you've scaled get ahead. Talk us through, I guess you've scaled it. How have you scaled get ahead if people don't know?
SPEAKER_01:Um so I've scaled get ahead through a yeah, franchise model. Grew it. I live in Guildford in Surrey. I did a lot of networking, built a vibrant business while I was doing that, and then recognised actually if I want to scale it, I need to have us represented elsewhere. So for me, franchising enabled us to do that because it's got all the legalities in it and it's enabled us to replicate and give that toolkit and also keep an element of control. And I think that's the the vital thing for scaling. But I was also quite um hesitant about franchising. I think we've all experienced different franchise stories where you've got the greedy franchise or that says, I want the cash, come on, come join my business, and then you never hear from them again. And that ML that MLM scenario, when actually I realised by doing the proper training, that you can have a franchise that is locked down for many elements, but it also gives an individual the freedom to run their own business in their own way, and that's ultimately what I've done. So if I look at Fiona in Leeds, who's been with me now the longest, so she's been eight years in January, you know, she's built a thriving business that we had no experience of offering the services we do in Leeds eight years ago. No one had heard of us. So that wonderful feeling for me to see that I've given her a toolkiss, I've enabled her to make impact locally by giving her the things that I've learnt over the years, and I think that's the big thing for franchising. You can take something, you've got the templates, but you can add your own flavour and personality to it. So that's where it really adds value. Because if Fiona wanted to do what we were doing, but starting from scratch, she would have had to invest so much energy, time in providing something. But while with me, she was able to go literally from day one and go, I'm here, I'm ready to work, and yeah, and that was because I've given her that that tool, I've given her the people to enable her to support her clients. So it's really interesting, and it's never been and it's never been a lonely environment for Fiona because she's always had connection with me, connection with the team really from the very beginning. And I think you would say, wouldn't you, that running your own business from the start can be quite lonely and isolating. It's like, who am I going to share things with? Who am I going to ask questions so I don't get made to feel silly or make mistakes? And that's what we get within that franchising environment is from day one, you've got cheerleaders behind you that are very much there for your success.
SPEAKER_00:And you've got all the systems, haven't you? You literally have got it's like an instruction manual.
SPEAKER_01:Exactly. So we've got the operations manual, and that details everything, and then we're continually adding to that. So, you know, good old AI as an example, you know, how what's our AI policy? You know, we're really working hard on that at the moment. We've just developed a hugely um succinct um HR offering. So one of my franchisees is an ex HR manager. We've now got this wonderful singing or dancing HR service that Fiona can go and sell out to her client base, knowing that the team members are going to be offering that. So it's not reliant on you and your your own single skill set. And I think that often happens, doesn't it, when you start a business, it's based on you, your personality, and you on your own. Well, with a franchise, you're pulling in all the different expertise that you need, as and when you need it, then.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, particularly with yours, because obviously you've got a pool, haven't you, of like freelancers that deliver the work. So your franchisers don't deliver the work. Well, because they do deliver it. You know, the freelancers do it on behalf of them, I guess. So it's not because it gets to a point where you've only yeah, you've only got 24 hours in a day, and nobody wants to work 24 hours.
SPEAKER_01:No, and and and and when you're running your own business, you want you're doing it because ultimately because you yeah, you you want that flexibility, and to get the flexibility and to be able to go and have a coffee with a friend, have a day off, do something else. You know that you've got people coming in to actually do that delivery while you're on while you're doing other things, and I think that's a big thing about the way we operate, and it's interesting, isn't it? Because my franchisees are reliant on me coming up with new, fresh ideas, but I'm also love it when they come up with some ideas, and we can then make that scale it really quickly. And my graphic designers can make things happen that they're not having to pay for ultimately themselves, so it's interesting, it's knowing you've got that support network.
SPEAKER_00:So, why did you do the franchise model as opposed to like employing people, you know, like in regional?
SPEAKER_01:I think yeah, that it scared me the employment model. I think I because I'd always work with freelancers, it's like, well, this is ridiculous. I'm talking about how we can be flexible. Why can't I replicate that in my own business? And I chose not to employ people's uh A because of the cost, but I love the flexibility that we can pull people in and the franchise model. I like that flexibility for somebody as well, that they could take real ownership rather than me bringing down their neck as an employee, maybe.
SPEAKER_00:Do you think freelancers are like the future of work? Do you think more and more people are going to become freelancers?
SPEAKER_01:Absolutely. If I look at my it's interesting, isn't it? So I look at my daughter's generation, so their early 20s, and what their expectations are from work. And I'll be interested to see if if any of them or their friends have that sense of no, I want to do something on my own. I think everyone wants an element of their early career to be in a corporate environment to perhaps then know what they don't want, which is interesting. But I think there's there's definitely much more of a multi um sort of work life now. Like I said, like that pie of I'm doing an element of this bit of freelance, I'm doing a little bit of employed work. I think it'll be much more blended, and that expectation people do people know that they they deserve to have some holiday, they deserve to be able to work as and when they want to. So that freedom of when you do work delivery, I think, is shifting.
SPEAKER_00:Do you think it's hard to switch off, though, being a free self-employed, more harder to switch off than employed?
SPEAKER_01:Um, yes, I think because I think and I think you would agree with me, it's like your baby doesn't go away, but your free. You care about it more, don't you? You care about it and you think about it, especially even on holiday, and that's when often my best ideas have come and I'm relaxing on holiday, and I think, oh, I think I'd like to do that. So I'm often capturing things like that. But but the ideas and and your head being filled with it is a is a positive because you're going to make impact and be able to make decisions and not have to ask for people's permission. I think I would find that very hard now being in a different role where I had to have a boss.
SPEAKER_00:Lots of women worry that then there's a obviously imposter syndrome is huge, and lots of you know women worry that they're not experienced enough to run a business. What backgrounds do your most successful franchise partners come from?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, so I I I think there's only one that's run her own business. Everyone else has come to me from a corporate background, which is interesting. So that in itself shows that the toolkit and the support they get enables them to set something up for themselves in the first instance. We have um a quiz that often people will answer before they get any information from us. And one of those questions is around have you had experience of managing a team? And I think that's a big thing for me. I need somebody that can do that project management piece because obviously they're putting a lot of trust in a freelancer in one of our virtual experts to do the client delivery, and at the very beginning, that they're they're project managing, working out what this what support our client needs, and then finding that match. So that sort of recruitment element is quite important. But you're right, being a your own boss, it's a different, it's a different mindset, isn't it, to if you're employed? But I so I rarely see people have being self-employed and then going back into a corporate life because I think that's quite a tricky transition.
SPEAKER_00:What do you think the biggest misconception people have about franchising and how does GetAhead challenge that?
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, I think like I said earlier, I think it's the the that they buy into something that A, they never have it, they don't have much much support from afterwards, so they sort of have that fear that they're going to say, Well, I'm giving this money and what am I getting in return? So I think it's have that clap with us, it's the clarity of support. And actually, you know, we offer a 90-day coaching programme, so someone starts with us, and then they get a bespoke plan mapped out to their skill set, and also you know, really going deep into what are they wanting to achieve financially, what are they wanting to achieve in their their life, how does get ahead fit with that? So we're very strong on that support. We've also got that immediate access to over you know 80 virtual experts to do the client delivery. So that's it, but I think it's often people are scared that they're giving cash away and what are they getting in return? When actually, like we've already covered, the cost of setting something up for yourself is more than eight grand's worth of input, isn't it? In terms of website, SEO, social media, all those things. If you were to total it up, it far exceeds that entry level.
SPEAKER_00:And also you're creating a longer runway to make money if you sell something from scratch. Whereas if you buy something that's already proven and you're just basically plugging it in and all the systems, you can probably make money within a couple of weeks.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, no, no. And actually, a couple of my latest franchisees went networking, found a client on the first meeting. So it's it's interesting, and actually for us, networking plays a huge part. And I remember before I set Get Head up, the idea of networking made me feel sick, you know, having to go out and talk to other people about things. But actually, and you know, you've seen that in action across our network. Networking is you are the networking queen.
SPEAKER_00:I am the networking queen.
SPEAKER_01:You've grown your business through networking. Yeah, I absolutely love it. And I think it's networking in not necessarily the traditional sense of going to a networking meeting. You could be networking in the queue at the supermarket, can't you? It's something when you're running your own business, suddenly your whole world opens up and you see that just genuine conversations can lead to all sorts of things. And actually, my first um two clients came from mums I've met in the playground at school who I just told what I was doing, and then they were like, Oh, I know someone that needs your help. So it's amazing how that that ripple effect happens.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah. As we look ahead into 2026, where do you see the biggest opportunities for people real building regional service-based businesses like yours?
SPEAKER_01:Like Get Ahead. Well, as in different locations.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, why I honestly think yours is a good like model at the moment, and I'd be interested to hear why you think it's a really good model.
SPEAKER_01:Um, yeah, I think I think yeah, I think it's the like I said, it's the flexibility it gives, but also it's the relevance. You know, but businesses are very aware of what their budgets are, what they need to be spending. So the thought of spending it where they've got an element of control and they can dip in and out seems to be really a f a fab way of doing it. And I'm noticing I think 25% of our client base use more than one of our team in the last six months. So that shows immediately that the client just has an efficient one conversation with one of my franchisees, and then that team that they need is built for them rather than hundreds of different questions, different conversations. And we all know how long it takes to interview people, it can be quite a full-on thing, can't it? So, knowing, I think it's easy. We we make it very easy for a business owner just to crack on and concentrate on what they need to do while they're growing their business with the right expertise in the right place, and then in terms of regional areas, I had a lovely conversation with somebody via investing women yesterday from Northampton, and that that sort of those different pockets are really interesting, aren't they? In terms of talking to her about, you know, you you can make impact to your your own regional business community. And if you've been in a corporate world where you're you're supporting people you'd never see again, there's that whole thing about the local impact that we're giving people, which is really lovely. And I think there's much more everyone's wanting to sort of be more involved locally, aren't they? Rather than that sort of feeling, and then they haven't got a connection with wherever they're working or who you know the end result. So that's interesting.
SPEAKER_00:And I think as well as someone I you know, I was working more of a traditional recruitment model, and it's been brutal this year, it's been really hard. There's been a lot of obviously economic and political changes. Um, and I know a lot of people on LinkedIn that we see so many open-to-work banners, and I do think that that the budget last year has had a real knock-on effect on the recruitment market that we're still feeling, and it has made employers much more risk adverse about taking on permanent staff. So, therefore, I think yours, where you offer staff but on a freelance a flexible basis, an employer doesn't have to take that risk.
SPEAKER_01:No, exactly. And it's uh tried and tested, you know, we're pulling together people that know how to work on their own remotely, and that's a big thing, isn't it? Which is why we don't take um virtual experts that haven't been working um on a remote basis for a minimum of two years. We don't want them learning on the job, and I think that's a big thing. So it's about knowing for a client that the people they're using are just can can lead and develop and and come up with ideas as well, because that's what they're there for. You know, they they want to add, make a difference, and they're not like we've always said, and then they're not paying for lunch breaks and all those added extras, you're simply paying for the work that your team virtual experts are doing for you, which is really refreshing.
SPEAKER_00:It is, and you got, I mean, obviously, yeah, you're someone tend they tend, I think freelancers always are actually really productive because they are being paid, you know, for maybe an hour or a project or whatever.
SPEAKER_01:And and they love the variety, Liz, as well. They love the fact that they could be working for one client for an hour and then something completely different. They're used to that switching, but when they show up for the client, they're there for them solely. So I think that's a huge skill in itself. But it means that everyone's happy then because the virtual experts are getting really interesting work that they're really expert experts in. So then, yeah, it's it's interesting.
SPEAKER_00:I know that obviously we're talking predominantly about franchisors, but if someone's watching this and they are maybe like a freelance graphic designer or a VA or an accountant, can they get in touch with you as well?
SPEAKER_01:Oh, yeah, no, absolutely. We're doing a big um resourcing review at the moment, looking at who we've got, where where we've got gaps. So totally open for anyone.
SPEAKER_00:What gaps have you got on the freelance side?
SPEAKER_01:Um, that's what we're working on at the moment, but in terms of core roles, it's virtual PA, yeah, social media managers, um, web developers, designers, yeah, anything. And and we've got a huge service offering on the website. So I'd say take a little look at the.
SPEAKER_00:Are you interested in um like AI implementation?
SPEAKER_01:Yes, and I think that I think that's something, as I said, we're just really look honing in on our strategy at the moment, but it's a continually evolving beast, isn't it? So yeah, always open to any connections there.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, link you in with after this. But if someone's watching this and they are thinking, you know what, I would like to give this a go. I think it's a really good business model. I genuinely think it's a brilliant business model. Um, and I think you know, I could really add value. Uh and you know, maybe they're a bit nervous. What would you say to them about taking the next step?
SPEAKER_01:Yes, so I would say, um, yeah, go on the website, have a little look at some of the team on there, and just jump on a call with me in um January and just sort of get an understanding of what it's like. Got some really nice case studies um and have a little look at some of the team on LinkedIn. You know, we all love LinkedIn, and we've got a strong get ahead page on there as well. But it's just about really being honest with yourself, isn't it? Saying, what do I want 2026 to look like? What do I you know, if I'm sitting here in a year's time, what would I like my work life to look like? You know, how how varied is it? And I think that feeling of actually owning something yourself where you're standing up in front of people and saying, you know, this is me, but knowing. That you're not being vulnerable because you've got all that support behind you is really impactful.
SPEAKER_00:Absolutely. And I couldn't think of a nicer, better mentor to work with as well. So that is a bonus as well. Yeah. I think what's the great thing about a franchise is that you get to own and run a business, but with like full support. And I think that's just good.
SPEAKER_01:It's not lonely, but but the flip side is you haven't got someone breathing down your neck saying, What are you doing today? You know, you've got that freedom to manage it, but with those supporters behind saying, Well, this has worked really well for me. You know, we have a quarterly call where we all jump on there and we have a sort of structure to that, but it's that opportunity to share best practice, which is really key, I think.
SPEAKER_00:Absolutely. Oh, well, thank you so much, Rebecca, for joining me from your car. I really appreciate it. Thanks so much for watching. I really appreciate everyone that's watched, and we'll also pop it on the podcast as well. So thank you so much to everybody that's listened. Thank you. All right, bye bye.