JULIE BISHOP RUNS an inspirational domestic and office cleaning service targeting green consumers in the Norfolk area. 'Living Clean* uses only environmentally friendly products. The drive to start her business stemmed from the ill health of her family. Her father attributed his cancer to environmental factors and Julie's young son was hospitalised with severe asthma triggered by air pollution. Anxieties about leaving her son during the day, as well as a lack of business confidence, hindered development of the business until Julie heard about WEETU. "They helped me realise I could be a good mum and a good business woman - before I thought you couldn't be both" she said. Through WEETU Julie took out a loan for her first van (she's got a fleet of 3 now and 6 employees). To access the loan fund she had to join a 'lending circle' which is a mutual support group of up to 5 other women starting businesses. Julie had moved to Norfolk 2 years earlier and her Circle has become both an invaluable business support group (with a great deal of referrals and inter-trading) and the source of her first real friends in the area.
    During the WEETU training, Julie drafted a business plan, identified product suppliers over the internet and prepared marketing flyers targeting an affluent Norwich suburb. The phone hasn't stopped ringing since. Her customers approve the green approach and value realistic estimates and reliable work.
    The customer base continues to grow as do her plans - franchising of both the cleaning and the product sales arms of the business are ultimate goals. An essential part of Julie's kit is the non polluting agent employed to clean seagull droppings from offshore oil rigs - robust stuff given that many consumers still consider green detergents to be ineffectual. Keen to extend the market of green cleaning products available in the UK (she had to order her initial stock from the USA) Julie is currently working with an industrial chemist to develop her own range based on olive, jojoba and citrus oils.

Contacts:
Julie Bishop, Living Clean: 01603 492820
WEETU: Caroline Forbes 01603 665555 c.forbes@weetu.org || www.weetu.org