The cost of raw materials, said analysts, rose to its fastest rate on record

Inflation rises again to new 40-year high of 9.1 per cent

Businesses say spiralling costs and people having less money to spend is adding up to an extremely difficult situation.

Cost of living and inflation adds up to a ‘nightmare’ for GM businesses and charities

To cope with the rise in the cost of living, large numbers of families are cutting back on spending, essential and non, while some use up their savings and others take on debt.

More than half cut back on non-essential spending amid rising costs

Nine in 10 (88%) micro businesses say they are finding it harder to make ends meet than this time last year, according to a poll by Facebook group, Not On Amazon, which…

9 in 10 micro business owners finding it “harder to make ends meet” than a year ago


Backed by more than 30 years sewing experience, I have come to accept the title of expert and I embrace this status, knowing that there's always more to learn!


www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-fletcher-28026324

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Natalie Fletcher

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I feel that homeworking is here to stay! For my company, as I currently work from a small workshop within my home, it is essential to employ homeworkers. This is conducive to the business, as it allows much flexibility, providing lean practices within the business as well as allowing for more control of smaller quantities being manufactured. I would say that within the production sewing industry, this is more prevalent in ensuring best practices within the company.&nbsp; The pandemic has done a lot of good for businesses, and has introduced new ways of working, which are here to stay! With the lifestyles of today, it supports many employees' needs and gives the flexibility one needs to support businesses.<blockquote>Mancmade Ltd- Creating a Cottage Industry, Stitch by stitch.</blockquote>

Homeworking- Building a cottage Industry

Is the exam board Pearson going to be supporting these students moving forward? This is absolutely appalling, how has this happened? Was the mental health of these students taken into consideration, especially as they were robbed of taking the GCSE grades they worked so hard towards. The exam board should be made an example of, this should NEVER be allowed to happen. And WHY has this been passed to the students to explain to prospective institutions, surely they have enough anxiety about this current situation, not to be having to explain a cock up that has come from some major institute? How about a heavy fine and an overhaul of the privately owned examination board? This to me, totally sums up the state of the UK systems.<blockquote>Pearson exam board pass on blunder, to expectant students</blockquote>

Pearson pierces hearts

Finally, today 7/7/22 sees another resignation, one that we've been waiting for. After a week of resignees from the government, it's crescendoed from a clown 🤡 show to a now new freakshow.Put on your seatbelts!&nbsp;<blockquote>Boris goes Doris</blockquote>

Clown show over 

Honestly, as a single parent trying to support the family unit, and currently the only income provider (bread winner), bringing in very little income, I ,for the past year have been upskilling myself in various , well needed, different digital systems for my business, with the hope of skilling myself &nbsp;enough to bring in new income streams. Rishi Sunak can never understand what we are going through as a country right now! Does he even care? Coz he has no clue how many are literally close to the curb, thus creating untold damage to an already flailing society!<blockquote>Times are hard , Friends are few!</blockquote>

Rishi 'swell'  Sunak & his excessively flying cashflow!

Inflation costs to rise by 11% in October according to the Bank of England, with the current rate at 9%, I'm pretty sure that this government are squeezing the life out of Small Business. With the cost of living through the roof and as the owner of a micro manufacturer business, based in the UK, and financially the worse hit , over the past two years ( which was a struggle). Already the cost of manufacturing in the UK are way more than offshoring costs, I cannot pass on anymore costs to my customer. For me to try to balance out these costs, I am having to produce a lot more physical products, based around the need and not the want! This is so not conducive to the environment, as it can quite easily end up as surplus stock, then landfill, which 100% goes against my sustainability values. My Clothing alterations business is having to raise prices, due to the extreme fuel costs , and any revenue raised is currently subsidising the Manufacturing business. Working from home, you may think is much more economical, well please don't be fooled. What once was a 'cushion', ( working from home) for smaller independant businesses, has turned into a nightmarish struggle for many.&nbsp;With these rises in fuel and energy costs- I &nbsp;have seen my weekly petrol prices doubled, I have already reduced my travel delivery time, currently I literally feel like my sole consumption is fuel &nbsp;<blockquote>The impact on inflation of the nation is , working to pay for fuel, it goes beyond 'eat or heat' !</blockquote>

INFLATION NATION

Natalie Fletcher, owner of Manchester-based micro manufacturer,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.mancmadeltd.co.uk/">Mancmade</a>: “Money’s Too Tight To Mention was a great song of its day, and is even more relevant in today’s climate. 2021 was a challenge financially but 2022 is taking things to a whole new level in terms of soaring energy, food and fuel costs. I also provide a mobile clothing alterations and delivery service to my customers, and the cost of fuel has wiped me out. I currently don’t have any disposable income, as it all seems to be going on the fuel that is used when delivering to customers,. No way are this Government doing enough about ‘levelling up’ as they need to be. In fact, they have done nothing to stop the income inequalities that are set in stone.”<blockquote>Times are hard!</blockquote>

Money's too tight to mention!

<h2>Natalie Fletcher, owner of mobile clothing and alterations sewing business, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://nattysewandso.business.site">Natty Sew &amp; So</a>, and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.mancmadeltd.co.uk">Mancmade</a>, a small scale, micro-manufacturing business of clothing, accessories and soft furnishings, attended a special International Women’s Day reception at the House of Lords last week, which recognised the strong contribution of women to entrepreneurship.&nbsp;</h2>The event spotlighted over 100 impressive, multi-achieving female business owners being championed by Small Business Britain’s ƒ:Entrepreneur #ialso100 campaign, which showcases the phenomenal contribution to society, economy and communities that many female founders are making across the country.&nbsp; Natalie was named an ƒ:Entrepreneur #ialso100 in January 2022 in recognition of her inspiring entrepreneurial journey, which has involved running a business alongside a roster of other responsibilities. She says:<blockquote>My most important job is being mum to my daughter, Makayla, and alongside that role I have many projects on the go. I’m currently working on launching my recycled denim brand, Jean Genie, and have recently formed It Takes Allsorts, a community-led training initiative, with the focus on creating a local training centre to provide classes in sewing and machining among other skills. I also provide online sewing classes and am currently studying for a Level 3 Education &amp; Training Award."</blockquote>Natalie enjoyed afternoon tea and networking in Westminster, meeting peers from ƒ:Entrepreneur #ialso cohorts from both 2021 and 2022, as well as special guest speaker, Labour MP Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, who paid tribute to the power of female entrepreneurship.&nbsp;Natalie added:<blockquote>“It was great to see and be among some amazing and inspirational likeminded Women. I am so grateful to be a part of this sisterhood, and I’m sure that many of us understand that we rise by lifting others and I am here to do just that.”</blockquote><figure class="image"><img src="https://s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/newspage.com-staging/company/994/files/ac5638763c7682f35de0edb1d2ca7248de551922a501e008b75053b74ec2f08079541752bf53d3005256355c939c6d2c2841ab1dc8261c679359b8818e6d886b.jpeg"></figure>

Greater Manchester entrepreneur celebrates International Women's day at House of Lords

Did Michael Gove watch BBC2 on Tuesday evening I wonder!? Just to remind himself of the manifesto, read out by Bozza, back in 2019. As far as I'm concerned MikeGovey, it is far too late to try &amp; act like levelling up is a KEY policy. If so key, then WHY is only just being addressed? Are you looking to get support, from the very people you have deceived? WE will not be distracted by your sweet talk! And it will take a lot more than 2030 to LEVEL UP, the gap between the haves &amp; have nots, far supercedes 8years<blockquote>This news, we'll be hearing for a long time to come, so let us all, level up our AWARENESS of the lies &amp; broken promises!</blockquote>

"Level up AWARENESS"

Natalie Fletcher from Sale has been named as one of the UK’s most inspirational and dynamic female entrepreneurs by the f:Entrepreneur ‘#ialso100’ campaign.&nbsp; Natalie who founded Mancmade Ltd in 2020 is being profiled alongside 100 female entrepreneurs from across the country, as part of the campaign to celebrate the multi-achievements of women running businesses in the UK today. Now in its fifth year, the growing campaign attracted a record number of applications for this year’s ‘#ialso100’ line-up. Delivered by Small Business Britain – the leading champion of small businesses in the UK - f:Entrepreneur was launched in 2017 to highlight the stories of amazing female business owners and help provide inspiration and role models across the wider small business community. Now in its fifth year, the campaign offers a host of events and training and networking opportunities to boost skills, capability and confidence.&nbsp; The f:Entrepreneur ‘#ialso100’ line-up particularly sets out to showcase trailblazing female founders who lead businesses alongside a roster of other responsibilities, such as volunteering, mentoring and community support. Many of the businesses featured in this year’s campaign also demonstrate a huge commitment to the environment by championing sustainability. &nbsp;<blockquote>With sustainability becoming increasingly important recycling, re-using and repurposing are driving up demand for talented sewers. People want their existing clothing to last longer or to buy pre-loved fashion and get it altered to fit them or tweaked to their style.</blockquote>

Trafford/Greater Manchester/Creative entrepreneur named one of 2022’s most inspiring female founders

Trafford seamstress crowdfunds to bring training and work to local community Natalie Fletcher from Trafford is aiming to take her sewing skills and knowledge to local communities to help revive the craft and open up opportunities for local residents. A dynamic social entrepreneur, Natalie has worked with homeless and job seekers through creative schemes in both sewing and music for several years as well as running a successful clothing business. She now firmly believes that she has more to offer her local communities and is seeking crowdfunding to run mobile outreach courses as well as deliver workshops in a vibrant creative sewing training centre.&nbsp; Natalie said, “With sustainability becoming increasingly important recycling, re-using and repurposing are driving up demand for talented sewers. People want their existing clothing to last longer or to buy pre-loved fashion and get it altered to fit them or tweaked to their style. I want to help local families benefit by training up mums to fill this gap in the market but I need help raising the cash to meet this goal.” For more information or to make a donation go to: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/ittakesallsorts ENDS &nbsp;<blockquote>This is a great opportunity for the City to show off great talents &amp; for economic growth</blockquote>

Local seamstress does it again!

Backed by more than 30 years sewing experience, I have come to accept the title of expert and I embrace this status, knowing that there's always more to learn! www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-fletcher-28026324

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