The InspiresMe Story

The values of collaboration, lifelong learning, sharing knowledge and paying it forward have always been deeply rooted in me. 

It was natural when my husband and I founded our own business in 2004, that those values would also become a big part of the DNA of Hydraulics Online. Since our very first days in business, we have engaged with our local communities and the wider business community for mutual support and benefit. 

Whether it is being interviewed on the radio station of a local primary school, guesting as a “dragon” at Manchester Metropolitan University’s (MMU) Business School, answering questions about entrepreneurship at the local sixth form careers event, representing the Inspire“SME” (small and medium-sized enterprise) community at ministerial roundtables, or networking as a UK Export Champion at the invitation of Downing Street, you’ll find me outwardly living those values of collaboration, lifelong learning, sharing knowledge and paying it forward.

It’s through these many collaborations over the years that I became involved with the Help to Grow post-pandemic recovery programme. Hydraulics Online has offered placements and mentoring to Manchester Met’s undergraduates for years, so it was a natural step for the team at the Business School to ask me to support them in the delivery of this Government-backed training scheme. This 12-week MBA-style management training is being delivered by Business Schools across the UK that are accredited by the Small Business Charter.