Viv Poole explains why she started Silver Startups:

I moved to the UK from Canada in 1982. I married, had two children, divorced and spent over 13 years setting up and running training companies in the education sector. I also completed an MBA (1993), which enabled me to start a business consultancy in 2001. I remarried in 2013 and because of my (late) husband’s job, we unexpectedly had to relocate. There were so many things going on in my life, and as I had moved quite far from my customer base I decided to (semi?) retire a few year later. Freedom! No last-minute tenders to write! No working through the night!

I nursed our old dog, cleaned and polished everything in the house, threw a big Christmas party and spent hours relearning the piano. I started doing volunteer and community work and learnt new recipes. I finally had the time to make new friends! I had a full and happy life, and yet I found myself sinking into sadness. Friends told me this was a type of grief – that people go through a period of mourning when they retire. To fight this feeling, I half heartedly looked for a job, without success, but knew I had to do something to feel like myself again.

My first startup! Note: £500,000 in 1992 = about £1 million now. Click here to expand.

Light Bulb Moment!

What about starting something new? If I could work from home and still have the time for my loved ones, this might solve my problem. But what could I do as a sixty-something silver?

It took a while, but I finally decided. Why not use the skills and experience I had gained over my career? I didn’t want to return to full-time consultancy but have always enjoyed business coaching and have been a volunteer business mentor for several years. Further, I have always loved writing business reports and marketing copy. Could I be a blogger and target older people who want to start a new business?

I don’t really need to earn money but as a pensioner I don’t have money to waste. To keep costs down I would learn how to set up and design my own website and then learn how to attract visitors to it. And, of course, as well as creating content for the site, I would need to write blog posts that would interest my target market and offer them something they couldn’t find anywhere else. And to do this, I needed to be actively involved with people starting up businesses, so as well as mentoring young people, I started coaching people over 50.

The business topics covered by the site have been written about many times across the internet, and there are many excellent and relevant articles out there I have referred to via page links. The idea is not to reinvent the wheel, just refocus it towards older people like me. You will have had years of experience of life and work, developed more self-confidence and core business skills such as communication, financial management, marketing, problem-solving and many more. You may not want to take as much financial risk at this stage of your life and are perhaps not as tech-savvy as younger generations.

The content is primarily aimed at people living in the UK, and the legislation mainly refers to England and Wales. The blog posts aim to share my experiences of trying to grow this site as well as topics of interest and relevance to to my readers.

Silver Startups believes that most people feel much younger than their age and we are all too young to let our lifetime of skills, experiences and qualifications go to waste. We welcome you to the site, where you will find information and perhaps inspiration to help you realise your entrepreneurial potential.

CREDENTIALS

Years of experience starting up and/or working with startups and all types of small businesses; an MBA (Warwick University); a range of training courses in coaching and mentoring and an undying love for the adventures of business. My LinkedIn profile can be found here.

TESTIMONIALS

Successful Startup, UK

If you are considering Viv as a business coach my advice is do it. Meeting Viv and having her expert advice and vast knowledge and experience has been transformational for our little Community Interest Company.

When I decided at age 50 to start a new venture and use my passion of dance to help people, I had no idea how many new challenges I would have to face, the skills I would have to learn and adapt to, and sheer volume of work I would have to do. Viv has been with me every step of the way.

Viv far exceeds her role as a coach. She goes above and beyond what is expected. Yes she helps and advises you, but she will also literally hold your hand on those difficult tasks you struggle with. Being a business owner can be lonely and you can feel isolated. Viv has always been on the other end of the phone when I need to talk things through. To offer expert advice and guidance when needed. She is the first person I call when I’m stuck and don’t know what to do and she is also the one I call when I have good news, as she gets as excited as me! I’ve never felt alone since working with Viv. She has helped in all my business planning, financial forecasts, grant applications, marketing strategies and growth plans, but also been that friend who understands!

Viv is very professional in all she does. She has a wonderful way of unpicking problems to help you get to the solution. She questions and digs to make you look at the finer details until the solution or path is worked out. Viv is so easy to work with. I’ve never met a coach like her and I have learnt so much from her. My business last year doubled its turnover and we are in a growth phase. I can honestly say that I credit a lot of my success so far from the wonderful coaching I have received from Viv. I could never thank her enough! Tracey Barnes, Managing Director, Dancing for Health CIC

Senior Entrepreneurs, New Zealand

“I have had the pleasure of working alongside Viv for the last 2 years on initiatives aimed at supporting later-on-life innovators. In particular, Viv has acted as co-author of a workbook that accompanies ‘Starting a Business Later-in-Life’ Workshops and then as both a coach and presenter in the two courses we have delivered during 2022.

This programme is based on research findings that highlighted the unique starting position of ‘seniors’ (those over 50) who are seeking to start a business for the first time. Viv has made an outstanding contribution to the success of this new programme – her experience, knowledge, skill and attention to detail have enriched the course materials and have been greatly appreciated by the later-in-life innovators we have worked with. It is my sincere hope that we shall continue as colleagues in the further development and delivery of programmes to support this emerging and growing “senior entrepreneurship“ challenge. I also love reading her blogs!” Dr Chris Kirk, Founder Later-in-Life Innovators, Christchurch. Retired Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Lincoln University.

Aspiring Silver Startup, UK

“I met Viv Poole of Silver Startups on the Restless online forum. I had commented about redundancy at age 59 after 27 successful years in my industry, being ignored by the job market and my growing suspicions concerning ageism. Viv responded to this with offers to chat and, consequently, to help start my own business after hearing my plans. We held regular Zoom sessions, and I soon benefitted from her vast experience. She made me focus and steered me through the process, reviewing my progress, suggesting improvements, cajoling and encouraging me. I am naturally pessimistic, but Viv would have none of it. She made sure we ended each meeting on an upbeat note. Viv has immense positivity and optimism. It is fair to say that without her enthusiasm, things would be very different. For financial reasons, I recently returned to employment. Still, my business is waiting, as is an open invitation from Viv to get in touch when I can move things along again. Thanks, Viv, for all your patience and advice and for making a difficult situation so much easier to deal with.” Martin Williams, Principal Metocean Consultant and Director at Seascape Communications Ltd.

What My Coachees Have Said About the Importance of Having a Startup Business Coach

...helps me develop and clarify my ideas

…helps clarify my ideas, helps me focus, helps with figures and financials, builds my confidence

…helps you to apply your learning to your real life situation and to focus on what you need to do to meet your objectives

…it’s good to have another person observing what we are doing, motivating us and helping us stay focussed

…you helped me clarify how I want to move forward

Startup Consultancy Work

“Viv worked with me on two startups, including the subsidiary company Eco Foundations and then Deep Soil Mixing, started by myself and Colin Critchlow in 2012. From desk research, interviews with target customers, marketing and strategic planning through to operational marketing including website development, copywriting, making presentations and event management, her work was instrumental in helping us introduce our innovative soil mixing techniques, gain customers and establish ourselves in the UK ground engineering market.” Robert McGall, Managing Director, Deep Soil Mixing Ltd.

Startup Mentoring Work

“As a mentor, Viv has been an excellent sounding board for my ideas, and she gives good advice. She has a wealth of experience, which has helped me turn my ideas into fully developed strategies. Viv doesn’t impose her views but gives gentle guidance and total support.” Russ Young, The Sign Artist

Startup Consultancy Work

“Viv worked closely with Swansea Drydocks. She helped us to prepare for our launch and made a significant contribution to our growth, which reached a turnover of £3.5 million. Her activities included market research, business development and business planning. She helped us gain a Wales Economic Growth Fund grant, developed relationships with potential customers and suppliers, wrote expressions of interest and tenders, worked on our website, brochures, and public relations and made presentations on our behalf. The business was eventually sold , but when we needed Viv, she always met our very tight deadlines and delivered work of the highest quality.” Karl Dunn, former Director Swansea Drydocks Ltd and Managing Director, Dunn Bros Machinery Ltd.