MANY would think twice about founding their first business while pregnant with their third child.
But for entrepreneurial Orla Bance the timing proved perfect to set out on her own after 16 years working in the finance industry for other companies.
And now, nearly two years since she launched OB Business Solutions in 2013, the businesswoman is reaping the rewards of taking a punt on herself as she brings her well-honed skills to Irish businesses across London and the home counties.
“I worked for many years as a director of finance for a charitable trust,” she told The Irish Post this week.
“I eventually decided to start my own business because I could see there were loads of smaller businesses that my friends, family and other close connections had that I couldn’t really help as I didn’t have the time.
“I wanted to fill the gap I saw in the market where there was no finance director-type service for those smaller and medium-sized businesses who didn’t even know that they needed that yet.”
With her years of experience as a finance director Ms Bance felt well placed to go into organisations and offer that support.
“I go in and help these organisations make sure - and I am an independent view on this - that their business strategy is future-proof for the growth that they want,” the 38-year-old, who lives in Essex with her husband and three sons, explained.
“So I generally work with high growth companies that might have been started by very able entrepreneurs who are good at what they do but need the background support necessary to make sure they can continue that growth and not fall over on that path really.”
With seven clients currently on the OB Business Solutions books – including five Irish organisations, ranging from construction to dentistry and marketing firms - Ms Bance’s service is very much tailored to the needs of each individual company.
“Every company I work with is very different, so it’s a bespoke service that I offer,” she admits.
“Some people need more of my finance skills for example, maybe to raise extra finance to do a big deal, or maybe they want to exit in three or five years and need to make themselves as attractive as possible.”
In 2014 Ms Bance also became one of the Government’s growth accelerator coaches - which allows her access to central government funding to help support the companies she works with.
“It means the Government will pay a lot of my charges or match funding to allow me to take on certain clients, which means I can help companies that might perhaps have been restricted by the costs previously,” she explains.
“And I have managed to secure that funding for five Irish clients across London, Hertfordshire and Middlesex, who I am working with at the moment, which has been great.”
Ms Bance is no stranger to the Irish community however, having been raised here by entrepreneurial Irish parents Gerry and Margo Feeney, hailing from Roscommon and Wexford respectively, and starting work in the family business in London at the age of 22.
“Gerry Feeney Travel was our family-run travel agency specialising in bringing Irish people back to Ireland in the 1990s and 2000s,” she explained.
“Then we merged with Tara Travel, before we were bought by the Irish Continental Group and I worked within the company throughout the period and during the takeover before moving on to finance roles with other companies. It’s that level of experience that I bring to my clients now.”
And the entrepreneur couldn’t be happier about making the decision to set out on her own.
“I love what I am doing,” she admits.
“It’s really rewarding and although a lot of people thought I started the business at the wrong time – when I was pregnant with my third child – it has proved the perfect time for me.
“My motivation changed very much two years ago and I couldn’t fulfil the old stereotypical job for a corporate entity as I needed to be more flexible.
“So while I work harder now than I ever did for anyone else, it’s all under my terms and it’s producing very positive results.”
