Independent Home Living

Alison Farrant and Ann Wyatt co-founded Independent Home Living in Scarborough, which offers personal care such as bathing, toileting, dressing, hairdressing and companionship as well as home and garden maintenance, cooking laundry and shopping for people unable to look after themselves.

It has become so successful that the two women are being pitched for the Women In Enterprise Award in The Press Business Awards 2006.

But soon after moving into the (now-demolished) Belvedere BUPA hospital, in Scarborough, in 2000, the co-founders became aware of what they describe as "the negative attitude some business suppliers took when dealing with women."

Alison, a postgraduate in management and personnel and former volunteer services manager for St Catherine's Hospice, in Scarborough, said: "I remember, in particular, one instance when the manager of a large organisation asked us if this was a hobby.

"And suppliers of such items as fax machines, phone lines and other office supplies assumed we were just secretaries sent on errands.

"One advantage we found, however, was that once they realised we were serious, we were able to negotiate some very advantageous prices."

Within a year the company had moved to its present headquarters in Ramshillo Road, Scarborough, above its own shop selling a wide range of quality mobility products plus everything from healthcare products to bath lifts and stairlifts.

It has also established an office at Nuffield private hospital in York and a new retail outlet in Malton.

Ann Wyatt, a former business studies teacher at Scarborough Sixth Form College has helped keep a tight rein on costs and overheads, while both have been innovative in finding ways to help people maintain their independence.

They recently launched Care To Travel, in which Getaway Travel and Independent Home Living combined to offer trips and holidays for people who needed experienced caring companions.