Austerity? Redundancy? Start Your Own Business In Your Garden

Times are tough at the moment, redundancy here and austerity there. But there is an army of people working from home. When I say home, I actually mean garden. For a small investment people are starting a new business and using their skills and knowledge to work for the themselves. Broadband has made it easier than ever. So why not

You may have been made redundant from your job in the public or private sector. You may be fed up with the 9-5 office lifestyle and have taken voluntary redundancy. Or, you may simply be looking for a more fulfilling and enriching job.

The recession and global financial crisis has hit the UK hard. According to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), an estimated 1.6 million of the UK's workforce will be put out of a job by 2015-16 as the UK goes for more stringent austerity measures. The CIPD also claimed that the imminent increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) will also add to the job losses.

As the UK tackles its budget deficit, it is clear that there will be significant job losses. According to the CIPD, the private sector is likely to be the greatest hit with around 900,000 job cuts while the public sector is expected to lay off about 725,000 people.

Losing your job is one of the most stressful situations you can find yourself in. With fewer and fewer jobs available in the UK, finding a job that matches your skills and abilities can be tough. Consequently, it is no surprise that more and more people are joining the estimated four million self-employed in the UK and setting up their own companies.

Whatever your skill - whether you are a management consultant, IT specialist, craftsman or solicitor - setting up your own business can have huge advantages. Of course, one of the main benefits of going it alone is that you can work from home.

A 2007 survey from a leading global human resources company found that there were significant benefits to working from home. As well as higher productivity and the ability to work interrupted, home workers have lower stress levels and a better work/life balance thanks to their flexible working hours. Working from home also cuts out your commute to the office and reduces the cost of overheads to your business.

Once you have decided to set up your business from home, the most important decision you will make is where you will run your company from. To some degree, that will depend on what your business is. If you are a stone mason, you will need a very different working environment to an IT specialist or chef!

Many people elect to set up their business in their spare bedroom or in a cramped corner of their lounge. However, there are several disadvantages to this. You are likely to be taking up valuable floor space in your home which could be better used for other purposes. Additionally, the distractions of television and your kids are likely to regularly interrupt your train of thought.

So, why not consider setting up your business in a garden workshop?

Garden workshops and log cabins have come a long way in recent years. They are no longer a dusty, dirty old shed at the bottom of your garden. Nowadays, garden workshops and log cabins are like having an extra room in your house - with light, heat and internet access - but with the privacy and peace not often afforded by a spare room or corner of the lounge.

So, whatever your business, having a dedicated, separate 'room' in which to carry it out could be perfect. Whether you are turning a hobby into a viable business or you need a fully functioning office, a log cabin is the perfect solution. Affordable, versatile and practical, it is easy to find the right sized garden workshop for your business.

Log cabins are one of the most popular types of workshop currently available. A main advantage of this type of workshop is that you do not require planning consent as they are not considered 'permanent structures'. There are also many other types of garden workshop available in the UK.

Are they any good for me though

Different size options
Insulation Flexible plans
Internal Rooms Double
Glazed Great for Storage
Look Beautiful
Can be delivered and erected in a day
Start your new business in just one week

Work out what space you have available in your garden and, more importantly, how much room you will need to set up your business. Remember to make sure you allow for additional space for when your business is successful and needs to expand. Consider also whether you need large windows for light and that there is enough headroom.

Setting up your own business if you have lost your job can be both profitable and fulfilling. With in excess of a million people likely to lose their jobs as a result of the Government spending cuts, more and more people will be considering going it alone. And, if you are planning to work from home, a garden workshop could be your perfect home office.


Copyright (c) 2011 Filton Kingswood