Born into a family of Hoteliers a Lancashire lass by birth, I was initiated into the throws of business from an early age which included early morning duties to fulfill even before I left for school.

I followed the family calling and had my own restaurant up and running by the time I was old enough to hold a Alcohol License this was followed by 30 years in the hospitality trade, in those years I was able to gather a wealth of knowledge in the industry and the day to day issues associated in running and developing a business. The industry saw numerous changes over the years and although the challenges where great I seem to have thrived on variation throughout my life I retired from Hospitality in 2003,  they always say “you should stick with what you know best” but then I am not a conventional person.

This was followed by a complete change of career of which I engaged in various business projects. I was not going to let the grass grow under my feet and in 2004 I launched a Scottish Whisky into India and had my first taste of exporting, not a mean feat and although it didn’t make me a million it was a wonderful experience, traveling across India and working in an environment which totally contradicted my comfort zone but taught me so much about international trade and cultural disadvantages. We still sell our brand internationally and have gained a diverse following of Scots right across the globe www.macdonaldwhisky.com

In 2006 I was attracted to an opportunity through my eldest son to set up a company in the Telecommunications Industry and that is my core business involvement today in supplying Unified Comms to SMEs across the Northwest www.lansafe.co.uk

 I frequently travel to Houston Texas where I also have business interests and it was through my connections in the US that I was introduced to the plight of small orphanage in Ecuador being run by a small group of Catholic Nuns and of their ordeal trying to support 60 Orphans ranging from 6 months to 15 years old.  In 2013 I became a Director of the Charity www.safeharbourcharity.com and do my best to raise awareness in supporting the cause and helping raise funds globally, we now have 100 orphans and have made enormous progress developing the orphanage and in the education of the children.

I have been a member of The Federation of Small Business for 12 years and have held Regional and National positions over this period, I am currently The Regional Chairman for Merseyside West Cheshire and Wigan and I am passionate about raising awareness of the Lobbying arm of the FSB and I find myself fighting the corner for small businesses through the organisation and directly to Westminster.