In association with 

The Helen O’ Grady Special Award (after a fantastic response, Helen O’ Grady decided to nominate two winners) and one of them was Abbe Martin from Exeter in Devon. Abbe won her very own home based franchise worth £15!

Why She Won
Abbe’s background in the arts and drama, love of children and recognition of how they can benefit from a self-development programme was key to winning this award and a £15k drama-academy franchise.

Abbe Martin is now the now the proud principal of Helen O' Grady Devon which looks to launch in January 2010. Helen O'Grady is a worldwide Drama Academy that has been running successfully for 30 years and she is thrilled to be part of this organisation thanks to Remote Employment.

Abbe graduated from Dartington University in 2008 where she studied Drama and began working for Theatre in Education. She found it was often not enough hours and unreliable and this forced her to find employment as a waitress to make ends meet.

She entered the 2009 Remote Employment Awards and competed against many people to win the Helen O' Grady special award. This award saw her being given her own company, overnight Abbe was a business owner.

She had an extensive background in Drama working within her local community as a volunteer to keep her passion alive, whilst she was unable to find paid work.

Abbe saw a need within her local area for a business such as this to thrive and stated this in her application. Abbe attended the award ceremony in Berkshire competing against a final three and along with one other was given this prestigous award.

Pictured above, Abbe Martin celebrates with partner, Richard Wood, after winning her own home based franchise from Helen O' Grady,  Remote Employment and BT Business. Photo by ECP Studio.

Abbe's Future
Now she looks to open Drama classes from Monday through to Saturday in various studio locations in her local area. Within a year she will take on staff to expand the business and appeal to a wider audience across Exeter. She is given extensive training and on going support from the strong management team at Helen O 'Grady and is encouraged by this team all the way.
 
"I would encourage anyone I meet to enter into the Remote Emplyment awards as you have every chance of success if you really believe in yourself and you want it enough. I got to meet some inspirational Entrepreneurs such as Karen Darby, whose business advice will stay with me forever. It is a scary to go out there on your own, but it is worth it when you start to reap the benefiits and can feel really proud of yourself. A little fear is better than alot of regret. So go for it!"