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Two years ago, businesswoman and mum of two Gemma Spalding-Tunnicliffe said she was at the “lowest point” of her life, struggling with her child tax credit, housing benefit and income support, which totalled around £1,100 a month.
Faced with the prospect of being moved into a mould-infested flat by the council, the mum, from Blofield, said she made the decision to turn her life around and launch the business she’d always dreamed of.
She took out a small startup loan and began the Spalding’s School of Sciences in August 2018 – tutoring in maths, physics, and chemistry.
Within a few months, she said the bookings were rolling in.
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She said: “There’s a horrible stereotype associated with being a single mum on benefits, and I felt really judged a lot of the time, even though I wanted to change my situation.
“I’ve always been ambitious. As a little girl I’d sit and look at big houses in magazines and say ‘one day I’m going to live in a place like that’.
“Finding myself having to sign on at the job centre was tough, I had a bit of a breakdown.
“But it was that which gave me the motivation to get myself out of the rut, not just for me, but for my kids too.”
And as if one wasn’t enough, last year Ms Spalding-Tunnicliffe launched her second business, Piglet & Chestnut, which sells eco-friendly gifts and craft kits.
She said the success of the two businesses has allowed her a six-figure income.
Next month, Piglet & Chestnut will move into its first brick-and-mortar shop in Chantry Place, joining brands like Zara and fellow Norfolk business Lisa Angel.
She said: “I still have to pinch myself every morning. People like to call it luck, but really, it’s about hard work, determination, and putting in the hours.
“If you want it, then you’ve got to keep persevering.”
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