An award-winning entrepreneur from Cheshire East is on a mission to raise professional standards by connecting the county’s businesses with trusted, ethical service providers.
Helen Wilson (pictured), 42, from Weston, has launched The Solutions Squad – a curated
directory of vetted professionals that has evolved from a social media page into a
fully-fledged business.
The idea stemmed from her experience as a multi-brand, multi-territory and multi-unit
franchisee – working across a wide range of sectors alongside industry specialists.
“Having experienced my fair share of unreliable business suppliers and connections, I want to use my platform to celebrate the true heroes that exist in our local communities,” explained Helen, whose awards include The Cheshire Club’s ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’.
“Featured partners are personally invited to The Solutions Squad after delivering consistent, positive results across fields ranging from marketing and website design to podcasting and coaching. The goal is to connect homegrown Cheshire businesses with local service providers who can reliably meet their needs.”
A separate inner circle of experts, The Trailblazing Squad, offers a higher tier of access, while The Franchise Squad will form a network of suppliers who support franchise businesses behind the scenes.
“While franchise owners generally provide some level of support, it is often up to franchisees to find local service providers to meet their needs,” said Helen, whose business partner is her husband, Westly.
“We want The Franchise Squad to become the place that franchisees can turn to for trusted, reliable connections they can depend on from Day One.”
Each Squad sits under the umbrella of Helen’s Hub, alongside a dedicated event services arm offering support ranging from childcare and dog care to safeguarding and lost child provision. This strand of the business reflects Helen’s 20 years of experience working with children and families across entertainment and workshop delivery.
“Having hosted eco glitter bars at multiple events, I’ve seen first-hand the need for childcare and pet care services in busy, fast-paced settings, where parental and pet ownership responsibilities can limit full participation,” said Helen.
“I am now working with event organisers to provide those services – helping them to meet their duty of care while attracting attendees who might otherwise be unable to take part.”
Looking ahead, Helen said she feels “excited” to see the full potential of her offerings
realised through the Hub after also being on a health journey.
“It’s taken me 18 months to return to full strength after a major operation,” she added.
“During that time, I’ve been refining my vision for what Helen’s Hub can become, and I’m excited to finally share it. Cheshire is an incredible place to do business, run franchises and host events. My goal is to ensure all of this is underpinned by best practice and consistently high standards.”
