CHELMSFORD: Dynamic trio's support through tough times

The recession has seen three Chelmsford business women transformed from worriers to warriors.

Soo Turner, 35, of arts and pictures framers Interior Angle; Perminder Birk, 55, of beauticians, Another Level In Beauty; and Kathy Bloomfield, 41, of hair stylists Axis Studio, have joined forces to triumph despite the downturn.

The Three Musketeers of Well Street have counted the cost and adapted their one-woman businesses during a tough 12 months trading, sharing their knowledge and support with each other to help them through.

But neither Soo, Perminder or Kathy, have seen any signs of the green shoots amidst the continuing economic gloom.

John Clayton, chief executive of Essex Chambers of Trade, a privately financed lobbying group representing around 1,700 businesses says the recovery is a bit of a curate's egg.

"It really depends on what business you are in and its location, the hardest hit will be 'lifestyle' ones, like those run by these business women.

"But the fact that they are still standing indicates they have got a grip on finances, made hard decisions and they will survive."

Mr Clayton said 70 per cent of local business have been effected by the recession.

"That means 30 per cent have not, such as the public sector, so Chelmsford with its County and Borough Councils and Police headquarters still has many people in work.

"Location is always important, so job and business wise Chelmsford will do better during a recession than say, Harwich."

Mr Clayton said while 95 per cent of the economy was still intact, it would be a long, hard grind before the country got out of the recession.

"Despite the Government promising no more boom and bust, recessions are part of life and the best run businesses will survive as they always have."