Award takes Julie to new heights
Swindon Advertiser
www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk
8th August 2007
THE first woman to qualify in the RAF as a pilot and then be
promoted to aircraft captain swapped military uniform for maternity
wear when she left the forces.
Julie Gibson, who flew Hercules aircraft at RAF Lyneham
for seven years, has been named Business Person of the Month,
the award sponsored by the Advertiser and the Marriott Hotel.
Julie, former Lyneham resident, now lives at Wroughton and
earlier this year set up Does
My Tum Look Big In This. This
is a business which offers formal maternity wear hire across
the south of England and she has more than 100 items
in her wardrobe. It is now going great guns.
Julie left the armed forces six years ago and has since
pursued alternative careers working for a commercial airline
and studying as an occupational therapist. She doesn't fly
any longer but keen to combine motherhood and a working life
- she now has a one-year-old son James. "I
felt that running my own business from home offered me the
best of both worlds," she said.
"Having struggled myself when pregnant to dress the
right way at the right time in comfortable and flattering
garments, I believed there was a gap in the market."
Julie is one of an increasing number of women starting up
in business. Latest figures from Barclays, where Julie banks,
show the number of women starting their own businesses is
up by 12
per cent to 139,700 in 2006, indicating more are deciding
to take the plunge.
Julie said: "Setting up a new business was completely
new to me. But I'm excited about giving mums-to-be
the opportunity to hire some fantastic maternity wear for
formal occasions
such as weddings, black tie functions or to a day out at
the races.
"By having clients come to my home by appointment only,
this is ideal for managing the demands of being a mum as
well as putting my own entrepreneurial skills to the test.''
Her wardrobe includes outfits for formal occasions like weddings
and cocktail parties and the average fee for a hire is £40.
Graeme Harrison, local business manager for Barclays in
Swindon, said: "Setting up a new business is hard work
but also rewarding particularly if your business is linked
with a passion for the product and service you are offering.
"My role is to ensure that as the business grows, Barclays
continues to support with the right banking solutions at
the right time."
Prices to hire maternity dresses from Does My Tum Look Big
In This range from £15 up to £95, depending on
the outfit and include a choice of designers such as Mimi,
Motherhood, RIPE, Formes and Olian. For an appointment contact
Julie on 01793 845857.
Flying facts
History was made on 10 May 1990 when the first
women pilots, Flight Lieutenants Sally Cox and Julie Gibson,
flew
their
first solos at Royal Air Force Linton-on-Ouse.
June 1991 -
Flight Lieutenant Julie Ann Gibson became the RAF's first
female
pilot. Flt Lt Gibson went on to fly Andovers with No 32 Squadron.
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