Lorri Wilson, Stockport-based British Sign Language teacher, shares her experience of starting a new business after 50 and speaking at a recent Build A Business event in Stockroom.
On 18th February, I was asked to give a talk about being over 50 and starting up my own business at an event in Stockroom, right in the heart of Stockport town centre.
Many attendees were considering starting something for themselves and were keen to learn from the real-life experiences and insights of others who had already taken that step.
I had been invited to speak at the ‘Build a business’ event organised by Stockport Council, with the support of Enterprise Officer, Sean Martin; and Service Development Coordinator, Joni Coyle, from the Libraries, Information and Culture, Neighbourhoods teamat Manchester City Council.
It was a genuinely productive afternoon, but for me it was also deeply personal. Because talking about becoming an ‘olderpreneur’ isn’t theoretical, it’s our lived experience.
Starting a business after 50 doesn’t usually come from impulse. It comes from passion.
That’s how my journey began. Not with a grand announcement, but with a conversation I had with myself and asking the right questions.
What benefits can I offer to the Deaf and hearing communities? And most important‘ Will this work?
At the event, I shared my timeline through a PowerPoint presentation from the very first idea, through the planning stages, to taking those early, sometimes uncomfortable, steps into self-employment. I wanted people to see the full journey, not just the polished outcome.
Because the truth is, it wasn’t instant success. It was persistence and guidance from the professionals.
During my talk, I made sure to acknowledge the organisations that supported us along the way, including:
- Stockport Homes Group
- Marketing Stockport
- DM Constructions Ltd
- Innovation Centre
- And many more
I finished with Q&A from people who attended. I hope my experience helped them make the right decision.
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