I’ve spent a little time over the past few days thinking about this time last year - remembering breaking the news to my parents, fending off suppliers, trying to ensure no one’s financial position worsened, being unable to let my closest friends and colleagues know what was to come, planning how I would actually tell our employees, not really understanding how administration worked, the feeling of letting go, the relief, the loneliness and the uncertainty of what lay ahead.

But here we are, a year on and still in one piece. In so many ways I’m now in a much better place.

Of course I have looked back and had moments of insecurity and played events over in my mind – could anything have been done differently, could I have done more and so on. Each and every time  I know that the answer is the same – no. Very recently I was interviewed for Radio 4 along with some of my former employees and I am still surprised at just how emotional I can become when asked about the actual events of 10th March. I can hear the sounds on the shop floor as I stood in front of my workforce and can picture the faces that looked back at me – and I can certainly relive the sound of my own voice telling everyone that there was nothing more that could be done. In many ways it’s as if it was just yesterday. The pain is almost as raw.

In looking over the journey that has followed I have recalled how busy I have been, the lessons I have learnt, how many new contacts I have, how disappointed I have been with some relationships,  how many opportunities I have found and what new friendships have been forged.

I certainly haven’t had time to look back and dwell – it’s only ever forwards for me now. I still carry certain insecurities but then who doesn’t?

I’ve faced many demons and still know that I have the love and support of the people that truly matter and so I raise a glass to the original Savekers Limited and thank my great Grandfather for founding the company that provided me with the most valuable apprenticeship you could imagine. I have had such a wonderfully valuable training for life and if I can make any difference, even just to one person through my experiences, then it’s all been worthwhile.

The dream I had as a little girl to run my very own company (from scratch) has been realised this year. I am no longer the caretaker of someone else’s dream, I’m living my own.

Having said that, my dad is now embracing Twitter (@priuscarrier) and has a Linked In account – he certainly see’s the benefits to his business whereas Facebook is not something he likes for privacy reasons. I do understand his concerns and in many ways I am the first to say that Facebook is abused and misused in many cases – I wish people would learn how to lock down their privacy settings for example.

Combine social media with etiquette and there appears to be a whole other set of considerations. As someone that is very open to meeting new colleagues and opportunities through various networking forums, I have enjoyed using the likes of Linked In. I discovered the power of connecting pretty early on and indeed have forged some great business relationships as a result. I’ve been approached out of the blue by people in shared ‘Groups’ such as the Birmingham Post Group etc as well as professionals in my local area, associates etc and see nothing wrong in receiving requests from people. Of course on the off occasion I politely decline a connection (ie ignore a request) – who doesn’t?!

I did recently send a Linked In connection to someone that shares a mutual friendship and is within my local area – indeed she works in PR and was someone I felt I could recommend to my clients at Jeeves Services.  In my invitation to connect I referred to our mutual friend (who is also a business associate) in the hope it would explain who I was and that it would be nice to meet up as we live very close. Yesterday I received a reply and one that I had certainly not expected…

“Thanks for your email through Linked In, which I must admit, I was a little surprised to receive ….. I suppose I had assumed that as a first step, out of common courtesy and not least as you use her as a reference point in your email, you would have told her of your planned approach ….. I have to say, if it was me I would be likely to take offence at someone using my name as a way of introducing themselves without my knowledge, whether to a client or colleague? I value my professional reputation….”

So, a word of warning when trying to open up connections – some people clearly do not welcome what most of us do all the time whether electronically or in person.

My experience certainly made me stop and think (and question myself most of yesterday) but I actually stand by what I had done and that I see nothing wrong with a polite invitation. Clearly I have no desire to pursue any connection in this instance (!) but it does beg the question of social media etiquette and expectations! May be some people should come with a warning… “try connecting with me at your peril – I take myself far too seriously”

If you fancy connecting with me and my company, please feel free to drop me a line… a polite one of course!

You can find us on Twitter @jeevesservices and LinkedIn or email me directly dani@danisaveker.com

I’d also like to add another worthwhile link; my brother-in-law Tom Hemming on You Tube. Perfect for a little bit of relaxation! Enjoy!

To read of the article please visit Jeeves’ site – News 3

Will a Conservative government be good for the Midlands economy?

Possibly one of the more difficult questions to answer.

I’m certainly not able to give a definitive yes or no response! My feeling is that it can’t be much worse than things are at the moment. I know that there’s a lot of talk about the regional agencies being removed – well I’m not the biggest fan of them or the other so called ‘support’ organisations in the Midlands. I feel that they are out of touch and disjointed – all with their own agendas and yet none of them  are actually supporting the vital SME’s and businesses in our region.

Regardless of the colour of the next Government, public spending will be slashed. Having worked with the public sector recently I have been amazed at the waste of money and lack of ‘business acumen’. How public funded regional agencies can help the economy and business I have no idea! Get rid of them, have something simple to help get support to businesses that will make a real difference. Good quality advice, guidance  and support is better than throwing cash around anyway.

Equally the banking sector is out of touch with what is needed and how businesses can access financial support and necessary information. The public sector should be working in partnership with the private sector and yet it’s not. I’m not convinced that the Tories will have the balls to do what’s needed or will be any better in touch with employers and businesses – I just hope that they do listen to the business community  because at the moment business leaders have no confidence in anyone. No economy will improve easily or quickly – what we need is a stable and steady improvement that can be sustained.

Handy new start for Saveker

Dani Saveker, the former owner of Savekers, the 106-year-old manufacturing business that went bust last year, has started a new company called Jeeves Services (UK), a professional handyman and facility-maintenance service for businesses and homes. Saveker said: “Jeeves Services is a business born out of ashes of recession with my team all being personally affected by the current economic situation. Our aim is to provide busy professionals with maintenance support for their homes as well as SMEs with an outstanding level of support for their businesses.” The team will be run by Richard Villers, a former senior manager at Savekers

The website says it all – and thanks to Will, my husband, for all his help. http://www.jeevesservices.com

That just leaves me to wish all our friends and colleagues a wonderfully happy New Year and one that’s filled with success and opportunities.

As the year began we were full of optimism and hope having just secured a last mintute Bridge Fund loan of £250k to help our struggling business survive the trauma of the recession. Alas it was not meant to be and just a month later it was clear survival was no longer an option and consideration was given to how to handle this and how best to limit any damage.

Even as administration was in place it was a strange feeling and in many ways I was numb – what I would do afterwards was almost irrelevant to me at the time. As CEO I had an incredible sense of duty and responsibility and as such my only focus was everyone else. As the dust settled and life went on I had to think about what I wanted and needed – I’m still learning what the answers to these are.

And so here we are with just a few days left of the year and more importantly my attentions have turned to what opportunities are out there. In many ways 2009 (or certainly post admin) was putting in ground work, getting out into the world and seizing experiences and opportunities – and most importantly building my valuable network. I also took the time to understand what I was truly passionate about so that my future time would be spent  not only working hard but also enjoying every minute of it.

2010 will see a new company born “Jeeves Services (UK) Limited”.

Jeeves will provide a support service for SME’s and households – we will be providing planned preventative maintenance, skilled and experienced tradespeople, repairs and solutions – from my dedicated team.

• qualified electricians
• plumbers
• decorators
• joinery
• general & ground maintenance
• air conditioning and handling
• general industrial services
• cleaning & household services 

We also continue to carry out retail interior design, shop fits, flooring and lighting along with all maintenance. 

I’m very proud to say that Jeeves will be headed by Richard Villers, my loyal, trusted and long serving production assistant from Savekers – as well as many others we have worked with for many years, all who have been affected by the recession but always offer a true work ethic, flexibility, reliability and of course a valuable service.

2010 will be a successful and enjoyable year - we have no doubt!

Our website www.jeevesservices.com is currently being worked on and should be up and available for the beginning of the year. If you’d like to know more in the meantime please email me or call 07812 99 27 26.

Although not the overall winner of New Business of the Year, it’s a commendable achievement and one we are all very proud of. The awards were sponsored by Challinors Solicitors, Edge Creative Studios, PG Services and Lichfield District Council – with the Midlands Air Ambulance Service being the nominated charity for the event.

Organisers Diamond Edge Events and the sponsors hosted a wonderful evening full of glitz and glamour with many well known and respected members of the Midlands business community present.

I receive a daily Retail Week update which tells me what the latest news and views are – and today, 12 months after Woolworths went, I see that Borders has confirmed that the paperwork for administration was completed yesterday and we expect an announcement today or tomorrow. I have no doubt that it will be bought out in one form or another but there will be casualities.

As 2009 draws to a close I shall be reflecting on the events of the year as will so many of us – what changes! I can recall the sleepless nights and upsets of a year ago vividly – we were staring at administration and the closure of our own Savekers Limited which ended up happening several months later.

I know now that I am in a far better place than I was this time last year - and many of those that also lost jobs as a result of our administration have  said that it’s openned the door to new opportunities and ventures. No one could prepare me for what happened but I’m a stronger person now and more aware of the wider world. I wish all those that have experienced similar things in the last 12 months much happiness and success on their new journey – if you’ve not got to that stage yet, I promise it can be for the best even if you can’t see it right now.