Communications consultancy LEC was launched by experienced journalist and public relations professional Leanne Fawcett 13 years ago. And although the business has grown by offering a full suite of PR, marketing and web services, Leanne is now looking back to where it all started in her ambition to take LEC forward. Here she talks about why she's keen to go back to basics...
It was back in 2012 that I made the decision to start my own business. And I’d be lying if I said there aren’t times that I have regretted that decision.
That might seem like a strange thing to say when I am talking about the future and what I would like to achieve.
But I genuinely think no one understands how hard, emotionally and mentally, being self employed is until you do it.
Yes, it’s flexible, and yes, to a certain extent, you get to pick and choose who you work with.
I have also been lucky enough to spend invaluable time with my children over the years, something that were I employed full time, I wouldn’t have been able to do. The flip side to that is, that while nothing is more important than your children, being a full-time mam did take me away from the business – my priorities changed however I still had a business to run and juggling the two was tough.
However, there has also been far too many sleepless nights and months where money is so tight I have wondered whether I can keep the wolf from the door any longer.
Somehow, though, by hook or by crook, I have managed it and now, my focus is on what I want to achieve from my business and what I have to do to get it to the point where my love for what I do has fully returned.
As a journalist by trade, LEC was launched to enable me to work with ambitious regional and national businesses that wanted to celebrate their successes and highlight to the outside world why they are so good at what they do. And as the business grew, we started adding more strings to our bow, including internal communications, web development, social media profiling and marketing. And in turn, our portfolio of clients expanded.
Today we work with businesses and organisations from a diverse range of sectors, including automotive, childcare, accountancy, software development, business coaching and domestic and commercial services.
I am also communications lead for East Durham Business Network, a role I have had since the group was created back in 2014, initially as Peterlee Business Park Group before the rebrand in 2021, which LEC managed.
Through my role with the network, I work closely with Business Durham, Clearwater Developments (the network’s co-chairmen are Clearwater directors Ranj Gill and Gursh Kahlon) and the many companies who are members of it. Our aim is to drive prosperity, share opportunities and give our employers the right platforms to share their good news, whether that be through our quarterly networking events or our website, social media channels or email newsletter.
It’s through this venture that LEC launched East Durham Business magazine, the flagship magazine which celebrates our wonderful area and the many companies and organisations that are based within it.
But like with LEC, it hasn’t all been plain sailing – securing the sponsorship and advertising revenue we need to fund production of the magazine has at times been impossible and left me wondering if it had a future (certainly in print). However, after several meetings with Business Durham and Ranj and Gursh, and discussions with our members, we have decided to continue with it, so the priority now is to find those businesses who are prepared to back the magazine financially.
So, what is next for me and LEC?
Recently I have done a lot of soul-searching regarding the business. Is the love I had when I started it still there? Does it suit me to continue to be self employed given my personal circumstances (I am a mam of three including to a two-yearold)? Would the security of employment be a better option?
I came to the conclusion that the answers are yes, yes and no.
What that means for me is, I need to be more proactive. In today’s challenging climate, I can’t expect work to come to me and I can’t rely on retainers, as I have done in the past. I have to go and find it and that is exactly what I am doing.
At the start of the year, my aim was to get in front of as many businesses as possible – to show them what LEC can do for them as their strategic communications partner. And if I can convert a handful of those potentials into clients, I will be heading in the right direction.
It feels like a fresh start and that I am going full circle, back to where it all began, but that feels to me like more of a leap forward rather than a step back. And that can only be a good thing.
www.lecc.co.uk