I am a mother boss with two children. I don’t regret having to juggle my family with a £15 million empire

There is more to celebrate about mothers than ever on Mother’s Day on Sunday.

Not only are they the backbone of family life, they also make a huge contribution to the economy.

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More and more people are setting up a company and combining work with their children.

Women in the Britain launched more than 150,000 new companies in 2022, twice as many as in 2018.

Here, female entrepreneur Cheryl Maclean tells MEL HUNTER how her children even boosted her success. . .

CHERYL MACLEAN’S children grew up in her factory in Falkirk and it has given them a work ethic that she is incredibly proud of

The mother of two founded Candle Shack in 2010 with just her husband Duncan. Now they employ 80 people and turn over over £15 million a year.

Cheryl, based in Rumbling Bridge, near Dollar, said: “It was difficult when the girls were young, we would pick them up from school but go back to work when they went to bed.”

She turned her back on a successful career in the beauty industry and went ‘all in’ on the candle making business that started in her kitchen, while Duncan left a job in the Army.

Cheryl said: “I loved my beauty salon, but we also loved what we did with the business.

“We had to decide whether we were going to go all in – and we did.”

And she’s so glad they did – for the sake of the whole family. Cheryl said:

“Our girls grew up in the factories.

“Ellie, our youngest, is in her last few months of school and has offers to go to college to pursue business.

Our eldest, Laurensis now 22 and works in marketing.

“They are both go-getters, who come from our 14-year existence.”

CHERYL’S TIP: If you have fire in your belly, listen to your heart and go for it. Don’t forget to only cherish your business, but also your well-being.

See Candle-Shack.co.uk