A COVENTRY musician who plays the violin at weddings and other events is hoping to hit all the right notes when her business reopens after being put on hold for a year.
Debbie Lynne, who has had a passion for music since she was eight years old and played in a variety of orchestras in the UK and Europe, launched her performance company Debbie Lynne Music.
Debbie sought help to get the business under way from the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce start-up team through the Coventry and Warwickshire Business Support Programme, part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
After a year on hold, she’s now raring to make Debbie Lynne Music a success in a year when the whole region will be celebrating culture.
Debbie said: “I’d been made redundant and was then in a job I really didn’t like so at around Christmas 2019 I decided I would do something for myself.
“I thought I could really do something with music as it’s been a big part of my life since I was very young, having played in orchestras and string quartets through my career.
“I decided that I would go down the route of playing solo at weddings and corporate events and, before Covid-19 hit, there had been some really good interest and quite a few bookings.
“So, after a really tough year, I’m excited to be able to get out there and start playing again to help make the business a success and I am hopeful that being City of Culture can help me to do that.”
The Chamber helped Debbie compose her business and marketing plans and enabled her to attend training courses to help her set up the venture.
Sarah Humphreys was assigned as Debbie’s mentor, tailoring support to her and her business.
Debbie said: “She has experience in the wedding sector so has been advising me on all of the venues and people I should be contacting, which fairs I should be attending and has been a great sounding board for any ideas I’ve had.
“But it’s not only weddings – I am looking to get into the corporate market and have been networking with the right people to help me on that side of the business too.”
Hardeep Sandhu, of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said establishing a business based on something people were passionate about was a great starting point, but there was so much more to running a company.
“It’s been great to support Debbie with this new business.
“As a Chamber, we are proud to be supporting creative businesses, particularly as Coventry is all set to start its year at UK City of Culture and we really want the year to leave a positive legacy of more businesses being established in the sector.
“This really is an amazing moment for the city and is a time for creative businesses to shine and an opportunity of wider investment in creativity and culture to leave a legacy of optimism and opportunity.”
Martin Sutherland, Chief Executive of the Coventry City of Culture Trust, said: “It is clear that City of Culture can inspire new start-up businesses across Coventry and Warwickshire, and for those businesses to be part of the economic legacy of 2021.
“If individuals have an idea that they want to explore, it is great that there is support available to them, from the Chamber and others, to turn it into a reality.”
The Chamber has a range of start-up workshops to support people to build sustainable businesses.
Click here for more on the Chamber workshops and to book places.
Go to www.debbielynnemusic.co.uk for more on Debbie Lynne Music.
