My name is Deb Taylor. I’m 44 years old. I’m married to Andy and have 3 sons, Drew 15, Josh 13 and Luke 10. I also have a 29 year old step son, Kaine.
I was brought up in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. I have an older sister and a younger brother. My Mum was a stay at home Mum and my dad was a very successful policeman working his way up to Deputy chief constable of Northumbria police force. I did have quite a strict up bringing but am glad that I had good values drummed into me as a child as I think it has benefited me in later life.
Whilst at school in Rochdale I had a little part time job in a bakery after school for an hour every night, which I loved. I only earned £6 a week but could top up my wage with cream cakes.
I left school with 3 ‘O’ levels(didn’t work hard enough) and enrolled in Rochdale technical college to study Hairdressing, manicure, cosmetic make-up and wig making. I achieved city and guilds in all subjects. I had a Saturday job in a friends salon on Saturdays. I also had 2 part time jobs in the local pubs waiting on and working behind the bar. It was a great job.
When I left college I got a job in a local salon mainly doing shampoo and sets for the old dears who came in, but was forced to give up hairdressing due to a skin condition called dermatitis which would not clear up.
When I gave up hairdressing I was offered a full time job in the pub and accepted. I managed to work my way up to manager and licensee. It was very hard work but loved my job.
After 7 years I left as I decided to go into business for my self. I set up 2 successful businesses. I married Andy in 1994 and had Drew in 1996, quickly followed by Josh in ’97. I shut my company’s down in 1999 as we up sticks and re -located to Kidsgrove for Andy’s business. It was in Biddulph and he was finding it difficult to keep commuting such a distance. We had our 3rd child, Luke in 2000.
I was a manager for a successful party plan company for 3 years.
But always felt the need to set up on my own again as I felt that this was where my strengths were.
I decided to go in to spray tanning as it was becoming very popular and felt that it would be something that could grow.
Myself and Andy have now built up our own brand of spray tan solutions and supply nationally to salons and mobile technicians. I also set company’s up in spray tanning, I give full training and business advice.
Andy has a busy blinds business which I am also heavily involved in I am kept very busy.
The beauty of being self employed I can work my hours around the children so I can be there for them as and when needed,(which is often) just like my mum was there for me. I feel I have a good balance between work and family life which I think is very important.
I enjoy my work as a school governor as it gives me a good insight in to how the school works. Being a governor sometimes means making tough decisions but that is part of the role. It also has it’s rewards when you feel that the right decision has been made for the good of the school. I am on the staffing committee and the student committee where I feel I can be of good use. It’s good to have an involvement in my boys school life, and I hope it will continue when Luke moves up to Maryhill in sept 2012. I feel I contribute well to Maryhill.
