Fab Women

Name: Natasha Courtney-Smith


 
Age: 33
 
Family members: Partner Alastair and son Finn, 18 months
 
Previous Career: Journalist at Daily Mail newspaper and on women’s magazines.
 
What is the name and nature of your business?

I have set up an online press and publicity agency called Talk to the Press, aimed at helping anyone who wants help with ‘talking to the press’, whether they are selling a specific story or need advice in dealing with press interest in their lives. My website is www.talktothepress.co.uk
 
What inspired you to start it?
 
I have worked as a journalist for the past ten years, and prior to setting up the business I was a feature writer at the Daily Mail newspaper and prior to that had worked on various women’s magazines.

At the Daily Mail, I dealt largely with human interest, or real life stories, usually involving a woman giving an interview about a particular experience in her life. I also interviewed many celebrities, but found ‘real life’ people far more interesting to talk to, and the resulting articles were always more moving and thought provoking than any that I’d ever written about a celebrity.

I set up the Talk to the Press website with the only plan being to ensure that anyone who got in touch would get the best possible deal for their story, with a publication they are happy with and their story is told in the way they would like it to be told.

We now supply stories on a regular basis to all the national newspapers as well as television programmes such as GMTV and This Morning.

How does it fit in with family life?
 
Fairly well. Like all working mums, I often work after Finn has gone to bed. But I try to make it as flexible as possible. For instance, I set up in an office five minutes walk from my flat (it is a very reasonable priced ‘rent a desk’ situation which means no huge overheads). My business was only eight months old when Finn was born and by then I had two members of staff, so I couldn’t take a long maternity leave.

I went back to work one day a week when he was six weeks old, and was in contact with my staff every day whilst on maternity leave. I would often work in the evenings after putting him down, in between expressing milk. I also worked during all his nap times, even when I was having to get up in the night to feed him. I returned to work full time when he was five months old.

And although I think this sounds more than some new mums would like to do, in the long term I think it’s worked out. Finn is now 18 months old and I feel incredibly privileged as although I work four days a week, I don’t work ridiculous hours. I am still around for him every night. I definitely do less work now than I would do if I had a job, as I employ people to take the burden from me.

I pick Finn up at 5pm, and ever since he was born, it has always been me who does his dinner and bath. I put him to bed and I also get two hours to play with him in the morning before work. I know if I had carried on working at a national newspaper none of this would have been possible as I would be commuting and working very long hours.


 
Biggest learning curve so far?
 
Employing people. I had real problems with one employee not being up to the job in many ways. I should have made changes as soon as I realised there was a problem, but I kept going with this person for almost another year, hoping I could help her improve. It was fruitless on my part and in future I wouldn’t make so much effort as in truth I realised the problems could not be solved.
 
Most positive experience?

I am proud to say that Talk to the Press has represented many people at the centre of a media storm – including Richard Cass, the father of Jamie Neale who was lost in the Australian outback. They have all approached us looking for help dealing with press interest in their lives, and we have devised an appropriate media strategy for each. I find it hugely rewarding to be able to talk to so many ordinary people going through so many extraordinary events.

Another achievement was winning the ‘Women in Business’ category at the Startups Awards last November, which celebrate new business in the UK. The judges unanimously voted for me as the winner, praising Talk to the Press for being an “innovative” business.  

Where would you like to be in five years time?
 
I’d like to be a well know media agent and publicist that all people caught up in news events come to for help brokering deals for their stories.
 
What advice would you give to other mothers hoping to combine motherhood with a new business idea?
 
It’s not easy but ultimately your own business will give you flexibility which is really what working mums need, so persevere with it. There was never an option for me to be a full time mum, and I think as a working mum, I have a very good set up. My belief is that nothing is ever 100 per cent right if you are balancing motherhood and babies but I’ve tried to eliminate as many of the things that cause stress from my life (ie, commuting, having a boss, having to be in an office at set times every day) and the only way I’ve been able to do that is through setting up on my own.



www.talktothepress.co.uk

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