An inspirational woman from Noak Bridge who triumphed against the odds to set up her own company teaching French has reached the finals of a national business awards.
Sylvie de La Roche, 55, from Noak Bridge has been named one of the country's top 30 unsung business heroes in the new Government-backed awards called Trading Places.
The resident of Bridge Street has been shortlisted for the semi-finals after overcoming unemployment and a broken relationship to set up her own successful company teaching French to schools, adult colleges and private students.
She also plans to set a website promoting professional advice about living and working in France and hopes to open a bilingual nursery to promote the French language in children.
Ms de La Roche embarked on a new career path when she was made redundant after working as a money dealer and broker in European currencies for more than 30 years.
She found there were no jobs in her specialised field and when her relationship broke up at the age of 50, she was facing the prospect of being homeless and unemployed.
She decided the only way forward was to set up her own business and with the help of the Southend Enterprise Agency she was able to develop a business plan.
She said: "The awards aim to recognise the efforts of unemployed people who have overcome numerous barriers to transform their lives and who were so determined to get back into the workplace they set up their own business.
The Trading Places Awards were launched last month by the Department for Work and Pensions New Deal programme along with Business Link and the Prince's Trust.
Department for Work and Pensions minister Patricia Hollis said: "We've received fascinating nominations from men and women all over the UK and Sylvie de La Roche should be proud of her success in reaching the top 30 in these inaugural awards.
"We hope her story will inspire other budding entrepreneurs in Essex to take the plunge and turn their own dreams into reality."
Published Friday October 1, 2004
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