Helen Garrett

1. What is your name and what is the name of your business?

My name is Helen Garrett and my company is HG Accounting Solutions Ltd.

2. What does the business do and who are your customers?

I am an accountant and my business offers finance director services to companies who are not big enough to have their own finance director on a permanent basis but need those services monthly or ad hoc.

Also, I soon hope to be offering mentoring to finance professionals on a business basis.

I am currently working with the ‘Help to grow scheme’.  It is a government-backed scheme offered to small businesses.  The idea is that the businesses apply to go on it and receive funding.  They then embark on a 20-week course which gives them something similar to a mini-MBA. They learn all about strategy, marketing and finance, and as a part of that they are offered a mentor for ten weeks.  Having completed an accreditation, I started offering this mentoring in September on a voluntary basis.  As I get more experienced, I will receive higher accreditations and then at that point I will begin offering mentoring to finance professionals on a business basis. For example, they may be a head of finance or finance director, and they would like another accountant to bounce ideas off.  Having been in that position myself, I think it would be really helpful to directors to have that opportunity, I know I would have really appreciated it!

3. What’s the history of the business & what’s your role within the business?

I finished a full-time role as a finance director in a recruitment business in June 2024 with the plan to set up on my own.  I wanted to be my own boss, and I was exhausted by the high pressure environment of working for another company.  I already had the limited company set up around 10 years previously when I offered accountancy and tax services to smaller  businesses so it was ready to go!  I set up on my own and changed the services that I offered.  And it seems to have worked – I am busy and I really enjoy what I do!

4. How long have you had a desk here at Freshmill and why were you looking for a space like this?.

I have been here since May 2025.  Initially it was because we didn’t have any internet at home and then because we were having some noisy building work done. But then I realised it gives me a discipline to go to work and creates that division between home and work.  And also I really enjoy being part of a community here.  Having a chat with people on the desk is part of my day and I really enjoy that bit of communication.  Also, we moved to a new area a year ago and I get to make new connections here which is great.

5. Why does Freshmill work well for you and your business?

I really like to set up here – it has everything I need, I find the pods very useful to use when making calls etc.  I enjoy all the social events like Freshmill Forum.  It is also good to talk to others in the building who are in the same industry – I had a chat with Matt from Digivolve the other day and it’s great to hear what he is up to.

6. What is the most important lesson you have gained from your career so far?

I have thought about this one a bit… So I think it is to not sit there alone and instead ask for help when you need it.  It is not something I have always done but something I have learned to do!

7. Where do you hope to be in 5 years time?

I think it would probably be doing about the same as I am now but with a bit more travel mixed in.  By then my husband would have retired so that will give us more opportunity, and the beauty of working for yourself means that you can shuffle work around, and if need be, do it from anywhere in the world!  I am off to Costa Rica next year which is very exiting but there are plenty more areas of the world I want to explore including the Far East and Japan.

8. What advice would you give your younger self just starting out?

I would say, not to be so hard on myself and celebrate my successes!  It is important to remember to do this, and it is something I didn’t do enough when I was younger.  I would also say, be flexible.  The path to success doesn’t necessarily have to be linear and life will throw you curve balls, but if you stick at it, you’ll get there.

9. What is your favourite quote/mantra?

You make your own luck.  People often say, aaah, I am just really unlucky.  But it is all about how you handle the situations you are faced with, and your attitude when you have to deal with whatever life throws at you.

10. If you could, who would you switch places with for the day, and why?

It would probably be a female sports woman, perhaps Denise Lewis – she is fabulous or Gabby Logan.  It would be great to live a day in either of their shoes.