Launching a business 10 weeks before Covid could have finished off many startups – but Natalie Klausen is not like most entrepreneurs.
Klausen started her multiple award-winning letting and property management company Let’s Abode in 2020 and manages properties on behalf of landlords and investors.
Let’s Abode is one of thousands of businesses to be helped by Boost in Lancashire and BusinessCloud will be showcasing some of them in the coming weeks.
Recalling her own story, Klausen was enjoying a successful career as the lettings and marketing manager at a national housing group when she decided to be her own boss.
“I’d been on holiday and was on a friend’s yacht and was surrounded by entrepreneurs and business owners that made things happen,” she recalled.
“My friend had set his company up in the 90s and it became a PLC that was rolling on the Stock Market and employing over 1,000 staff.
“When I returned to the UK I realised I had a strong network around me and I started to think about setting up my own business.
“I wanted to create a property management company that was trusted and could create opportunities for the next generation of housing professionals that were trained to a high standard.”
Klausen launched her business – Let’s Abode – on January 6th 2020, just 10 weeks before Covid struck.
She said: “We had just gone live with a contract to deliver services to a local authority and were promoted to all the other councils in Lancashire. Talks started and then the chaos of the pandemic hit, causing delay after delay.
“As we were a startup business we were unable to obtain any government assistance when Covid struck so it was a very challenging time, not knowing if we would survive.”
Klausen highlighted her relationship with Boost – especially her dedicated coach Yusuf Musa – as being critical to her success.
“I meet Yusuf regularly to discuss any obstacles and challenges that I face,” she said. “I have built up a great working relationship with Yusuf and I keep him updated if we have any good news or success stories to share.”
Through her support with Boost she has also attended a mix of online and in-person workshops around a range of topics.
“We have been promoted by Boost and had articles released about myself and Let’s Abode,” said Klausen. “This has been invaluable and created more opportunities for Let’s Abode.”
As an early-stage startup she was also able to take advantage of Boost’s Flying Start programme, which was open for businesses that had traded for three years or less.
It’s also open to pre-start businesses so is ideal for entrepreneurs looking to start a new business.
Klausen said: “The service focused on building business and financial acumen and the core skills to establish a new business and drive sustainable growth.
“I benefited in lots of ways, but it helped me create a strong foundation to help the business to grow. I was also able to build relationships with other business owners.”
Let’s Abode also received a grant via the government’s Kickstart Scheme to invest in the right CRM system to automate certain functions.
The company flexes in size depending on how many contracts they win, but following an introduction from Boost they started working with Lancaster University on recruiting a number of internship graduates.
“We have had a number of internship graduates from Lancaster University work with us over the last three years,” explained Klausen.
“They have always been overseas students that have been great to work with. We are still in touch with them and are keen to keep an eye on their progress. One has returned to India and the other is living and working in Yorkshire.
“We worked with Lancaster University again this year and a group of students did some research for us into something we are interested in expanding into.
“We feel it’s important to work with the students and help them on their journeys by giving them valuable work experience in an SME environment.”
Klausen has also sponsored a child through their education in Nigeria and helped the Nightsafe charity refurbish units in Darwen to take young homeless people off the streets.
She said: “I am now an alumni of the NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator programme. I successfully completed three cohorts and built an amazing network with other business owners and founders that have created business opportunities for us.”
In 2023 Let’s Abode was chosen by NatWest as one of 12 companies to take part in an exclusive event.
“We then won the ‘most trusted property management company in the North West of England 2024’. The judges had checked a variety of platforms and it was confirmed that we offered an excellent customer service due to the reviews and testimonials we had received.”
With one eye on the future, Klausen has enrolled on a diploma in estate agency as Let’s Abode considers expanding into sales and lettings.
“I have been approached by a housing association asking if I would be interested in becoming a board member for them,” she said.
“I’ve been asked to go on the advisory board of one of the female networks that I am part of. I intend to go on boards and help shape the future of housing in both the public and private sector.
“I am fortunate that I have had a mentor in Pat Egan, who was the executive director of Places for People, the company I worked for prior to setting up Let’s Abode.
“When Pat was told I had set up the company he’d offered to help me as I had built up a good trusted reputation whilst working for the company.
“I want to be a mentor to an up-and-coming business owner and can help them through with the knowledge and experiences I have gained. I want to give back and help them like Pat has done with me.
“I’d also like to become an angel investor in the future.”
Led by Lancashire County Council, supported by Government and 10 local authorities, Boost is Lancashire’s Business Growth Hub, one of 37 Growth Hubs in the UK. Boost’s mission is to help Lancashire businesses thrive. Since 2013, Boost has supported over 14,000 businesses, helping create 3,500 jobs while adding £100m to the local economy. From September 1, 2023, Boost is funded by Lancashire County Council, Department for Business & Trade (DBT), and UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) allocations from 10 Lancashire local authorities (Boost local authorities partners). Boost’s local authority partners are Blackburn with Darwen Council, Burnley Council, Chorley Council, Fylde Council, Hyndburn Borough Council, Pendle Borough Council, Preston City Council, South Ribble Borough Council, West Lancashire Borough Council and Wyre Council.Boost offers six core services including:
• Business Support Helpdesk
• Business Advice Service
• Growth Catalyst
• Scale to Thrive
• Flying Start
• Access to Finance
The Business Support Helpdesk offers advice and guidance to anyone thinking of starting a business and all new and existing businesses in Lancashire.
Businesses located in the 10 Boost local authority partner areas are eligible for the Business Advice Service, Flying Start, Growth Catalyst, Scale to Thrive and Access to Finance.