Bath Spa University Graduate starts ‘Muddy Boots’ Enterprise
22nd January 2010
Catherine Webster, a Tourism Management graduate from Bath Spa University has established a thriving enterprise called ‘Muddy Boots Business Assistance’.
Set up in May 2009, Muddy Boots' Business Assistance provides an affordable service to small, rural businesses. Due to the overwhelming abundance of fantastic products and services created locally in Derbyshire, ‘Muddy Boots' offers marketing, promotional and event based support to these businesses.
Muddy Boots Business Assistance
Catherine has quickly established a varied client base – mainly through word-of-mouth recommendation - including The Gastronomy Shop, Women in Rural Enterprise and Joelle Jewellery, to name just a few. Catherine understands the time, resources and finance pressures on businesses and, therefore, provides support with marketing advice and strategy implementation; raising the profile of a business (from press releases to blogging, creating a customer database and writing product copy); attending shows, exhibitions and markets on behalf of your business; event design, organisation and management; and market research projects.
Catherine is also aiming to add ‘Muddy Boots Events’ to her business portfolio in 2010. This will focus on setting up business-based events that showcase locally produced products and strengthen the local economy – for example, a local food ‘banquet' to celebrate local produce. Linking with local producers to create interesting food events within the local community will allow people to enjoy tasting and learning more about food.
Find out more, and see what her clients say of her service, at Catherine’s website.
Catherine Webster
Catherine was born in the rural Staffordshire Moorlands, on the edge of the Peak District. From a farming background, she went on to study business, tourism and marketing. She attended Harper Adams University College for two years, going on to complete her degree at Bath Spa University and gain a 1st Class Honours in Tourism Management, having specialised in business management and marketing. Catherine has also held professional roles within Von Essen Luxury Hotels, Business Link, Event Management in Vienna and Women in Rural Enterprise (WiRE).
During her final year at university she conducted research into rural enterprise, specifically concentrating on local food and drink. Catherine was one of six finalists in Bath Spa University’s first business plan competition and says: “The business plan competition gave me a real confidence to persist with my ideas – even if on a different level – so thank you.”
Alan Marvell, Course Leader for Tourism Management at Bath Spa University, said “I am delighted that Catherine’s career has gone from strength to strength. Whilst a student at Bath Spa University she consistently produced research of the highest quality and her dissertation on rural enterprise and local produce formed the basis of a sound business plan. Achieving 1st class honours is a reflection of her dedication and ability. Her wealth of experience will be of benefit to her current and future clients. I am very proud of Catherine’s achievements and wish Muddy Boots Business Assistance every success.”
