The Personnel Group supports great-grandmother’s new business venture

Jenny Wilson believes you are never too old to learn.

At 66, the great-grandmother says although physically, her body was no longer up to the rigours of physical labour, she wasn’t mentally ready to stop working.

“People of my age can certainly contribute,” she says.

“My body might be a bit broken down, but I can still use my brain and create stuff.

“I’ve got a lot of knowledge that I don’t want to be lost.”

Jenny has worked in and around gardening and nurseries for 30 years and only stopped, on her doctor’s advice, because she’s awaiting a knee operation.

“I went on medical leave, and then Centrelink put me onto The Personnel Group,” Jenny says.

“We talked about an idea I had for an online garden design business and that I wouldn’t mind training for that.”

Jenny Wilson

The Personnel Group worked with Jenny to improve her computer literacy and connected her with TAFE.

“We support her with things like help setting up and navigating social media, or any business stuff,” says The Personnel Group Workplace Support Consultant Grace Daley.

Through TAFE, Jenny gained the practical business skills she needed to make her new venture a success, completing Certificates II and III in Business Administration.

Then Jenny tapped into a Government-provided small business start-up and support program to take Planting By Design from an idea to reality.

“From there, I went on to the NEIS program and learned how to set up and run the business.”

Her new business, Planting By Design, allows Jenny to use her extensive gardening knowledge to help people design their gardens.

“It’s about designing a custom garden for people,” she says.

“I set up their design on the computer, and we then can try different options and plans –

I’m still learning new stuff every day.”