Redundancy… next steps?

[n13arw]

I’ve been advised today that my managerial sales role is at risk of redundancy. From what I understand it’s very likely I’ll be made redundant in 30 days after this consultation period. I am expecting redundancy pay and PILON. My husband has a fair salary and we are financially secure at the moment but I do feel I will need to get another job or earn money somehow so that we can live the life we are accustomed to and so that I have my own money too. I wouldn’t want to rely on him completely and I know he is keen for me to work too.
I have 2 young children, one in primary school and one in nursery. I work part time currently and have flexibility around school pick up/drop offs. I know I’ve been very lucky with this. My children are still young and I hate the thought of not being to do this as often if I were to get a job with less flexibility / home working.
I’ve been in my job 15 years so it feels like a huge comfort blanket is being taken away.

I feel I have transferable skills and have successfully managed sales teams for a number of years now. I just don’t know if I’m passionate enough to do it for the rest of my working life. And I know that it’s unlikely I’ll get a job with the same perks/pay etc.

I have, since having children, been tempted to do something ‘for myself’. I have dreams of a role play cafe for little ones, but there are no premises currently available in our local area and the start up costs and insurance etc could be beyond my means at the moment.
So on a more realistic note, I’ve been thinking of something I could do myself, with low set up costs, flexible hours around the little ones. And due to the sheer demand for this I tend to see on local FB groups I’m wondering whether I could set up my own cleaning company.
I love to clean, iron etc (when I get time) and would love something that kept me active rather than sitting down at a desk.

Am I losing my mind?! I’m obviously still a little in shock, although I did have an idea this was coming so I must admit that ideas of what I may do in the future have been floating around in my head for a little while.

Thanks to reading if you’ve got this far. I just wanted to write this down and get it out!! It would be great to hear from anyone with any experiences in anything I’ve mentioned above.

I was made redundant when my kids were a similar age. I felt the pressure to jump straight back into another very similar role. I was nervous of not earning - I was the breadwinner. But while I've been successful in that career, I've regretted not being braver and seeing the redundancy, as horrible as it was, as an opportunity.

I think the cleaning business sounds like a good idea. You'd have some set up costs but not much and could set your own hours. Good cleaners are like gold dust around here so I'm sure there's work. You'd be able to get started quickly and avoid dipping into your redundancy money.
And if it doesn't work out after 12-18 months, you could always look at other sales jobs.
Redundancy is a really horrible thing to go through but it can also be an opportunity.

Why don't you ask your employer if there is an "outplacement" support available, as part of this process you could consider your next steps and explore self-employment/business ideas.

Thanks, I haven’t heard of this before. I have my individual consultation meeting on Monday next week so I can ask then.

This is a very well known supplier which my company uses: Renovo - The Career Transition Specialists

We had outplacement support when I was made redundant 15 years ago, definitely worth looking into.

My friend set up as a cleaner / ironer when she was made redundant and her DCs were pre-school age, she made a successful business out of it and carried on for 15 years.

Those who have managed to get outplacement support, did you just ask when you have a meeting about the settlement? I need to work out the process. Don't want to ask ask as employer still thinks people might apply for the new roles. I want to get the best deal possible as I'm keen to leave ( it's voluntary at the moment)

Starting your own business sounds great by the way, I'm trying to see this as an opportunity too.