>The Girls

When it comes to men's work meet The Girls, for Louise Holt, a former manager in the food industry has just swapped her clipboard for a paintbrush and set up her own painting and decorating firm.

I have always loved to paint and decorate and used to do it for friends and family as a favour," says Louise, 37, of Wavertree.

After a while I decided I enjoyed the decorating work more than my present job and decided to change careers.

Louise perfected her craft by working for a large Liverpool firm of painters and decorators before deciding she was ready to go it alone.

"When it came to setting up my business I wasn't too sure where to start so I sought advice from the women's enterprise agency, Train 2000. They gave me all the help and advice I needed including a POWER loan, which paid for my van and essential equipment, and I was ready to go.

The work has been pouring in since then and I haven't even had to advertise. I have worked in domestic homes and large housing organisations which has given me a great deal of experience and compliments too.

My clients tell me that they prefer women because they are tidier and clean up after themselves," she laughs.

"I love the buzz of working for myself and spend my days listening to the radio and doing something I love, to get paid for it is a bonus.

When I think back to my old career I don't know why I didn't do it sooner. Since seeing the advert for Train 2000 I haven't looked back."