After a life-changing spinal injury resulted in Amelia Peckham having to rely on walking aids, she and her mother saw a gap in the market for crutches that were comfortable, supportive and stylish.

Eleven months later, the mother-daughter duo launched Cool Crutches, a business dedicated to providing colourful and customisable crutches and walking sticks.

When asked for her top tip for growing a business and taking it to the next level, Peckham simply says, “Go for it.”

“Try everything because you’ll find success in failure. Half the battle is knowing what doesn’t work for your business in order to put all of your resources into what does. Understanding that solving problems and failing is part of that process.”

The availability of expert guidance is paramount to the success of any venture and Peckham credits the access to mentorship through the #SheMeansBusiness hub as pivotal in reaching an important milestone for Cool Crutches.

“We hit our biggest month of sales this August, and that was six weeks after I started the programme,” says Peckham.

“The experts we had access to were phenomenal – not only in the workshops and seminars but also through mentorship. I had two hours with an incredible strategic mentor and it helped me realise what the best route for my business was. I would never have reached that conclusion on my own.”

5 female entrepreneurs share their advice on how to take your business to the next level