It's been an exciting month for Louise Hunt Skelley PLY and she's sharing why!

August is upon us – it’s the month of holidays, summer fun and time off for many people. So how are small business owners coping with the month often known as ‘silly season’?

Up today is Louise Hunt Skelley PLY. Louise is a former Paralympic tennis player who travelled competing and who was ranked top ten in the world at the height of her career. Today she’s a television commentator on sports, a motivational speaker and an advocate and activist around disability rights.

How has August been for your business?
I’ve found that August has been really exciting and really busy for me. I’ve helped to organise the British Open and then I got to go to Rotterdam to commentate on the Inaugural European Para Championships. It was so exciting to take my commentating abroad and what made it even more brilliant was the fact that my husband was also competing there, and he won silver in his sport of Judo!

What are your personal plans for this month?
I have a Disney cruise at the end of the month which I cannot wait for. August has been an absolutely crazy month, so this cruise is very welcome!

My husband Chris will soon be competing in the World Games, so I’ll be supporting him too and it will be great getting to watch him compete.

August 20 was World Photo Day. Can you share a photo as an attachment which means something to you this year so far?
I absolutely love taking photos and I had so many to choose from but the one I really want to share has to be this one of me commentating at Wimbledon this year.

I think it’s so important to take photos and videos as often as you can to capture the memories of everything you do.

Did you know August 21 was World Entrepreneurs Day? What does this word mean to you and do you apply it to yourself?
I do consider myself a bit of an entrepreneur in a unique sense because I'm taking my career in new directions, and I guess it's been very entrepreneurial for me. But obviously being self-employed, I'm finding this year really exciting because loads of new doors are opening. I'm trying loads of new things and challenges and I'm grabbing it with both hands, but it's all very much led by my ambition and me working hard and pushing against those doors and putting myself out there and being willing to try new things. So that's how I think I would relate to World Entrepreneurs Day.

Can you name one business you’d like to give a summer shout out too?
I’d love to give a shout out to Jamie, Charlott and the team at See No Bounds. In September I’m starting Inclusivity Networking sessions with them. I love the team at See No Bounds because they’re driving change and making sure that their sessions are inclusive, diverse and accessible for everyone.

 They truly want to get to a point where there is nothing stopping an event like networking from being inclusive for any individual who has a disability. The Inclusivity Networking sessions will create a dedicated space that offers support, understanding and empowerment and I’m really excited to start them!

For more information on Louise and the work that she does visit http://www.louisehunt.co.uk/