AN ALLOA woman who started a business during lockdown says it improved her mental health and is hoping to turn it into a full-time venture.

Nicola Green started Sweet Sweep Grave Maintenance during the first lockdown and has saw the business continue to grow, to the point where she is now working with Business Gateway to develop it further.

Speaking to the Advertiser, Nicola said the idea for the business came from her own personal guilt at not visiting her relative's graves.

Furthermore, she found the first lockdown tough on her own mental health but says the business really helped in giving her something to focus on.

She said: "Me and my mum have spoken about this kind of business for years, [because] I always felt bad I couldn't make it up to my granddad and my nana's graves as much as I would like."

However, as she was always working full-time Nicola didn't ever have the time to really focus on starting a business.

Now, with two kids, she currently works part-time and finally had the time to put the effort in.

She continued: "During the first lockdown, my mental health wasn't very good.

"I thought: 'I'm going to try this wee adventure; there's nothing to lose' – and it's amazing how much it's helped me.

"When I first started I was really nervous thinking nobody was going to like it but it's just took off so, so well.

"The support from the community has been brilliant.

"During the first lockdown, I just thought this could be good for me, it'll give me something to focus on."

Nicola's now in touch with Business Gateway to develop her business further and is creating a business plan and working through their online classes.

"I can't believe how much it's helped me," Nicola added. "When you're making the flower [arrangements] it's so satisfying, even cleaning the graves, seeing how well it looks after I've finished.

"Getting feedback from customers as well, you know that it's giving them peace of mind."

Now, with the business growing, Nicola says her mental health is in a much better place.

She said: "It's helped me a lot, it's really helped me focus. When I'm doing the flowers, I just block everything out."

Nicola also wanted to thank her family and friends, adding that it "wouldn't be possible without their help".

For more information on the services Nicola provides, search Sweet Sweep Grave Maintenance on Facebook or contact her on 07494 468907.