GORDON Brown would be proud of Martine Greenwood. The 41-year-old mother-of-three went from being unemployed and relying on benefits to starting her own business running a market stall in Basildon.

Martine’s success story fits in well with the Prime Minister’s aim to get more mothers and unemployed people back into work.

Among the measures annou-nced in last week’s Queen’s Speech were new incentives for people who have been unemployed for a long time to find a job.

Mrs Greenwood, from Fals-tones, Basildon, is a shining example for all those who have spent a long time out of work.

She used to work as a technician in a London school before moving to Basildon in 2002.

After the move, she stopped working, claimed income support and concentrated on bringing up her three children, Andrew, 21, Amy 18, and Aaron, ten.

In 2007, she slipped on the kitchen floor and broke her ankle so badly she thought she’d never be able to work again.

She was told by her doctor she had arthritis in her ankle which meant she was often in pain, and so committing to a regular work schedule was difficult.

She said: “The fact I had to deal with breaking my ankle was bad enough, but what really threw me was my loss of confidence and self-esteem.”

However, all that changed when she visited the Jobcentre Plus in Basildon and was given advice on how she could set up her own business.

She said: “I had always wanted to run my own business and I particularly fancied becoming a market trader. But I didn’t know where to start and I didn’t have the money to set up on my own.”

Mrs Greenwood’s adviser referred her to Business Link, a free advice and support service run by the Government.

The service runs workshops which gives aspiring entrepreneurs advice on how to start up a business. This inspired Mrs Greenwood to set up her own market stall in Basildon, selling homeware products and seasonal gifts.

Jobcentre Plus and Seetec, a Hockley-based organisation which helps individuals develop their careers, were able to offer Mrs Greenwood a range of financial grants and services without which helped her take the plunge into self-employment.

She said: “Before I came into Jobcentre Plus, I really wasn’t aware of the help I could get.

“If more people knew the help was out there, they might be encouraged to start their own businesses like me.”

Now her business is up and running, Mrs Greenwood said she enjoys being her own boss and being back at work.

She said: “I absolutely love the buzz of working and having something to get out of bed in the morning for.”

She works on the stall four days a week, with some help from her son, Aaron, on Saturdays, and from her husband, Paul, and daughter, Amy.

The stall has only been open since September and she said all the money she makes is going back into buying stock for the stall.

However, Mrs Greenwood said she is expecting to start making a profit next year.

Alison Shirley, Mrs Greenwood’s Jobcentre Plus adviser, said: “Advisers are available to provide work benefit calculations and advice on the financial benefits whether considering self or paid employment.

“I’m so pleased Martine has turned her life around.

“I certainly see a more confident and happier person and wish her every success in her new venture.”

For more information, visit www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk, www.businesslink.gov.uk and www.seetec.co.uk