THE woman behind the relaunch of Stanley Park’s Isla Gladstone Conservatory says she wants to make it into the city’s “premier wedding and event venue”.

Gemma Hindley, 31, won the tender to manage the recently restored conservatory and reopened it in August.

The mother-of-one now runs four businesses, employing 70 people, and plans to defy the economic climate and keep expanding them.

Hers is the latest success story LDP Business is showcasing as part of its Supporting Our Businesses campaign. The Daily Post has joined forces with business support agency Business Link Northwest to highlight the peril faced by firms across Merseyside during the recession.

Ms Hindley leads Liverpool companies The Sandon Premier Function Suites, Dodd’s Bar, and property rental company Oakfield Holdings.

She began working with Business Link in May last year. Food and drink adviser Jennie Gillespie helped her find an accountant and a marketing and public relations firm.

Then Ms Hindley heard a tender was out for someone to manage the Isla Gladstone Conservatory.

The Business Link team helped Ms Hindley find a partner for the tender, which she won against competition from 10 companies. It also helped her secure funding through the Train to Gain: Leadership and Management Advisory Service to put 25 staff members on a management training programme with Warrington-based Desirable Fish Marketing.

Ms Hindley has also joined the High Growth programme, funded by the Northwest Development Agency and the European Regional Development Fund, to help businesses win rapid growth.

She said: “I am really happy with the support I have received from Business Link. Jennie has been able to put me in touch with all the right people and organisations that can help my companies to grow.”