Toni was one of the first women sales representatives to be employed in a man's world selling motor rewinds and electrical installations to industry.

Toni also spent 18 years as a Director of small Private Limited Company designing and manufacturing its own range of engineering products. This position also exposed her to the financial, administrative, personnel, import and export aspects of running a successful manufacturing business.

In 1991 she sold her share in the company and started her own training business, Lady in Red Business Matters. As a Director of South West Hants Enterprise Agencies Ltd from 1995 to 2003 she helped organise and develop their training courses during that time. From 2001 to 2007 Toni was a Director of Business Link Wessex and during that time ran a variety of business training and mentoring programmes throughout Hampshire.

Toni was also very active within the Federation of Small Businesses and, as past National Vice Chairman and Vice Chairman of Policy, was involved with lobbying at Government and European levels.

In 1999, the North West German Conference of Chambers of Trade and Commerce awarded her their 'Golden Badge of Honour' for services to Small and Medium Enterprises.