OM Entrepreneurs Function Central The Founders: Ali Lion (BH 1993-98) and Mike Ausden (CO 1993-98) The Business: Event-music booking agency. The Beginning: Ali and Mike played in bands together throughout Marlborough, university and for several years after, touring with various original projects and function bands.
The Eureka Moment: After quickly running out of available dates for their own function band, they built a website to advertise their friends’ bands and to meet demand. This quickly grew to a roster of over 500 artists in all genres, providing entertainment at weddings, parties and corporate events. The Dough: Self-funded. The Key to Success: Exclusive artists, a strong focus on user experience and customer service and constantly adapting
the roster to an ever-changing musical environment. The Present: It’s been a very difficult year for the industry, but the agency is continuing to invest in up-and-coming talent and has partnered with The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance to provide mentoring and support to their students. The Future: FC USA! The Nitty-Gritty: www.functioncentral.co.uk info@functioncentral.co.uk
Time Out Bags The Founder: Alix Cussins (EL 1994-96) The Business: Kids’ activity packs. The Beginning: After leaving university, Alix headed into the fashion world. After 10 years, she moved to the countryside and set up an award-winning travel activity company. The Eureka Moment: When Covid 19 restrictions stopped travel, Alix had to adapt her business overnight and so developed a new activity product aimed at boosting kids’ mental health. The Dough: A small private investment, producing all elements of the business inhouse, utilising free marketing, technology and social-media platforms. The business now operates with minimal monthly running costs. The Keys to Success: Anyone can be an entrepreneur; everyone has a unique talent to turn into a business. Don’t be afraid of going back to work after having children. If you build your bricks together, business and family life can coexist. 12
The Marlburian Club Magazine
The Present: Managing relationships with businesses and charities, sending monthly activity packs to children in need. There is an unprecedented demand for the packs from charities, children in care, hospitals, young carers and Sure Start centres. The Future: Developing new products and relationships. Developing new partnerships with hospitals and children’s charities, with a key focus on mental health and children with special needs. The Nitty-Gritty: www.timeoutbags.com
