Think Enterprise Oak Tree Court Binley Business Park Harry Weston Road Binley Coventry CV3 2UN T: 024 7665 4131 E: info@thinkenterprise.org W: www.thinkenterprise.org
stories of creation, inspiration and aspiration
Young entrepreneurs’ stories are inspiring, and in recessionary times, inspiration – and aspiration – are essential to keep us focused on what enterprise can achieve, however challenging the economic backdrop. Think Enterprise Limited commissioned ERS Coventry to carry out in-depth research with the twenty two young business people profiled in this booklet. The aim of the research was to explore the issues impacting on the start-up and running of businesses by young people and to identify the support requirements of young entrepreneurs. Each person featured in this booklet started their enterprise before the age of 25. A key finding of the research was that a gap exists in enterprise support provision for young people, particularly at the pre-start stage when they’re developing and testing their ideas. A national survey carried out by Enterprise UK in 2009 highlighted the increasing use of the internet as a key source of information and advice for under-25s, but there was no online resource available for young people. In response to the research findings we have developed www.thinkenterprise.org which is a unique web platform, designed for 16 – 25 year olds. The platform provides an inter-active space for young people interested in business to connect with each other, develop business plans, pitch their ideas, seek a mentor and link up with business support providers in their area. Future phases of ‘Think Enterprise’ will provide resources and networking for advisers and professionals working with young people, and a market-place for young people to test-trade their ideas. The young people featured, both in this booklet and on the platform, are some of the entrepreneurial role models of the future.
Jackie Brierton Think Enterprise Director August 2010
James Glides into business
Jenny’s sweet success story
Glide Utilities Ltd is an energy and telecoms company serving tenants, landlords, letting agents and property investors across the UK. Its unique selling point is individual billing for tenants in shared accommodation. Established in 2006 by James Villarreal and Sandeep Krishan while students at Birmingham University, Glide now employs 13 staff and has a multi-million pound turnover.
Jenny Hudson set up her company ‘Sweet As’ in Warwickshire in 2005, aged 25. This is a chocolate and confectionery operation, selling high quality wedding and birthday cakes, as well as other confectionery, online and through a recently-opened shop in Leamington spa.
How did you come up with your business idea? While living in student accommodation we discovered the problems that arise when tenants share responsibility for joint utility bills. There were always arguments and we thought there must be a better way to do this. So we set up Glide to provide exactly that service – with me handling finance and sales and Sandeep the technical side. How did you develop your business? While I’d never run a company before, I had holiday experience helping my uncle with his business. But to be honest, I didn’t have a clue to start with until the University put me in touch with mentors and other enterprise people. One Birmingham graduate, now in business in London, arranged for his finance director to help us with planning and cash flow forecasting. That kind of mentoring was exactly what we needed. Were you supported financially by family, friends, agencies or banks? Our first funding was £1000 from the University’s Honeypot Fund. Later, we approached our bank and asked if they would match the money we’d put together.
www.glide.uk.com
They agreed – but the banks were lending more readily then and it probably wouldn’t happen today. We have also received funding from Business Link and Route to Investment (R2I), which paid for a cash flow model enabling us to value the company as we sought out venture capital and private investment. By May 2007 we received £500,000 from those sources, and now we’re tackling the challenge of expansion. Did you receive any other useful support? The mentoring we experienced from many quarters was invaluable. We have been one of R2I’s success stories. I think though that R2I and Business Link need to publicise their services more: they have been great for us and a business doesn’t outgrow help like that. My father and uncle have always encouraged me – and now my mother has set up her own business, a small printing company.
Did you encounter any difficulties in getting started? I didn’t get any kind of enterprise education at school and feel it would have benefited me. I’m now on the board of Young Enterprise who do that kind of work with schools. All children should be entitled to enterprise education. Factors for success • The strength of the initial business concept – although as a new idea, market research was difficult. •
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Although having business flair, James and Sandeep have taken every opportunity to learn from mentors and support agencies. They are fast learners and have established a business in a sector of which they had little previous experience. Their joint sales and technical skills helped give them access to the substantial funding they needed.
How did you come up with your business idea? I’d trained as a pastry chef at some top UK establishments, including Claridges. But I knew there were few opportunities at haute cuisine level outside London and I wanted to live and work here. So I had to create my own job. Then I was married and we had our honeymoon in Australia. The cakes and confectionery there are out of this world and I knew this was what I wanted to do back home. Since then we’ve had our first child: and as the catering industry with its antisocial hours is not conducive to family life, setting up my own business was imperative. How did you develop your business? My first approach was to The Prince’s Trust. I told them my plans and they thought that what I was doing was amazing! They encouraged me to go ahead and sorted out funding. They found me suitable mentors, one in marketing and another running his own business, and I learned much from them. I also had initial training through the Women’s Business Development Agency (WBDA) in Coventry, undertaking a five-day course. It was the right thing to do.
www.sweet-as.co.uk
Were you supported financially by family, friends, agencies or banks? The first funding came from The Prince’s Trust, but after two years in operation I became a member of Heart of England Fine Foods (supported by AWM) and could get match-funding on developing a new product – brownies – and updating my website
Did you encounter any difficulties in getting started? My strength is in the kitchen. That’s where I create and get satisfaction. But the mathematics, the book-keeping part of the operation, is not my natural field, so it took me a long time to produce accounts. I have a business partner that now looks after this side of the business.
Did you receive any other useful support? I get much encouragement from friends and family. But the mentors who gave me insights into the operation of a business were essential. At college, the emphasis was on the practical skills, and hygiene, but not on the business side. At the same time, the motivation has to come from within. You must have determination and self-belief to succeed as an entrepreneur, because you’ll come across a lot of wellmeaning people who express doubts about your plan. You simply have to ignore such negative thinking.
Factors for success • Jenny is highly-skilled and experienced in a luxury field of catering, which has surprisingly thrived in the economic downturn. •
The core part of the Sweet As business is the wedding market, which Jenny sees as a very stable source of income.
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The first shop in Leamington Spa is the first step in a period of expansion, which Jenny will undertake carefully.
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She has been appointed as a young ambassador for the national “Girls! Make Your Mark” campaign.
Kallum spins his web
Beans means Matt and Irfan
Kallum Bell set up Good Links Web Design in Rugby in 2006 at the age of 14, while still at school. Now his company, which offers a complete website design and development service, has a portfolio of around 45 clients. He also offers training in web-design software applications and techniques.
Bean2Bed was set up in Birmingham in 2005 by Matt Roberts and Irfan Badakshi. They designed a bean bag which can convert into a guest bed, arranged to have it produced, and currently sell their range via their website and some national retail outlets. They can deliver their goods throughout mainland Europe.
How did you come up with your business idea? I suppose I’ve always had an entrepreneurial streak. I used to go round doing gardening jobs with tools borrowed from the family shed. But now, with Good Links I’m doing something I enjoy, which is a part of working I don’t want to lose. I started the business at 14 to make some extra cash: I knew people would pay for my web know-how. Now I’m starting to enjoy the fact that what started out as a hobby has become a source of income.
Were you supported financially by family, friends, agencies or banks? I started off with as much as I had saved and a loan from my parents. I bought the equipment I needed and paid back the loan slowly. If my family hadn’t been supportive, I wouldn’t have been able to operate the business from home. I find it very irritating when parents just give their kids money. That doesn’t teach them important financial skills and they’ll get a big shock when they have to do things for themselves.
Did you encounter any difficulties in getting started? Being so young at the start was a problem at times. You encounter a degree of scepticism by some older people: at the same time, though, you create a memorable impression. I’ve had only one client who asked if I thought I was old enough to run the business. Now I’m an FSB “young ambassador” and work in schools for Young Enterprise. Some of the pupils are older than me, which is a bit weird! But I can handle it.
How did you develop your business? Until now I’ve relied a lot on networking. I take part in this activity on two Fridays a month, one run through the Federation of Small Businesses and the other independent. It’s a good system because if you have a problem, there are more than 30 business people there you can ask for help. But you mustn’t go there to do a hard sell. In networking, people buy you rather than your product: if they trust and respect you, they will go along with you.
Did you receive any other useful support? Rugby Business Improvement District (Rugby BID) helped by promoting me to local businesses that would benefit from having websites. They said I was a fantastic guy, excellent at what I do, and not expensive. I had enterprise education at school and found it useful, but it could be improved. We did team-building exercises but they were never business-based, which would have been more helpful. I’ve not yet had a business mentor but would definitely take one on if it was offered.
Factors for success • Like many young entrepreneurs, Kallum has found that working from home reduces the financial burden of operating costs.
www.goodlinks.co.uk
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He is a keen and effective networker and this provides him with support and an increasing client base.
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Good Links has a number of influential supporters who recommend its services highly.
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He has built up a good reputation, and referrals by satisfied customers are a big factor in his success.
How did you come up with your business idea? We’d just completed a Marketing degree at Aston University and attended a party. Lots of people were there and somebody found the usual kind of bean bag in a corner saying: “If only that would flatten out into a bed!” That started us thinking. We looked at what was available in the shops and decided there could be a viable project for us. So Bean2Bed took root. How did you develop your business? Networking is vitally important and we benefitted through Business Networking International. My group has 22 members and we learn about each other’s businesses. It’s like having a sales team of 21 other people, looking out for opportunities for one another. I recently joined a mentor scheme at the Institute of Directors: as well as the advice and guidance I will receive, I also welcome the chance to extend business networks. We’re both young and have a lot to learn, and we hope these contacts will help us to grow further. Were you supported financially by family, friends, agencies or banks? We started by borrowing money from the various sources available to students – loans and interest-free overdrafts –
www.Bean2Bed.com
but some money came through credit cards, which was a bit scary. Later, we were lucky enough to get some Business Link and Higher Education funding to help with accounting and website design. Bean2Bed also won a regional competition run by Shell LiveWire which involved a cash prize, and the opportunity to meet and network with entrepreneurs across the UK. Did you receive any other useful support? Our university tutors were helpful and willing to act as informal mentors. We’ve been involved in several other competitions such as HSBC Start-Up Stars and the Telegraph Business Club. At school I took part in Young Enterprise, which was my introduction to the world of commerce. I feel strongly that enterprise education should be part of the school curriculum: we have a lot to learn from the Americans on that issue. Did you encounter any difficulties in getting started? The main barrier is the negativity you discover in many other people. If you come up with something new, people are often inclined to say it can’t be a good idea because nobody else is doing it! I think
there’s a lack of entrepreneurial spirit in British culture generally. The recession has had an impact on us, affecting a couple of suppliers. But we have reason to feel optimistic. Factors for success • Extensive product and market research was an important factor in establishing the company and its growth. •
Matt and Irfan considered more than 70 designs before arriving at the range they first launched.
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They listen carefully to customer feedback before introducing new products, and have plans to diversify.
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They say: “Meeting lots of likeminded people, being positive and energetic: that’s what it’s all about.”
Sara designs for the future
Tom shows his resourceful side
Sara Fenn established Urban Mind in 2009 at Worcester University while completing a degree in Art and Design. As a skilled graphic and web designer, she wanted to create a company offering both of these services under one roof, and to do it in Worcester rather than move to the bigger cities. Her company won the university’s “Most Professional Business Award 2009”.
In 2007 at the age of 23, Tom Leavesley set up Williams Resource Solutions, an agency specialising in office-based recruitment for small businesses, and based in Worcester. Two years later he won the title of Young Entrepreneur of the Year presented by Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce.
How did you come up with your business idea? Because I have two young children and my partner is self-employed, I knew I’d have to create my own job. I wanted to stay in Worcester and discovered that it does not have a large, established design sector and so an opportunity seemed likely. If I’d looked for employment in my field, I’d probably have had to do either graphics or web and I wanted to do both. There was a recession of course: but I knew that whether looking for a job or setting up on my own, there would be a struggle. How did you develop your business? I ended my degree course by creating a website as if for a commercial client (a band) and starting Urban Mind seemed a natural progression. I spent quite a bit initially advertising in Yellow Pages, with no return. But I also attended many Chamber of Commerce networking events which were brilliant. All ten of my first clients came through networking or linked events! So networking really works.
www.urbanmind.co.uk
Were you supported financially by family, friends, agencies or banks? I joined the SPEED programme when considering setting up my own business. I’d saved up some money, but SPEED gave me £2.5k in addition. However, the training they gave me in business practice was probably more useful. My contacts with other SPEED scheme participants were very productive, as we could share our experiences and pool knowledge. Did you receive any other useful support? I discovered Business Link which was a great source of support and advice. It’s a one-to-one operation with your own business adviser, which suited me better than the large classes on the SPEED scheme because you can go through your personal business plan in detail. Business Link keeps in touch with me, monitoring my progress and suggesting ways to help me resolve issues.
Did you encounter any difficulties in getting started? Working from home with two young children, it’s obviously a challenge to focus on the business. I may have to work into the evenings. You have to be determined and organised. I have now expanded into photographic services with Urban Mind Photography. There may be scope for taking on two employees. Factors for success • Sara set up her business in a field which really interested her, using proven skills and talent. •
In a relatively rural environment with few direct competitors, she has established a local client base.
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She can offer a comprehensive range of services within the area of design and brand identity.
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And Sara is a motivated and highly effective networker.
How did you come up with your business idea? I left school at 16 after my GCSEs and worked in a range of jobs – credit controller, call centre team leader, and training manager at the Chamber of Commerce where I found myself working with entrepreneurs. They were always telling me how good it is to be your own boss. As I’d spent two years in the recruitment industry, making a lot of money for someone else’s company, that was obviously the field I should set up in. How did you develop your business? I’d done a lot of networking at the Chamber and had made many valuable contacts. These were not necessarily people I could get business from, but talking to them and learning from them was possibly the best two years’ training I could have. Now I’m a business owner, I can approach other owners on an equal footing rather than coming across as a recruitment consultant pestering them. That strategy works quite well.
www.williamsresource.co.uk
Were you supported financially by family, friends, agencies or banks? My first business experience came at school, aged 15, when I pitched to the headmistress to run the tuck-shop. My father gave me a £500 start-up loan and lifts to the cash-and-carry and I made about £80 profit a week from a turnover of £1000. But setting up Williams Resource Solutions, it was difficult to convince the banks to lend money to a 23-year-old, a long and frustrating process . Eventually I got finance from HSBC and funding from Business Link towards website costs. Now I have bank managers ringing me to ask for my business, which is quite nice. Did you receive any other useful support? I have two friends, very successful business owners, who acted as unofficial mentors from a distance. They didn’t want to sit in on business meetings, but I could call up and run a couple of ideas by them and get advice. I was determined to set up my company anyway, but without their input it would have been more of a struggle. And the local support I received from two advisers at Business Link – exbusiness owners themselves – was excellent.
Did you encounter any difficulties in getting started? Apart from getting funding there was, of course, the recession. Suddenly everything just stopped and we didn’t raise an invoice for three months. Very scary. But as companies didn’t have the confidence to recruit full-time staff, we started to recruit temps, and that’s what kept us in business. Factors for success • The importance of having experience in the industry where you want to position your company. •
Good networking. It brings you many useful contacts and helps you to develop presentation skills.
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Adaptability. Tom’s quick change of direction makes him look back on the recession as a valuable lesson in survival.
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Great opportunities for “free PR” after becoming Young Entrepreneur of the Year for the two counties.
Angela’s amazing mystery tour
Samantha’s pain-free business idea
The function of Angela Murray’s company Roads to Riches sounds unlikely to the average business brain: it is developing a process to recover platinum and other precious metals from road dust. Angela is preparing her PhD thesis on the scientific background to the business and her company is working in partnership with Birmingham University.
Advanced Healing Therapies, of Coventry, uses specialist equipment from the US to treat a range of conditions from joint pain to fine lines and wrinkles. Samantha Hill started the company in 2009, aged 19, after her mother successfully completed a course of treatment in America. She is planning to expand throughout the UK with a chain of franchises.
How did you come up with your business idea? Since I started my PhD in 2005, I’ve been involved in precious metals research but hadn’t at first considered any commercial application. It was purely science. Then the university’s “Launch into Business” competition came along, my supervisor pointed me towards it, and we decided to submit a business plan. It won, and this early validation of my ideas was a great spur to taking them further. The plan then went through to the BizCom regional final and won that too. That gave us money and training to start up the business and part of the prize was participation in the SPEED programme. Until that point, I didn’t know it even existed.
business. However, the LiB award came with £1,000 and the BizCom brought in £2,500 as well as £4,500 in SPEED programme funding. In May 2008 I was awarded the Graduate Student prize of the International Precious Metals Institute, bringing $5,000. So I actually had enough money to start the company. Now we’re in the final of the Lord Stafford Awards, in the “Entrepreneurial Spirit” category. As we’ve been incorporated for only a year, this is really pleasing. There’s also a Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council Enterprise Fellowship, and the Research Council has given me money, so that I’m at the university full-time but running a development company, which is awesome.
How did you develop your business? It’s still developing. What we are trying to do is pretty ambitious and you can’t go into full scale operation just from good lab data. You first need pilot trials, and we’re trying to attract funding for that now. Meanwhile I’m taking part in the Medici Scheme which trains academics and researchers in enterprise and entrepreneurship.
Did you receive any other useful support? The University of Birmingham has given me the right environment to grow the business and I value its support. The BBSRC fellowship gives me intensive business training, tailored to the needs of technology-based start-ups. I’m getting expert help in patenting and ownership issues. Before entering that first competition, I had no business experience whatever.
Did you encounter any difficulties in getting started? Right at the beginning it was extremely hard work for little obvious gain. But thankfully the workload has settled down since then. Factors for success • Angela’s research and business plan are timely, as global demands for precious metals are high and likely to remain so. •
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Were you supported financially by family, friends, agencies or banks? As I was on a bursary I had relatively little need to make money through the
www.roadstoriches.co.uk
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There’s an environmentally friendly aspect to her business, attractive to funders, potential investors and the media. She is well supported by several funding bodies, while the university gives her ideal working conditions and access to mentoring. Angela had always preferred scientific research which carried practical value rather than “blue sky” studies.
How did you come up with your business idea? When I was still at primary school, my mum was in a serious road accident and suffered severe physical problems. At just 32 she was classified as disabled and pensioned off from work. But one of her good friends, who had moved to the States, heard of this guy with a miracle machine. My mum went over there for a month, had 17 hours of treatment and came home a completely different woman. The family was so delighted it wanted to get involved in making this treatment available to others. How did you develop your business? First we had to buy one of these machines to continue my mum’s treatment. I was in the payroll department at a builders’ merchants. But so many people became interested in mum’s treatment that a parttime operation had to become a full time occupation. This meant my going to college for a year to train in anatomy and physiology, then going to the States for a week’s intensive training. After that, I set up the company.
Were you supported financially by family, friends, agencies or banks? The machine is expensive, but my mum was able to lend me some money. I bought a second machine on a credit card and that’s nearly paid off – but I have a big IOU to my mum. I went to Business Link who gave me £1,000 worth of training courses on aspects of business like presentation and communication. Did you receive any other useful support? The family, of course, have been deeply involved from the start. My mother is extremely supportive and takes an active part in customer relations, telling them about her experience when they first arrive for treatment. And being able to set up in the family home has kept running costs low. And I think it’s fantastic that Business Link is there to offer support. Did you encounter any difficulties in getting started? Luckily we are becoming able to surmount the financial obstacles. Now we’re thinking of expansion, but setting up our own clinics would involve major overheads in training and salaries. So we are taking the franchise route, in which the franchisees can start their own businesses in a proven,
www.advancedhealingtherapies.co.uk
successful treatment, allowing us a small profit. For this we are in partnership with a local marketing company. Factors for success • Samantha is passionate about her occupation: “It’s so rewarding to see people who limp in for treatment walk out in comfort.” •
Media attention. An article in a local paper about Advanced Healing Therapies tripled her client base instantly.
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While her former employment gave her security and good conditions, it did not entirely satisfy her ambition and drive.
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A willingness to make sacrifices to achieve success. “For example,” she says, “my social life has gone down the pan!”
Lissa works towards a new life
Charlotte and Ben achieve a farming dream
Lissa Dobson overcame significant challenges including homelessness, crime and drug abuse to establish Mugz4U in Coventry in 2003. Despite ongoing health problems, she has developed her mug printing business to include new product lines including T-shirts and teddy bears. She was a finalist in the Barclays Trading Places Awards 2009, which recognise men and women who have changed their lives for the better by starting a business.
While still in their early 20s, Charlotte and Ben Hollins saved Fordhall Farm from closure by creating a flagship social enterprise in which 14,000 shares were sold to 8,000 shareholders. Shares were sold at £50 each to save the land from building development. Fordhall Community Land Initiative, in north Shropshire, now leases the farm to them and uses it for events, volunteering and educational visits.
How did you come up with your business idea? When setting up Mugz4u, I was attending The Way of the Goose, a charity which provides training and support to people who face big challenges to getting work. There I learned how to use the equipment and software for mug printing and how to sell the work. After some months I started to make some money for the charity, but they couldn’t afford the stock for the operation to grow. So I decided to set up on my own, using the skills I’d learned. How did you develop your business? The Prince’s Trust put me on an induction course to develop the skills I’d need to run my operation. It involved confidencebuilding, teamwork, work experience and a feel for being in a job and working with others. The Barclay’s Changing Places award and a Prince’s Trust award I received this year were great confidenceboosters and I used them to raise my media profile.
www.mugz4u.com
Were you supported financially by family, friends, agencies or banks? I got £1,800 of initial funding from The Prince’s Trust, most of which was a loan. That allowed me to get the proper software, equipment and inks for the mugs. Since then I’ve been allocated £500 through the Chamber of Commerce. I could apply for more, but want to focus on getting income from the business.
Factors for success • Lissa has used the many difficulties in her former life to act as a spur and is proud to have developed a personal identity through her business. •
Her father, who died before she set up, ran his own company in the building sector: her loss inspired Lissa to reassess her life and follow his example.
Did you receive any other useful support? The Trust found me a mentor who showed me the importance of separating my personal life from my work life. It’s the best advice she’s given me. And the Trust is always there if I need to sort out any issues. Since registering with the Chamber of Commerce, I’ve also had support from the Women’s Business Development Agency (WBDA).
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She is motivated by a wish to help others and is particularly interested in issues of homelessness and promoting entrepreneurship to overcome social exclusion.
Did you encounter any difficulties in getting started? I knew about the product but the business would have begun better if I’d done some market research and worked on customer relations. Also I have to take time out because of health problems. I can’t forecast how much income there will be each month, which makes things hard for me.
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She is now diversifying her range of products to include printed T-shirts and soft toys and looks forward to employing staff in the future.
How did you come up with your business idea? Our family had farmed there for generations as tenants and our late father ran it as a pioneering organic unit. But the landlord wanted the land for building development and we were due to be evicted in 2004. At the last moment we negotiated an 18-month tenancy and started a campaign to save the farm, discussing it with the local community and getting advice from two experts in community trusts. How did you develop your business? We raised more than £700,000 in charitable (non-profit) shares, much of it from Guardian and Daily Telegraph readers. This was sufficient to buy the farm, replacing a landlord who wanted to close it with 8,000 landlords who wanted to keep it going! But there had been 20 years without investment as the dispute with the landlord dragged on, and much work still has to be done in improving the stock and buildings. Were you supported financially by family, friends, agencies or banks? With just a short lease, and our young ages, the conventional banks wouldn't support us. But Triodos, an ethical bank,
www.fordhallfarm.com
gave the community trust a £100,000 mortgage assisting with the purchase of Fordhall Farm, a £32,000 grant was awarded from LeaderPlus, a rural development fund, which provided administration support during the creation of the community trust, then more recently a £25,000 award from the Morgan Foundation provided the initial capital to begin plans to renovate our farm buildings for a local food tearoom. As tenant farmers to the community trust we've had a lowinterest loan of £2,000 from The Prince's Trust to develop organic meat products, a and a £10,000 young entrepreneurial award. The local council also granted us a diversification grant of £2,000 to begin our hogroast enterprise for weddings and parties.
Did you encounter any difficulties in getting started? Finding bank funding was difficult: we were told we had no farming experience although we grew up there! You absorb the knowledge naturally. Ben had been to agricultural college and Charlotte had university degrees in environmental management and maths, but it was hard to combat negative attitudes.
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Involving other people in the project, and learning business skills from a growing range of contacts.
Did you receive any other useful support? The members of the community trust form a loyal customer base and provide us with willing volunteers for work that needs to be done. And all our office equipment has been donated – furniture, cabinets, computers – as people upgrade their own businesses. A mentor from The Prince’s Trust gave us practical advice as well as motivation.
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Charlotte says: “I think a successful entrepreneur shares the journey with others and must be passionate and enthusiastic.”
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Working towards becoming a viable operation without needing further funding from outside agencies.
Factors for success • Charlotte and Ben showed a flexible approach, with a willingness to adapt their plans as opportunities arose.
Ted keeps on the ball
Geoff finds the route ahead
Zig Zag Coaching was started in Malvern by Ted Grizell at the age of 17, already a highly-qualified coach who wanted to offer inspirational football and multi-sports instruction. Events for children under 16 take place in the school holidays. Ted now has a team of 12 coaches and around 10 young leaders and is expanding his operations throughout the West Midlands and as far south as Bristol.
How did you come up with your business idea? Football has always been my passion but by age 12 I realised I wasn’t going to be a professional. I wanted to stay involved and had coaching training from the Football Association: then I was selected to go to Africa and found that for many kids the game is their life, because they don’t have anything else. It was a life-changing experience and I knew then what I wanted to do. How did you develop your business? I manage a sports centre in Malvern and have a mutually productive relationship with Malvern Hills District Council. I have done some coaching work for a contact in the Leisure and Sport department and the council publicised my events when I set up my operation. Were you supported financially by family, friends, agencies or banks? I started out with just £100 which I had saved up. I’ve had no funding and managed to develop the business using only the profits from trading. This was possible because of my job at the sports centre and the fact that I lived at home: so I wasn’t struggling for money.
www.zigzagcoaching.co.uk
Did you receive any other useful support? At first I had no banking facilities. Although the Council isn’t involved in my organisation, it received payments on my behalf and paid me what they received, which was helpful at the start. Although I was unable to take up an offer of training from Business Link, I get one-to-one support from a contact there which answers all my questions. I’m sure I will go for formal training at some stage. My dad started his own business and showed me the positive side of self-employment: and my mum works for a local newspaper, which is great for publicity! Did you encounter any difficulties in getting started? Signing up enough students to make the courses viable is challenging and time consuming. I keep a close eye on the market, particularly on possible competitors who might offer an inferior product. Obviously there’s competition to sign up clients – but also I have to ensure that any bad experiences at the hands of others are not attributed to my company. Now as my operation has developed to several venues, I spend about £500 a month on petrol.
Geoff Cross established Central Buses in Birmingham in 2003 with one bus and one driver when he was just 17. Six years later the business had expanded to 13 buses and a workforce of 18, turning over £1m a year. In 2006 he set up a sister company, Centrad, designing and supplying electronic information systems specifically for the bus and coach industry.
Factors for success • Football is a consistently popular sport among young people and there’s a high demand for holiday activities. •
Ted offers a unique service as only a very few “Young Leader” coaches have been produced by the FA.
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He has put together a top quality team, many of whom have shared in the FA “Young Leader” training.
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Ted is highly regarded in the field and has excellent contacts.
How did you come up with your business idea? When I completed my GCSEs I was offered full-time employment at the bus company where I’d had work experience and a Saturday job. I’d always been interested in buses and generations of my family had worked in transport. But after a year as an employee I was frustrated: I felt the management could do better but my age seemed to prevent advancement. So after talking to my father I set up my own company. How did you develop your business? My father loaned me the money for my first bus. Also he became a sleeping partner as an adult co-director is required. As the business grew and I added more buses, I was able to take on staff from my previous place of work: morale was low there and I could take on people I knew, and who knew me. Being a small company, we could pick and choose our employees. Were you supported financially by family, friends, agencies or banks? After a couple of months, when I wanted to expand my operator’s licence with more buses, it meant showing access to funds of around £20,000 and the bank turned me down.
www.centralbuses.com
We moved to Lloyds TSB who gave us the credit facility. We didn’t want to use this overdraft, just show it was available. I bought vehicles on hire-purchase and didn’t need funding from any government agency: in fact, I didn’t know of any business support available at that time.
Factors for success • Geoff had a long-term interest in buses which led him to gain experience in the industry. •
He had a good knowledge of the area where he wanted to operate.
Did you receive any other useful support? I managed to get started because I was living at home rent-free, thanks to my parents. This was crucial, as it was almost two years before I was in a position to draw a salary. My parents gave me great financial, practical and emotional support and my father, who has run his own business for 25 years, was a very knowledgeable mentor. So I had no great responsibilities outside the business. If I’d had a mortgage and a car, as I do now, I might have been less inclined to take any risks.
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Geoff carried out extensive market research in his field and continues to do so.
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He found a garage location close to the routes he operates to cut down on unproductive mileage.
Did you encounter any difficulties in getting started? It was hard at first. It meant getting up at 4.45am to get to the garage, then finding it difficult to “switch off” at night and get a decent sleep. There was a lot of pressure. My friends, like most teenagers, wanted to go out and enjoy themselves and sometimes I found myself envying them.
Shivani opens the way for others
Lora’s gem of a business career
Shivani Mair is a broadcast presenter and producer and has set up two companies in Wolverhampton. The Careers Surgery encourages 11-16 year olds to train towards their future work preferences: Creative by Nature Ltd offers presenting skills and video production services. Aged 25, Shivani is recognised as one of the UK’s top young social entrepreneurs, providing community benefit through business.
Lora Leedham is a 23-year-old independent jewellery designer and craftswoman from Oldbury in the West Midlands, working in Birmingham’s jewellery quarter. She distributes her work all over the world via her website, sells from her workshop premises and has opened a gallery in Stratford-upon-Avon where she showcases her jewellery and that of other designers. In addition she has 38 stockists across the UK.
How did you come up with your business idea? I graduated from Liverpool John Moores University in Media and Cultural Studies, then presented a media careers advice show on community radio. At the same time I worked in a company’s video production department but after a year I felt ready to branch out on my own. I was getting a lot of interest from potential clients. How did you develop your business? I did a lot of research, work-experience and part-time jobs while I developed my ideas. It was a long period of planning. I’d been told I had leadership qualities and wanted to create a role based on my skills, talent and passions. In 2007 I attended a training summer school for young entrepreneurs run by the organisation “What If”. The Office of the Third Sector rated me highly and I became a founder of the Commission for Youth Social Enterprise. Were you supported financially by family, friends, agencies or banks? The charity UnLtd, which funds social entrepreneurs, gave me £25,000 over three years, which let me establish a website, produce resources and develop the Careers Surgery brand.
This is a great company when it comes to giving support. Even making an application to UnLtd was a useful exercise, helping me to consolidate my ideas with clear thinking. Almost all members of my family have been self-starters, which was an inspiration for me. Did you receive any other useful support? I was offered a mentor by “What If” and she proved to be a good match for me. She is based in London and we would have hour-long sessions on the phone. She has worked in marketing and knows quite a bit about the media industry and social enterprise. UnLtd also provided legal and accounting advice. Did you encounter any difficulties in getting started? I found working in isolation very difficult at first because you want to share problems with others and get their perspective. Now, though, I’ve built up a great network of friends and colleagues. Also, the bureaucracy involved in starting a business can be very daunting for a young person, all the more so when you have social goals.
www.careerssurgery.co.uk & www.shivanimair.com
Factors for success • Shivani’s motivation. “I want to see young people achieve their potential and get to a point where they’re happy in their roles.” •
She has demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit, commitment to her vision, resilience and resourcefulness.
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The original radio programme was a great launching pad for the ideas from which she created her social enterprise.
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She continues to improve her skills and intends to recruit a team of researchers, coaches and production crew.
How did you come up with your business idea? I set up in 2006 after completing an HND in Art and Design at a local college. I went straight into business. Although I never had full-time employment I did work parttime – but the thought of staying there was an incentive to go it alone! Also I realised quite early that only by working for myself would I have control of my creative output. How did you develop your business? I spent time with other designers and practised what I was learning, discovering new techniques. They were very helpful. I would ring them or send an email to explain any difficulties and it was an extremely positive experience. Were you supported financially by family, friends, agencies or banks? I was awarded a £1,000 grant and then given a loan of £2,500 from The Prince’s Trust. This I used to get business cards and cover other start-up costs. At the same time, the panel who interviewed me placed four orders for my designs! A great boost.
www.loraleedham.co.uk
Did you receive any other useful support? The help and advice I got from the Trust was just as important as the funding. If I was unsure about something, or just wanted to bounce ideas around, there was always someone there. I’ve been in contact with Business Link but haven’t needed to call on them for assistance. Luckily my dad had his own business and gave me the knowledge I needed to get started. Also I began to make contacts through networking. Did you encounter any difficulties in getting started? I would say that setting up and getting funding is a challenge, but in my case The Prince’s Trust helped me and it wasn’t so much of a problem. Some people thought I was too young to know about business – so I had to explain to banks that I knew what I was doing.
Factors for success • Networking is important. It allows you to make a range of contacts and gives you access to useful advice. •
Researching the market is essential and there’s plenty of information that’s worth seeking out.
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Living in the parental home can be a strong enabling factor when establishing a business.
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A supportive mentor and positive media publicity are major assets for a young entrepreneur.
Natasha ‘Steps Up’ to the mark
How Peter makes things happen
Natasha Hansell established Step Up School of Dance in 2008 at the age of 21. She runs dance classes and delivers performance services in and around the Walsall area. Pupils range in age from two to seventy and the business has now been extended to provide voice training and karate classes.
Peter Marezana established Excelsior Events while still a full-time undergraduate at the University of Worcester, the city where he bases his business. He offers a personal service, planning and carrying out such events as parties and wedding celebrations to his clients.
How did you come up with your business idea? I’d been working as a tutor in a school of dance since leaving school at 16. For a while I worked in a management role because of my employers’ frequent absences: they had other schools in South Africa and never seemed to be around. I felt that my efforts weren’t being recognised or appreciated and got fed up after a while of having to do everything for someone else. So, I thought, I might as well set up my own school and do it for myself. How did you develop your business? I didn’t have any experience of setting up a new business, but knew how to manage and operate a dance class thanks to past events. In return for funding through the Community Cash Awards, I gave free training and events for local people. Some of my clients were recruited from this programme. Because my classes are held at a range of venues, I rely on the goodwill of the staff at these places and really appreciate their support. It’s a kind of networking.
Were you supported financially by family, friends, agencies or banks? The Community Cash Awards gave me £2,000 in exchange for my free classes and shows – which were useful for showcasing the business. Then we received £900 from the Youth Opportunities Fund to buy two stereos and we were shortlisted for The Prince’s Trust Business Enterprise Award and the Community Impact Award.
Factors for success • Natasha has grown in confidence since she set up on her own.
Did you receive any other useful support? I’ve been given a mentor by the Trust for help in business matters and I have an uncle who’s always been an entrepreneur and gives me practical advice. Also, many of my students’ mums look after fundraising because some of the costumes we need for competitions can be expensive – from £300 to £1,000. Luckily, I still stay at home which keeps costs down.
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Did you encounter any difficulties in getting started? When you’re young, some people don’t believe you know what you’re on about – but I know what I’m doing! And moving equipment from venue to venue is always pretty demanding, especially if you’ve left something behind.
www.stepupschoolofdance.co.uk
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A passion for her job is vital. “I never say I’m going to work: I say I’m going dancing!” On the business side, mentor support and good networking are always invaluable. Step Up has earned media attention from TV appearances in “Britain’s Got Talent” and “X Factor”. Natasha is a natural publicist.
How did you come up with your business idea? I was studying Business Marketing and Accountancy and found a part-time placement with a firm of stockbrokers. Part of my task was to devise a proposal for a social event, which was accepted – and the occasion was a success. That made me wonder why I shouldn’t do that kind of work for myself. I’d shown an entrepreneurial streak while still at school, repairing computer drives and selling them online.
I’ve been considering selling shares in the business to clients who have expressed an interest, but I don’t want to relinquish control of the operation.
How did you develop your business? I carried out extensive market research, looking at other companies that offered a similar service. Also I had some practical experience through my internship. But this is a competitive field in which company image is important. If you don’t have the right product and don’t look the part, you’re pretty much out the window. So I set up a website and took it from there.
Did you encounter any difficulties in getting started? My degree course shows you how business functions, but there are other things you have to learn about maintaining a business for yourself. Working for someone else, and working for yourself, are worlds apart. Youth can be a barrier to setting up a business, but you can overcome this with a good website and a professional approach.
Were you supported financially by family, friends, agencies or banks? With my business at an early stage, I acquired some funding from a scheme run by the University of Worcester, Advantage West Midlands and the European Regional Development Fund.
www.excelsiorevents.co.uk
Did you receive any other useful support? My course at the uni is a useful source of guidance, although a degree in Business Studies doesn’t necessarily encourage entrepreneurship. Now, however, I am taking some entrepreneurship modules, which is a new thing.
Factors for success • Peter has always wanted to run his own business, wanting to have as much control as possible over his own life. •
With graduate employment thin on the ground, there was a major incentive to create his own business.
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Time committed to extensive market research is always time well spent before setting up.
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He’d like to expand with one or two employees, but keep his business “streamlined” and outsource where possible.
Peter has driving ambitions
Stefan bounces into a lively future
Peter Richards established Alf-Osten in 2008 with support from the University of Wolverhampton’s SPEED Programme. At the core of the business is Peter’s vision of an entirely new design of racing car which can also be driven on the road. The business in Shrewsbury has diversified recently and now offers project management and design services to other organisations.
Stefan Taricska established The Bungee Company in Birmingham in October 2008 at the age of 22. The business centred on the rent and hire of a bungee trampoline, a large-scale piece of equipment used at venues where children and adults pay for short sessions of play. Stefan used the experience of running his own company to achieve his degree in Leisure Sports Management at the University of Wales Cardiff.
How did you come up with your business idea? When I set up I was completing an Engineering degree and had spent two years as an apprentice at BMW. When I go to kit car shows and even motor shows and see what’s been produced, I often think “I can do better than that.” Working for a big company you are limited to a small part of the operation: but with my own business I get free rein to be creative. How did you develop your business? I have friends who are also doing Engineering degrees and they help me out sometimes with design issues. Having a good website is essential. My prototype car will be out of the design stage soon and the next step is to build the chassis so that we can show people what we are trying to do. I hope to get pre-order sales to finance going into production. Also, I plan to get dealerships across the country to take the car on a sale or return basis. Were you supported financially by family, friends, agencies or banks? My parents have their own companies and are very supportive. The SPEED Programme gave me £1,500 for initial costs and £2,000-worth of mentoring, with a further £3,000-worth from the EFS Fund.
My mentor had experience of running his own business which was ideal. Someone who’d worked in a large company wouldn’t have been so clued up. The university course touched on project management and budgeting, which was very useful. Did you receive any other useful support? Through Business Link I was put in touch with the Chamber of Commerce and this was good for getting in touch with the business community. I’ve been to networking events in Shrewsbury and Telford and made some useful contacts. People have asked about advertising their products on my car, so there’s a possibility of sponsorship deals. Did you encounter any difficulties in getting started? The biggest challenge was convincing people that I had the necessary engineering skills and business acumen to realise my goals. Working in isolation can be quite lonely. I’d really like a business partner who could attend training courses for me, visit potential customers and dealerships.
www.alf-osten.com | www.ospetersen.com
Factors for success • Absolute determination, Peter believes, is one of the most important qualities for an entrepreneur. •
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It’s vital to set up goals: “I want to become a limited company and then a PLC, quoted on the Stock Exchange.” His ambition for the company is to develop into design and manufacture of boats and aircraft. A passion for the project and a clear desire for autonomy in his work.
How did you come up with your business idea? I saw a bungee trampoline in operation at a shopping centre and, at first, set up the company as a subject for my degree dissertation as part of an enterprise option. The project was supposed to be theoretical. But once I saw it was feasible, the seed was planted. I had to do it! How did you develop your business? My girlfriend, Amy, was a self-employed exercise and gymnastics teacher, so her skills and experience were important too. I had a very useful meeting with the director of the market leader in bungee trampoline hire, Jumpzone, who was a valuable source of information. But perhaps I should have first found a job with one of the existing companies to learn the tricks of the trade. Were you supported financially by family, friends, agencies or banks? The business was partly financed through savings and my student credit card. But I also had valuable, practicable help from my family in getting free storage for this large piece of equipment. There’s an entrepreneurial streak in the family.
My mother supports charities that help the disadvantaged, my sister opened a beauty salon when she was in her teens and my grandmother is an author, publishing her own books.
Factors for success • Stefan already had experience of running an enterprise, buying and selling supplements to aspiring athletes at university.
Did you receive any other useful support? I had two meetings with a Business Link advisor before setting up, but these were just for a chat. My grandparents were a great source of emotional support and guidance.
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An irrepressible urge to set up his own business. “I’ve always been driven and motivated towards that.”
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Hard work and tenacity. His degree combined academic study with handson experience.
Did you encounter any difficulties in getting started? At first, I was at odds with some of my academic mentors, because I wanted some practical guidance rather than theoretical knowledge. They wanted to talk about market research, but I wanted to talk about how the market was going to explode – and how it was going to be brilliant! Also, I felt I needed more specialist support, especially in the matter of insurance issues.
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Thinking entrepreneurially. Although this business didn’t survive, “In my case, it’s an attitude that will always be there – and it grows all the time. Watch this space!”
Robert & Rosanna’s pet revolution
Steffan puts himself in the picture
Electronic Pet Shop was set up in October 2007 by Robert Fulton aged 24 and Rosanna Mackney aged 23, with support from the Staffordshire University SPEED scheme. Electronic Pet Shop is an online store that sells interactive and electronic animals targeted at children, and adults who may be unable to care for a real pet.
In 2004 at the age of 20, Steffan Aquarone established Ephex Media with two fellow students at the University of Warwick. They produced corporate communications, did post-production television work and retailed online for the video industry. With some of his former directors he then set up Fullrange in Birmingham two years later.
How did you come up with your business idea? Before setting up Electronic Pet Shop in 2007 we had run a web-based business called “AdoptaFurby” in the first year of our degree course. This was a success and led us to expand by setting up Electronic Pet Shop in our final student year.
Did you receive any other useful support? The support from our advisers on the SPEED Scheme and Enterprise Fellowship Scheme programme was as valuable as the funding we received. We had a mentor who helped us look after our accounts and we also had a marketing specialist.
How did you develop your business? Both Electronic Pet Shop and “AdoptaFurby” reflect our individual skills and interests, which are web development and toys! We just combined these factors and created a business. We have now also launched ElectronicPets.org, which is a social networking and information website for people and organisations who are interested in the benefits of electronic pets, and in collecting them.
Did you encounter any difficulties in getting started? The most difficult thing to learn is pricing as it is very tricky not to under-sell your time and what you have to offer. Another difficulty is trying to find out how customers think…the psychology behind them. Especially parents, who can be quite mad!
Were you supported financially by family, friends, agencies or banks? Our business was supported by the Staffordshire University SPEED Programme, and through the Enterprise Fellowship Scheme we were given £6,000 to develop the business and £2,500 in personal development funding.
www.electronicpetshop.com
Factors for success • Growing a business steadily in response to demand by building up cautiously and not taking too many large risks. •
Don’t keep all your eggs in one basket – welcome new opportunities by thinking of alternative directions that the business could go in if other routes fail.
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Keep a record of all your ideas and brainstorms for future use
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Shared domestic arrangements and minimal costs mean that the overheads can be kept very low.
How did you come up with your business idea? At Warwick Uni I was involved in the student TV station which led to carrying out a number of projects for the university and its sponsors. There was a lot of corporate accountability involved. The three of us set up Ephex Ltd based on this hands-on experience. How did you develop your business? Our clients included the University, Vodafone and Land Rover, which was a good list to start with. This supported our next venture in setting up Fullrange, which consolidated our position in the market. Between us, we have a useful range of skills – technical, sales and financial. Were you supported financially by family, friends, agencies or banks? One of us was able to bring capital into the business. This was matched by investment funding by the AEGF of £60,000, as well as £60,000 of private investment. So the availability of funding to support early growth businesses but getting this support was a bit like being on Dragons’ Den – ten minutes to present and five to answer questions. I think we argued a good game.
www.fullrange.co.uk
Did you receive any other useful support? Later we got extra funding from Screen West Midlands to develop a slate of television projects. Some of the team honed their business skills through training at the Chamber of Commerce. The Director Development programme part-funded a one-year course at a private sales school, which was excellent. We had an accountant and a freelance business mentor we met through the South Warwickshire Investment Group. We also got advice from a member of the Advantage Early Growth Fund (AEGF). I now give talks to Young Enterprise and I’m an Ambassador for the local Education and Business Partnership, which I really enjoy. Did you encounter any difficulties in getting started? With Fullrange, of course, we set up a company in the middle of a recession. This affected us badly for some months, but it is now one of the few operations doing well. Now it’s moved into digital production, which will be a relatively low-cost direction. This is a strong playing card for Birmingham. There’s still a niche in the UK for digital, creative industries, so there’s plenty of potential.
Factors for success • Ephex set out with a credible client list, as well as the broad range of skills its partners could offer. •
Attention to customers’ needs helped the company to thrive in a competitive and challenging environment.
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An entrepreneurial spirit. “If you mess things up it’s your problem and not somebody else’s. That’s pretty empowering!”
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And Steffan adds: “I don’t really like the idea of working for other people...”
Sharlene and Emma get in the picture
Rachel’s vision for the future
Sharlene King and Emma Blake are planning to launch a production company specialising in TV and video production, also offering workshops to schools. They are calling it Triple Productions, using skills they acquired studying Media and Communication at Birmingham City University.
Rachel Carter established Fullrange in 2008 with co-owners Lee Kemp and Steffan Aquarone, which produces TV commercials and marketing and communications films for a wide range of high-profile clients including Jaguar Land Rover, Marketing Birmingham, Arts Council and American Express. Rachel is responsible for client relationship management and growth of existing client accounts and, as their in-house Executive Producer, overseeing delivery of all Fullrange’s film projects. Rachel has also established and been involved with several other media companies such as Paper Bird Productions, through which she produces films and video projects with co-director writer and director Anna Louise Shelton.
How did you come up with your business idea? Our final year project was to set up an enterprise and Sharlene came up with the idea of this company. Neither of us have business experience, but we decided to make this project commercial rather than simply academic. We thought that the best way of finding work in the media industry was to create our own company. How did you develop your business? We teamed up with a musician who wanted a video to promote her performance and made her a documentary and music video. This project fired up our enthusiasm. So we decide to continue our studies to MA level, where we learned about setting up a business, how to market it – all the things we didn’t know about. Were you supported financially by family, friends, agencies or banks? We received a total of £12,000 from the SPEED scheme at university and £850 to fund places on the Insight Out programme, a five-week course on business development. There was also about £500 from Birmingham Chambers of Commerce for some start-up costs – which was important as it showed our idea was viable.
Now we are putting through an Unlimited application, which means shaping our company as a social enterprise. This means we will be giving something back to the community and we’re enthusiastic about that. All the time, our parents have been highly supportive. Did you receive any other useful support? Business Link has helped us draw up a business plan, but our main support has come from our SPEED mentor at the university. He used us as assistants in taking video training to local schools. Although we had no enterprise education at school, there’s a new approach these days. If children get this coaching early, it could revolutionise business in the UK! Did you encounter any difficulties in getting started? Before we launch Triple Productions, we need to find more funding to buy equipment. We can’t assume that the schools have the stuff we require for our teaching sessions. Then we want to carry out a trial run at a local school to see if any elements need changing before we take our service to the market place.
Factors for success • Extensive market research. Emma and Charlene have seen how other production companies engage with schools. •
The technical skills they acquired at university and a good rapport with the young people they will tutor.
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Passion and drive. “We want to go to work every day and enjoy every minute of it.”
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Ambition. In the current recession you need to think outside the box and create your own opportunities.
How did you come up with your business idea? Fullrange started organically with a group of people coming together. I think I always thought about running my own business, it was something I always had at the back of my mind and I did things like running a tuck-shop while I was in primary school. After university I gained experience of the media industry by working for the BBC doing live television. I was there long enough to get a taster, but I wanted to be carving out my own route. How did you develop your business? I realised that if I continued at the BBC just working my way up that ladder I wouldn't be producing things without spending several years going up the researcher/ assistant producer ladder. I got involved with Fullrange to create immediate opportunities for myself to work as a producer. Fullrange has developed by securing some major clients early on, working out how to add value, and then building on that portfolio. Now it’s about networking like mad, and continuing to move up the value chain with the size of our contracts. My key focus is Fullrange but my side business, Paper Bird Productions, provides me with an additional creative outlet to develop projects driven more by artistic than commercial values.
Were you supported financially by family, friends, agencies or banks? Fullrange gained investment from the Advantage Early Growth Fund, match funded by a group of private investors. This allowed us to grow, investing in capital expenditure such as kit and facilities, and also take on further staff. Since then we’ve been through refinancing in order to change and develop further. We’ve also benefitted from gaining Non Executive Directors on our board as part of the investment process. Finance, particularly managing cash flow, is always tough for SMEs. Individually I have received funding for some of my ventures from Screen West Midlands, and commissions from the UK Film Council. I also won post-production services to the value of £5,000 as a prize for second place in the short film category at the BAFTAs in 2009 for my film Momster.
Did you receive any other useful support? I’ve had the support of several friends and I can honestly say I wouldn't have had the guts and the confidence to go out there and to try and start something on my own if I hadn't met the people I have met. I gained a lot of confidence and developed the ability to take risks as a result of working with the people I’ve been working with. Also, I have to say that my parents were another factor in this because they were so supportive. The concept of some of the risk and the routes that I have taken only in the last few years I
think to them are quite mind blowing. But they've really supported me. Did you encounter any difficulties in getting started? • The old ‘chiken and egg’ of getting in with big brands before having a major track record. On the whole we did well with this by over-delivering, but then that can create its own problems when you’re trying to move up the value chain. •
There are difficulties all the time, but that’s business! Supporting growth in a sustainable way is a big one.
Factors for success • Rachel evidently has high level skills as film producer, demonstrated by the success of her work at various film festivals, including her BAFTA award and two Royal Television Society Awards in 2009. •
Clients ultimately invest in people as well as companies, so it’s about networking yourself effectively, and making sure you deliver.
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If you can accurately measure the success of what you’ve provided for a client, it’s the surest way to get them to reinvest in you again.
www.recarter.wordpress.com | www.fullrange.co.uk | www.paperbirdproductions.co.uk
stories of creation, inspiration and aspiration