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T: 024 7665 4131E: info@thinkenterprise.orgW: www.thinkenterprise.org stories of creation, inspiration and aspiration

Young entrepreneurs’ stories are inspiring,and in recessionary times, inspiration – andaspiration – are essential to keep us focusedon what enterprise can achieve, howeverchallenging the economic backdrop.

Think Enterprise Limited commissioned ERS Coventry to carry out in-depth research with the twentytwo young business people profiled in this booklet. The aim of the research was to explore theissues impacting on the start-up and running of businesses by young people and to identify thesupport requirements of young entrepreneurs. Each person featured in this booklet started theirenterprise 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 surveycarried out by Enterprise UK in 2009 highlighted the increasing use of the internet as a key sourceof information and advice for under-25s, but there was no online resource available for youngpeople.

In response to the research findings we have developed www.thinkenterprise.org which is a uniqueweb platform, designed for 16 – 25 year olds. The platform provides an inter-active space for youngpeople 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 ‘ThinkEnterprise’ will provide resources and networking for advisers and professionals working with youngpeople, 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 theentrepreneurial role models of the future.

Jackie BriertonThink Enterprise DirectorAugust 2010

Jenny’s sweetsuccess storyJenny Hudson set up her company ‘Sweet As’ in Warwickshire in2005, aged 25. This is a chocolate and confectionery operation,selling high quality wedding and birthday cakes, as well as otherconfectionery, online and through a recently-opened shop inLeamington spa.

www.sweet-as.co.uk

How did you come up with yourbusiness idea?I’d trained as a pastry chef at some top UKestablishments, including Claridges. But Iknew there were few opportunities at hautecuisine level outside London and I wantedto live and work here. So I had to createmy own job. Then I was married and wehad our honeymoon in Australia. Thecakes and confectionery there are out ofthis world and I knew this was what Iwanted to do back home. Since then we’vehad our first child: and as the cateringindustry with its antisocial hours is notconducive to family life, setting up my ownbusiness was imperative.

How did you develop your business?My first approach was to The Prince’sTrust. I told them my plans and theythought that what I was doing wasamazing! They encouraged me to goahead and sorted out funding. They foundme suitable mentors, one in marketing andanother running his own business, and Ilearned much from them. I also had initialtraining through the Women’s BusinessDevelopment Agency (WBDA) in Coventry,undertaking a five-day course. It was theright thing to do.

Were you supported financially byfamily, friends, agencies or banks?The first funding came from The Prince’sTrust, but after two years in operation Ibecame a member of Heart of EnglandFine Foods (supported by AWM) and couldget match-funding on developing a newproduct – brownies – and updating mywebsite

Did you receive any other usefulsupport?I get much encouragement from friendsand family. But the mentors who gave meinsights into the operation of a businesswere essential. At college, the emphasiswas on the practical skills, and hygiene,but not on the business side. At the sametime, the motivation has to come fromwithin. You must have determination andself-belief to succeed as an entrepreneur,because you’ll come across a lot of well-meaning people who express doubtsabout your plan. You simply have to ignoresuch negative thinking.

Did you encounter any difficulties ingetting started?My strength is in the kitchen. That’s where Icreate and get satisfaction. But themathematics, the book-keeping part of theoperation, is not my natural field, so it tookme a long time to produce accounts. Ihave a business partner that now looksafter this side of the business.

Factors for success• Jenny is highly-skilled and experienced

in a luxury field of catering, which hassurprisingly thrived in the economicdownturn.

• The core part of the Sweet As businessis the wedding market, which Jennysees as a very stable source ofincome.

• The first shop in Leamington Spa is thefirst step in a period of expansion,which Jenny will undertake carefully.

• She has been appointed as a youngambassador for the national “Girls!Make Your Mark” campaign.

James Glidesinto businessGlide Utilities Ltd is an energy and telecoms company servingtenants, landlords, letting agents and property investors across theUK. Its unique selling point is individual billing for tenants in sharedaccommodation. Established in 2006 by James Villarreal andSandeep Krishan while students at Birmingham University, Glide nowemploys 13 staff and has a multi-million pound turnover.

www.glide.uk.com

How did you come up with yourbusiness idea?While living in student accommodation wediscovered the problems that arise whentenants share responsibility for joint utilitybills. There were always arguments and wethought there must be a better way to dothis. So we set up Glide to provide exactlythat service – with me handling finance andsales and Sandeep the technical side.

How did you develop your business?While I’d never run a company before, Ihad holiday experience helping my unclewith his business. But to be honest, I didn’thave a clue to start with until the Universityput me in touch with mentors and otherenterprise people. One Birminghamgraduate, now in business in London,arranged for his finance director to help uswith planning and cash flow forecasting.That kind of mentoring was exactly whatwe needed.

Were you supported financially byfamily, friends, agencies or banks?Our first funding was £1000 from theUniversity’s Honeypot Fund. Later, weapproached our bank and asked if theywould match the money we’d put together.

They agreed – but the banks were lendingmore readily then and it probably wouldn’thappen today. We have also receivedfunding from Business Link and Route toInvestment (R2I), which paid for a cashflow model enabling us to value thecompany as we sought out venture capitaland private investment. By May 2007 wereceived £500,000 from those sources,and now we’re tackling the challenge ofexpansion.

Did you receive any other usefulsupport?The mentoring we experienced from manyquarters was invaluable. We have beenone of R2I’s success stories. I think thoughthat R2I and Business Link need topublicise their services more: they havebeen great for us and a business doesn’toutgrow help like that. My father and unclehave always encouraged me – and nowmy mother has set up her own business, asmall printing company.

Did you encounter any difficulties ingetting started?I didn’t get any kind of enterpriseeducation at school and feel it would havebenefited me. I’m now on the board ofYoung Enterprise who do that kind of workwith schools. All children should be entitledto enterprise education.

Factors for success• The strength of the initial business

concept – although as a new idea,market research was difficult.

• Although having business flair, Jamesand Sandeep have taken everyopportunity to learn from mentors andsupport agencies.

• They are fast learners and haveestablished a business in a sector ofwhich they had little previousexperience.

• Their joint sales and technical skillshelped give them access to thesubstantial funding they needed.

Beans meansMatt and IrfanBean2Bed was set up in Birmingham in 2005 by Matt Roberts andIrfan Badakshi. They designed a bean bag which can convert into aguest bed, arranged to have it produced, and currently sell theirrange via their website and some national retail outlets. They candeliver their goods throughout mainland Europe.

www.Bean2Bed.com

How did you come up with yourbusiness idea?We’d just completed a Marketing degree atAston University and attended a party. Lotsof people were there and somebody foundthe usual kind of bean bag in a cornersaying: “If only that would flatten out into abed!” That started us thinking. We lookedat what was available in the shops anddecided there could be a viable project forus. So Bean2Bed took root.

How did you develop your business?Networking is vitally important and webenefitted through Business NetworkingInternational. My group has 22 membersand we learn about each other’sbusinesses. It’s like having a sales team of21 other people, looking out foropportunities for one another. I recentlyjoined a mentor scheme at the Institute ofDirectors: as well as the advice andguidance I will receive, I also welcome thechance to extend business networks.We’re both young and have a lot to learn,and we hope these contacts will help us togrow further.

Were you supported financially byfamily, friends, agencies or banks?We started by borrowing money from thevarious sources available to students –loans and interest-free overdrafts –

but some money came through creditcards, which was a bit scary. Later, wewere lucky enough to get some BusinessLink and Higher Education funding to helpwith accounting and website design.Bean2Bed also won a regional competitionrun by Shell LiveWire which involved acash prize, and the opportunity to meetand network with entrepreneurs across theUK.

Did you receive any other usefulsupport?Our university tutors were helpful andwilling to act as informal mentors. We’vebeen involved in several othercompetitions such as HSBC Start-Up Starsand the Telegraph Business Club. Atschool I took part in Young Enterprise,which was my introduction to the world ofcommerce. I feel strongly that enterpriseeducation should be part of the schoolcurriculum: we have a lot to learn from theAmericans on that issue.

Did you encounter any difficulties ingetting started?The main barrier is the negativity youdiscover in many other people. If youcome up with something new, people areoften inclined to say it can’t be a good ideabecause nobody else is doing it! I think

there’s a lack of entrepreneurial spirit inBritish culture generally. The recession hashad an impact on us, affecting a couple ofsuppliers. But we have reason to feeloptimistic.

Factors for success• Extensive product and market

research was an important factor inestablishing the company and itsgrowth.

• Matt and Irfan considered more than70 designs before arriving at the rangethey first launched.

• They listen carefully to customerfeedback before introducing newproducts, and have plans to diversify.

• They say: “Meeting lots of like-minded people, being positive andenergetic: that’s what it’s all about.”

Kallum spinshis webKallum Bell set up Good Links Web Design in Rugby in 2006 at theage of 14, while still at school. Now his company, which offers acomplete website design and development service, has a portfolio ofaround 45 clients. He also offers training in web-design softwareapplications and techniques.

www.goodlinks.co.uk

How did you come up with yourbusiness idea?I suppose I’ve always had anentrepreneurial streak. I used to go rounddoing gardening jobs with tools borrowedfrom the family shed. But now, with GoodLinks I’m doing something I enjoy, which isa part of working I don’t want to lose. Istarted the business at 14 to make someextra cash: I knew people would pay formy web know-how. Now I’m starting toenjoy the fact that what started out as ahobby has become a source of income.

How did you develop your business?Until now I’ve relied a lot on networking. Itake part in this activity on two Fridays amonth, one run through the Federation ofSmall Businesses and the otherindependent. It’s a good system because ifyou have a problem, there are more than30 business people there you can ask forhelp. But you mustn’t go there to do a hardsell. In networking, people buy you ratherthan your product: if they trust and respectyou, they will go along with you.

Were you supported financially byfamily, friends, agencies or banks?I started off with as much as I had savedand a loan from my parents. I bought theequipment I needed and paid back theloan slowly. If my family hadn’t beensupportive, I wouldn’t have been able tooperate the business from home. I find itvery irritating when parents just give theirkids money. That doesn’t teach themimportant financial skills and they’ll get abig shock when they have to do things forthemselves.

Did you receive any other usefulsupport?Rugby Business Improvement District(Rugby BID) helped by promoting me tolocal businesses that would benefit fromhaving websites. They said I was afantastic guy, excellent at what I do, andnot expensive. I had enterprise educationat school and found it useful, but it couldbe improved. We did team-buildingexercises but they were neverbusiness-based, which would have beenmore helpful. I’ve not yet had a businessmentor but would definitely take one on if itwas offered.

Did you encounter any difficulties ingetting started?Being so young at the start was a problemat times. You encounter a degree ofscepticism by some older people: at thesame time, though, you create amemorable impression. I’ve had only oneclient who asked if I thought I was oldenough to run the business. Now I’m anFSB “young ambassador” and work inschools for Young Enterprise. Some of thepupils are older than me, which is a bitweird! But I can handle it.

Factors for success• Like many young entrepreneurs,

Kallum has found that working fromhome reduces the financial burden ofoperating costs.

• He is a keen and effective networkerand this provides him with support andan increasing client base.

• Good Links has a number of influentialsupporters who recommend itsservices highly.

• He has built up a good reputation, andreferrals by satisfied customers are abig factor in his success.

Tom shows hisresourceful sideIn 2007 at the age of 23, Tom Leavesley set up Williams ResourceSolutions, an agency specialising in office-based recruitment for smallbusinesses, and based in Worcester. Two years later he won the titleof Young Entrepreneur of the Year presented by Herefordshire andWorcestershire Chamber of Commerce.

www.williamsresource.co.uk

How did you come up with yourbusiness idea?I left school at 16 after my GCSEs andworked in a range of jobs – creditcontroller, call centre team leader, andtraining manager at the Chamber ofCommerce where I found myself workingwith entrepreneurs. They were alwaystelling me how good it is to be your ownboss. As I’d spent two years in therecruitment industry, making a lot ofmoney for someone else’s company, thatwas obviously the field I should set up in.

How did you develop your business?I’d done a lot of networking at theChamber and had made many valuablecontacts. These were not necessarilypeople I could get business from, buttalking to them and learning from themwas possibly the best two years’ training Icould have. Now I’m a business owner, Ican approach other owners on an equalfooting rather than coming across as arecruitment consultant pestering them.That strategy works quite well.

Were you supported financially byfamily, friends, agencies or banks?My first business experience came atschool, aged 15, when I pitched to theheadmistress to run the tuck-shop. Myfather gave me a £500 start-up loan andlifts to the cash-and-carry and I madeabout £80 profit a week from a turnover of£1000. But setting up Williams ResourceSolutions, it was difficult to convince thebanks to lend money to a 23-year-old, along and frustrating process . Eventually Igot finance from HSBC and funding fromBusiness Link towards website costs. NowI have bank managers ringing me to askfor my business, which is quite nice.

Did you receive any other usefulsupport?I have two friends, very successfulbusiness owners, who acted as unofficialmentors from a distance. They didn’t wantto sit in on business meetings, but I couldcall up and run a couple of ideas by themand get advice. I was determined to set upmy company anyway, but without theirinput it would have been more of astruggle. And the local support I receivedfrom two advisers at Business Link – ex-business owners themselves – wasexcellent.

Did you encounter any difficulties ingetting started?Apart from getting funding there was, ofcourse, the recession. Suddenly everythingjust stopped and we didn’t raise an invoicefor three months. Very scary. But ascompanies didn’t have the confidence torecruit full-time staff, we started to recruittemps, and that’s what kept us in business.

Factors for success• The importance of having experience

in the industry where you want toposition your company.

• Good networking. It brings you manyuseful contacts and helps you todevelop presentation skills.

• Adaptability. Tom’s quick change ofdirection makes him look back on therecession as a valuable lesson insurvival.

• Great opportunities for “free PR”after becoming Young Entrepreneur ofthe Year for the two counties.

Sara designsfor the futureSara Fenn established Urban Mind in 2009 at Worcester Universitywhile completing a degree in Art and Design. As a skilled graphic andweb designer, she wanted to create a company offering both of theseservices under one roof, and to do it in Worcester rather than move tothe bigger cities. Her company won the university’s “MostProfessional Business Award 2009”.

www.urbanmind.co.uk

How did you come up with yourbusiness idea?Because I have two young children and mypartner is self-employed, I knew I’d have tocreate my own job. I wanted to stay inWorcester and discovered that it does nothave a large, established design sectorand so an opportunity seemed likely. If I’dlooked for employment in my field, I’dprobably have had to do either graphics orweb and I wanted to do both. There was arecession of course: but I knew thatwhether looking for a job or setting up onmy own, there would be a struggle.

How did you develop your business?I ended my degree course by creating awebsite as if for a commercial client (aband) and starting Urban Mind seemed anatural progression. I spent quite a bitinitially advertising in Yellow Pages, with noreturn. But I also attended many Chamberof Commerce networking events whichwere brilliant. All ten of my first clientscame through networking or linked events!So networking really works.

Were you supported financially byfamily, friends, agencies or banks?I joined the SPEED programme whenconsidering setting up my own business.I’d saved up some money, but SPEEDgave me £2.5k in addition. However, thetraining they gave me in business practicewas probably more useful. My contactswith other SPEED scheme participantswere very productive, as we could shareour experiences and pool knowledge.

Did you receive any other usefulsupport?I discovered Business Link which was agreat source of support and advice. It’s aone-to-one operation with your ownbusiness adviser, which suited me betterthan the large classes on the SPEEDscheme because you can go through yourpersonal business plan in detail. BusinessLink keeps in touch with me, monitoringmy progress and suggesting ways to helpme resolve issues.

Did you encounter any difficulties ingetting started?Working from home with two youngchildren, it’s obviously a challenge to focuson the business. I may have to work intothe evenings. You have to be determinedand organised. I have now expanded intophotographic services with Urban MindPhotography. There may be scope fortaking 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 environmentwith few direct competitors, shehas established a local clientbase.

• She can offer a comprehensiverange of services within the area ofdesign and brand identity.

• And Sara is a motivated and highlyeffective networker.

Samantha’s pain-freebusiness ideaAdvanced Healing Therapies, of Coventry, uses specialist equipmentfrom the US to treat a range of conditions from joint pain to fine linesand wrinkles. Samantha Hill started the company in 2009, aged 19, afterher mother successfully completed a course of treatment in America.She is planning to expand throughout the UK with a chain of franchises.

www.advancedhealingtherapies.co.uk

How did you come up with yourbusiness idea?When I was still at primary school, mymum was in a serious road accident andsuffered severe physical problems. At just32 she was classified as disabled andpensioned off from work. But one of hergood friends, who had moved to theStates, heard of this guy with a miraclemachine. My mum went over there for amonth, had 17 hours of treatment andcame home a completely different woman.The family was so delighted it wanted toget involved in making this treatmentavailable to others.

How did you develop your business?First we had to buy one of these machinesto continue my mum’s treatment. I was inthe payroll department at a builders’merchants. But so many people becameinterested in mum’s treatment that a part-time operation had to become a full timeoccupation. This meant my going tocollege for a year to train in anatomy andphysiology, then going to the States for aweek’s intensive training. After that, I set upthe company.

Were you supported financially byfamily, friends, agencies or banks?The machine is expensive, but my mumwas able to lend me some money. I boughta second machine on a credit card andthat’s nearly paid off – but I have a big IOUto my mum. I went to Business Link whogave me £1,000 worth of training courseson aspects of business like presentationand communication.

Did you receive any other usefulsupport?The family, of course, have been deeplyinvolved from the start. My mother isextremely supportive and takes an activepart in customer relations, telling themabout her experience when they first arrivefor treatment. And being able to set up inthe family home has kept running costslow. And I think it’s fantastic that BusinessLink is there to offer support.

Did you encounter any difficulties ingetting started?Luckily we are becoming able to surmountthe financial obstacles. Now we’re thinkingof expansion, but setting up our ownclinics would involve major overheads intraining and salaries. So we are taking thefranchise route, in which the franchiseescan start their own businesses in a proven,

successful treatment, allowing us a smallprofit. For this we are in partnership with alocal marketing company.

Factors for success• Samantha is passionate about her

occupation: “It’s so rewarding to seepeople who limp in for treatment walkout in comfort.”

• Media attention. An article in a localpaper about Advanced HealingTherapies tripled her client baseinstantly.

• While her former employment gave hersecurity and good conditions, it did notentirely satisfy her ambition and drive.

• A willingness to make sacrificesto achieve success. “For example,”she says, “my social life has gonedown the pan!”

Angela’s amazingmystery tourThe function of Angela Murray’s company Roads to Riches soundsunlikely to the average business brain: it is developing a process torecover platinum and other precious metals from road dust. Angela ispreparing her PhD thesis on the scientific background to the businessand her company is working in partnership with Birmingham University.

www.roadstoriches.co.uk

How did you come up with yourbusiness idea?Since I started my PhD in 2005, I’ve beeninvolved in precious metals research buthadn’t at first considered any commercialapplication. It was purely science. Then theuniversity’s “Launch into Business”competition came along, my supervisorpointed me towards it, and we decided tosubmit a business plan. It won, and thisearly validation of my ideas was a greatspur to taking them further. The plan thenwent through to the BizCom regional finaland won that too. That gave us money andtraining to start up the business and part ofthe prize was participation in the SPEEDprogramme. Until that point, I didn’t know iteven existed.

How did you develop your business?It’s still developing. What we are trying todo is pretty ambitious and you can’t gointo full scale operation just from good labdata. You first need pilot trials, and we’retrying to attract funding for that now.Meanwhile I’m taking part in the MediciScheme which trains academics andresearchers in enterprise andentrepreneurship.

Were you supported financially byfamily, friends, agencies or banks?As I was on a bursary I had relatively littleneed to make money through the

business. However, the LiB award camewith £1,000 and the BizCom brought in£2,500 as well as £4,500 in SPEEDprogramme funding. In May 2008 I wasawarded the Graduate Student prize of theInternational Precious Metals Institute,bringing $5,000. So I actually had enoughmoney to start the company. Now we’re inthe final of the Lord Stafford Awards, in the“Entrepreneurial Spirit” category. As we’vebeen incorporated for only a year, this isreally pleasing. There’s also aBiotechnology and Biological SciencesResearch Council Enterprise Fellowship,and the Research Council has given memoney, so that I’m at the university full-timebut running a development company,which is awesome.

Did you receive any other usefulsupport?The University of Birmingham has givenme the right environment to grow thebusiness and I value its support. TheBBSRC fellowship gives me intensivebusiness training, tailored to the needs oftechnology-based start-ups. I’m gettingexpert help in patenting and ownershipissues. Before entering that firstcompetition, I had no business experiencewhatever.

Did you encounter any difficulties ingetting started?Right at the beginning it was extremelyhard work for little obvious gain. Butthankfully the workload has settled downsince then.

Factors for success• Angela’s research and business

plan are timely, as global demands forprecious metals are high and likely toremain so.

• There’s an environmentally friendlyaspect to her business, attractive tofunders, potential investors and themedia.

• She is well supported by severalfunding bodies, while the universitygives her ideal working conditions andaccess to mentoring.

• Angela had always preferred scientificresearch which carried practical valuerather than “blue sky” studies.

Charlotte and Benachieve a farming dream

While still in their early 20s, Charlotte and Ben Hollins saved FordhallFarm from closure by creating a flagship social enterprise in which14,000 shares were sold to 8,000 shareholders. Shares were sold at£50 each to save the land from building development. FordhallCommunity Land Initiative, in north Shropshire, now leases the farmto them and uses it for events, volunteering and educational visits.

www.fordhallfarm.com

How did you come up with yourbusiness idea?Our family had farmed there forgenerations as tenants and our late fatherran it as a pioneering organic unit. But thelandlord wanted the land for buildingdevelopment and we were due to beevicted in 2004. At the last moment wenegotiated an 18-month tenancy andstarted a campaign to save the farm,discussing it with the local community andgetting advice from two experts incommunity trusts.

How did you develop your business?We raised more than £700,000 incharitable (non-profit) shares, much of itfrom Guardian and Daily Telegraphreaders. This was sufficient to buy thefarm, replacing a landlord who wanted toclose it with 8,000 landlords who wanted tokeep it going! But there had been 20 yearswithout investment as the dispute with thelandlord dragged on, and much work stillhas to be done in improving the stock andbuildings.

Were you supported financially byfamily, friends, agencies or banks?With just a short lease, and our youngages, the conventional banks wouldn'tsupport us. But Triodos, an ethical bank,

gave the community trust a £100,000mortgage assisting with the purchase ofFordhall Farm, a £32,000 grant wasawarded from LeaderPlus, a ruraldevelopment fund, which providedadministration support during the creationof the community trust, then more recentlya £25,000 award from the MorganFoundation provided the initial capital tobegin plans to renovate our farm buildingsfor a local food tearoom. As tenant farmersto the community trust we've had a low-interest loan of £2,000 from ThePrince's Trust to develop organic meatproducts, a and a £10,000 youngentrepreneurial award. The local councilalso granted us a diversification grant of£2,000 to begin our hogroast enterprise forweddings and parties.

Did you receive any other usefulsupport?The members of the community trust forma loyal customer base and provide us withwilling volunteers for work that needs to bedone. And all our office equipment hasbeen donated – furniture, cabinets,computers – as people upgrade their ownbusinesses. A mentor from The Prince’sTrust gave us practical advice as well asmotivation.

Did you encounter any difficulties ingetting started?Finding bank funding was difficult: we weretold we had no farming experiencealthough we grew up there! You absorb theknowledge naturally. Ben had been toagricultural college and Charlotte haduniversity degrees in environmentalmanagement and maths, but it was hard tocombat negative attitudes.

Factors for success• Charlotte and Ben showed a flexible

approach, with a willingness to adapttheir plans as opportunities arose.

• Involving other people in the project,and learning business skills from agrowing range of contacts.

• Charlotte says: “I think a successfulentrepreneur shares the journey withothers and must be passionate andenthusiastic.”

• Working towards becoming a viableoperation without needing furtherfunding from outside agencies.

Lissa works towardsa new lifeLissa Dobson overcame significant challenges includinghomelessness, crime and drug abuse to establish Mugz4U inCoventry in 2003. Despite ongoing health problems, she hasdeveloped her mug printing business to include new product linesincluding T-shirts and teddy bears. She was a finalist in the BarclaysTrading Places Awards 2009, which recognise men and women whohave changed their lives for the better by starting a business.

www.mugz4u.com

How did you come up with yourbusiness idea?When setting up Mugz4u, I was attendingThe Way of the Goose, a charity whichprovides training and support to peoplewho face big challenges to getting work.There I learned how to use the equipmentand software for mug printing and how tosell the work. After some months I startedto make some money for the charity, butthey couldn’t afford the stock for theoperation to grow. So I decided to set upon my own, using the skills I’d learned.

How did you develop your business?The Prince’s Trust put me on an inductioncourse to develop the skills I’d need to runmy operation. It involved confidence-building, teamwork, work experience and afeel for being in a job and working withothers. The Barclay’s Changing Placesaward and a Prince’s Trust award Ireceived this year were great confidence-boosters and I used them to raise mymedia profile.

Were you supported financially byfamily, friends, agencies or banks?I got £1,800 of initial funding from ThePrince’s Trust, most of which was a loan.That allowed me to get the propersoftware, equipment and inks for themugs. Since then I’ve been allocated £500through the Chamber of Commerce. Icould apply for more, but want to focus ongetting income from the business.

Did you receive any other usefulsupport?The Trust found me a mentor who showedme the importance of separating mypersonal life from my work life. It’s the bestadvice she’s given me. And the Trust isalways there if I need to sort out anyissues. Since registering with the Chamberof Commerce, I’ve also had support fromthe Women’s Business DevelopmentAgency (WBDA).

Did you encounter any difficulties ingetting started?I knew about the product but the businesswould have begun better if I’d done somemarket research and worked on customerrelations. Also I have to take time outbecause of health problems.I can’t forecast how much income there willbe each month, which makes things hardfor me.

Factors for success• Lissa has used the many difficulties in

her former life to act as a spur and isproud to have developed a personalidentity through her business.

• Her father, who died before she set up,ran his own company in the buildingsector: her loss inspired Lissa to re-assess her life and follow his example.

• She is motivated by a wish to helpothers and is particularly interested inissues of homelessness and promotingentrepreneurship to overcome socialexclusion.

• She is now diversifying her range ofproducts to include printed T-shirts andsoft toys and looks forward toemploying staff in the future.

Geoff findsthe route aheadGeoff Cross established Central Buses in Birmingham in 2003 withone bus and one driver when he was just 17. Six years later thebusiness had expanded to 13 buses and a workforce of 18, turningover £1m a year. In 2006 he set up a sister company, Centrad,designing and supplying electronic information systems specificallyfor the bus and coach industry.

www.centralbuses.com

How did you come up with yourbusiness idea?When I completed my GCSEs I was offeredfull-time employment at the bus companywhere I’d had work experience and aSaturday job. I’d always been interested inbuses and generations of my family hadworked in transport. But after a year as anemployee I was frustrated: I felt themanagement could do better but my ageseemed to prevent advancement. So aftertalking to my father I set up my owncompany.

How did you develop your business?My father loaned me the money for my firstbus. Also he became a sleeping partner asan adult co-director is required. As thebusiness grew and I added more buses, Iwas able to take on staff from my previousplace of work: morale was low there and Icould take on people I knew, and whoknew me. Being a small company, wecould pick and choose our employees.

Were you supported financially byfamily, friends, agencies or banks?After a couple of months, when I wanted toexpand my operator’s licence with morebuses, it meant showing access to funds ofaround £20,000 and the bank turned medown.

We moved to Lloyds TSB who gave us thecredit facility. We didn’t want to use thisoverdraft, just show it was available. Ibought vehicles on hire-purchase anddidn’t need funding from any governmentagency: in fact, I didn’t know of anybusiness support available at that time.

Did you receive any other usefulsupport?I managed to get started because I wasliving at home rent-free, thanks to myparents. This was crucial, as it was almosttwo years before I was in a position to drawa salary. My parents gave me greatfinancial, practical and emotional supportand my father, who has run his ownbusiness for 25 years, was a veryknowledgeable mentor. So I had no greatresponsibilities outside the business. If I’dhad a mortgage and a car, as I do now, Imight have been less inclined to take anyrisks.

Did you encounter any difficulties ingetting started?It was hard at first. It meant getting up at4.45am to get to the garage, then finding itdifficult to “switch off” at night and get adecent sleep. There was a lot of pressure.My friends, like most teenagers, wanted togo out and enjoy themselves andsometimes I found myself envying them.

Factors for success• Geoff had a long-term interest in buses

which led him to gain experience in theindustry.

• He had a good knowledge of the areawhere he wanted to operate.

• Geoff carried out extensive marketresearch in his field and continues todo so.

• He found a garage location close tothe routes he operates to cut down onunproductive mileage.

Ted keepson the ballZig Zag Coaching was started in Malvern by Ted Grizell at the age of17, already a highly-qualified coach who wanted to offer inspirationalfootball and multi-sports instruction. Events for children under 16 takeplace in the school holidays. Ted now has a team of 12 coaches andaround 10 young leaders and is expanding his operations throughoutthe West Midlands and as far south as Bristol.

www.zigzagcoaching.co.uk

How did you come up with yourbusiness idea?Football has always been my passion butby age 12 I realised I wasn’t going to be aprofessional. I wanted to stay involved andhad coaching training from the FootballAssociation: then I was selected to go toAfrica and found that for many kids thegame is their life, because they don’t haveanything else. It was a life-changingexperience and I knew then what I wantedto do.

How did you develop your business?I manage a sports centre in Malvern andhave a mutually productive relationshipwith Malvern Hills District Council. I havedone some coaching work for a contact inthe Leisure and Sport department and thecouncil publicised my events when I set upmy operation.

Were you supported financially byfamily, friends, agencies or banks?I started out with just £100 which I hadsaved up. I’ve had no funding andmanaged to develop the business usingonly the profits from trading. This waspossible because of my job at the sportscentre and the fact that I lived at home: so Iwasn’t struggling for money.

Did you receive any other usefulsupport?At first I had no banking facilities. Althoughthe Council isn’t involved in myorganisation, it received payments on mybehalf and paid me what they received,which was helpful at the start. Although Iwas unable to take up an offer of trainingfrom Business Link, I get one-to-onesupport from a contact there whichanswers all my questions. I’m sure I will gofor formal training at some stage. My dadstarted his own business and showed methe positive side of self-employment: andmy mum works for a local newspaper,which is great for publicity!

Did you encounter any difficulties ingetting started?Signing up enough students to make thecourses viable is challenging and timeconsuming. I keep a close eye on themarket, particularly on possiblecompetitors who might offer an inferiorproduct. Obviously there’s competition tosign up clients – but also I have to ensurethat any bad experiences at the hands ofothers are not attributed to my company.Now as my operation has developed toseveral venues, I spend about £500 amonth on petrol.

Factors for success• Football is a consistently popular sport

among young people and there’s ahigh demand for holiday activities.

• Ted offers a unique service as only avery few “Young Leader” coaches havebeen produced by the FA.

• He has put together a top quality team,many of whom have shared in the FA“Young Leader” training.

• Ted is highly regarded in the field andhas excellent contacts.

Lora’s gem ofa business careerLora Leedham is a 23-year-old independent jewellery designer andcraftswoman from Oldbury in the West Midlands, working inBirmingham’s jewellery quarter. She distributes her work all over theworld via her website, sells from her workshop premises and hasopened a gallery in Stratford-upon-Avon where she showcases herjewellery and that of other designers. In addition she has 38 stockistsacross the UK.

www.loraleedham.co.uk

How did you come up with yourbusiness idea?I set up in 2006 after completing an HND inArt and Design at a local college. I wentstraight into business. Although I neverhad full-time employment I did work part-time – but the thought of staying there wasan incentive to go it alone! Also I realisedquite early that only by working for myselfwould I have control of my creative output.

How did you develop your business?I spent time with other designers andpractised what I was learning, discoveringnew techniques. They were very helpful. Iwould ring them or send an email toexplain any difficulties and it was anextremely positive experience.

Were you supported financially byfamily, friends, agencies or banks?I was awarded a £1,000 grant and thengiven a loan of £2,500 from The Prince’sTrust. This I used to get business cardsand cover other start-up costs. At the sametime, the panel who interviewed me placedfour orders for my designs! A great boost.

Did you receive any other usefulsupport?The help and advice I got from the Trustwas just as important as the funding. If Iwas unsure about something, or justwanted to bounce ideas around, there wasalways someone there. I’ve been in contactwith Business Link but haven’t needed tocall on them for assistance. Luckily my dadhad his own business and gave me theknowledge I needed to get started. Also Ibegan to make contacts throughnetworking.

Did you encounter any difficulties ingetting started?I would say that setting up and gettingfunding is a challenge, but in my case ThePrince’s Trust helped me and it wasn’t somuch of a problem. Some people thought Iwas too young to know about business –so I had to explain to banks that I knewwhat I was doing.

Factors for success• Networking is important. It allows you

to make a range of contacts and givesyou access to useful advice.

• Researching the market is essentialand there’s plenty of information that’sworth seeking out.

• Living in the parental home can be astrong enabling factor whenestablishing a business.

• A supportive mentor and positivemedia publicity are major assets for ayoung entrepreneur.

Shivani opensthe way for othersShivani Mair is a broadcast presenter and producer and has set up twocompanies in Wolverhampton. The Careers Surgery encourages 11-16year olds to train towards their future work preferences: Creative byNature Ltd offers presenting skills and video production services. Aged25, Shivani is recognised as one of the UK’s top young socialentrepreneurs, providing community benefit through business.

www.careerssurgery.co.uk & www.shivanimair.com

How did you come up with yourbusiness idea?I graduated from Liverpool John MooresUniversity in Media and Cultural Studies,then presented a media careers adviceshow on community radio. At the sametime I worked in a company’s videoproduction department but after a year Ifelt ready to branch out on my own. I wasgetting a lot of interest from potentialclients.

How did you develop your business?I did a lot of research, work-experience andpart-time jobs while I developed my ideas.It was a long period of planning. I’d beentold I had leadership qualities and wantedto create a role based on my skills, talentand passions. In 2007 I attended a trainingsummer school for young entrepreneursrun by the organisation “What If”. TheOffice of the Third Sector rated me highlyand I became a founder of theCommission for Youth Social Enterprise.

Were you supported financially byfamily, friends, agencies or banks?The charity UnLtd, which funds socialentrepreneurs, gave me £25,000 over threeyears, which let me establish a website,produce resources and develop theCareers Surgery brand.

This is a great company when it comes togiving support. Even making anapplication to UnLtd was a useful exercise,helping me to consolidate my ideas withclear thinking. Almost all members of myfamily have been self-starters, which wasan inspiration for me.

Did you receive any other usefulsupport?I was offered a mentor by “What If” andshe proved to be a good match for me.She is based in London and we wouldhave hour-long sessions on the phone.She has worked in marketing and knowsquite a bit about the media industry andsocial enterprise. UnLtd also providedlegal and accounting advice.

Did you encounter any difficulties ingetting started?I found working in isolation very difficult atfirst because you want to share problemswith others and get their perspective. Now,though, I’ve built up a great network offriends and colleagues. Also, thebureaucracy involved in starting a businesscan be very daunting for a young person,all the more so when you have socialgoals.

Factors for success• Shivani’s motivation. “I want to see

young people achieve their potentialand get to a point where they’re happyin their roles.”

• She has demonstrated entrepreneurialspirit, commitment to her vision,resilience and resourcefulness.

• The original radio programme was agreat launching pad for the ideas fromwhich she created her socialenterprise.

• She continues to improve her skillsand intends to recruit a team ofresearchers, coaches and productioncrew.

How Peter makesthings happenPeter Marezana established Excelsior Events while still a full-timeundergraduate at the University of Worcester, the city where he baseshis business. He offers a personal service, planning and carrying outsuch events as parties and wedding celebrations to his clients.

www.excelsiorevents.co.uk

How did you come up with yourbusiness idea?I was studying Business Marketing andAccountancy and found a part-timeplacement with a firm of stockbrokers. Partof my task was to devise a proposal for asocial event, which was accepted – andthe occasion was a success. That mademe wonder why I shouldn’t do that kind ofwork for myself. I’d shown anentrepreneurial streak while still at school,repairing computer drives and selling themonline.

How did you develop your business?I carried out extensive market research,looking at other companies that offered asimilar service. Also I had some practicalexperience through my internship. But thisis a competitive field in which companyimage is important. If you don’t have theright product and don’t look the part,you’re pretty much out the window. So I setup a website and took it from there.

Were you supported financially byfamily, friends, agencies or banks?With my business at an early stage, Iacquired some funding from a scheme runby the University of Worcester, AdvantageWest Midlands and the European RegionalDevelopment Fund.

I’ve been considering selling shares in thebusiness to clients who have expressed aninterest, but I don’t want to relinquishcontrol of the operation.

Did you receive any other usefulsupport?My course at the uni is a useful source ofguidance, although a degree in BusinessStudies doesn’t necessarily encourageentrepreneurship. Now, however, I amtaking some entrepreneurship modules,which is a new thing.

Did you encounter any difficulties ingetting started?My degree course shows you howbusiness functions, but there are otherthings you have to learn about maintaininga business for yourself. Working forsomeone else, and working for yourself,are worlds apart. Youth can be a barrier tosetting up a business, but you canovercome this with a good website and aprofessional approach.

Factors for success• Peter has always wanted to run his

own business, wanting to have asmuch control as possible over his ownlife.

• With graduate employment thin on theground, there was a major incentive tocreate his own business.

• Time committed to extensive marketresearch is always time well spentbefore setting up.

• He’d like to expand with one or twoemployees, but keep his business“streamlined” and outsource wherepossible.

Natasha ‘Steps Up’to the markNatasha Hansell established Step Up School of Dance in 2008 at theage of 21. She runs dance classes and delivers performance servicesin and around the Walsall area. Pupils range in age from two toseventy and the business has now been extended to provide voicetraining and karate classes.

www.stepupschoolofdance.co.uk

How did you come up with yourbusiness idea?I’d been working as a tutor in a school ofdance since leaving school at 16. For awhile I worked in a management rolebecause of my employers’ frequentabsences: they had other schools in SouthAfrica and never seemed to be around. Ifelt that my efforts weren’t beingrecognised or appreciated and got fed upafter a while of having to do everything forsomeone else. So, I thought, I might aswell set up my own school and do it formyself.

How did you develop your business?I didn’t have any experience of setting up anew business, but knew how to manageand operate a dance class thanks to pastevents. In return for funding through theCommunity Cash Awards, I gave freetraining and events for local people. Someof my clients were recruited from thisprogramme. Because my classes are heldat a range of venues, I rely on the goodwillof the staff at these places and reallyappreciate their support. It’s a kind ofnetworking.

Were you supported financially byfamily, friends, agencies or banks?The Community Cash Awards gave me£2,000 in exchange for my free classesand shows – which were useful forshowcasing the business. Then wereceived £900 from the YouthOpportunities Fund to buy two stereos andwe were shortlisted for The Prince’s TrustBusiness Enterprise Award and theCommunity Impact Award.

Did you receive any other usefulsupport?I’ve been given a mentor by the Trust forhelp in business matters and I have anuncle who’s always been an entrepreneurand gives me practical advice. Also, manyof my students’ mums look afterfundraising because some of the costumeswe need for competitions can beexpensive – from £300 to £1,000. Luckily, Istill stay at home which keeps costs down.

Did you encounter any difficulties ingetting started?When you’re young, some people don’tbelieve you know what you’re on about –but I know what I’m doing! And movingequipment from venue to venue is alwayspretty demanding, especially if you’ve leftsomething behind.

Factors for success• Natasha has grown in confidence

since she set up on her own.

• A passion for her job is vital. “I neversay I’m going to work: I say I’m goingdancing!”

• On the business side, mentor supportand good networking are alwaysinvaluable.

• Step Up has earned media attentionfrom TV appearances in “Britain’s GotTalent” and “X Factor”. Natasha is anatural publicist.

Stefan bouncesinto a lively futureStefan Taricska established The Bungee Company in Birmingham inOctober 2008 at the age of 22. The business centred on the rent andhire of a bungee trampoline, a large-scale piece of equipment used atvenues where children and adults pay for short sessions of play. Stefanused the experience of running his own company to achieve his degreein Leisure Sports Management at the University of Wales Cardiff.

How did you come up with yourbusiness idea?I saw a bungee trampoline in operation ata shopping centre and, at first, set up thecompany as a subject for my degreedissertation as part of an enterprise option.The project was supposed to betheoretical. 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-employedexercise and gymnastics teacher, so herskills and experience were important too. Ihad a very useful meeting with the directorof the market leader in bungee trampolinehire, Jumpzone, who was a valuablesource of information. But perhaps Ishould have first found a job with one ofthe existing companies to learn the tricksof the trade.

Were you supported financially byfamily, friends, agencies or banks?The business was partly financed throughsavings and my student credit card. But Ialso had valuable, practicable help frommy family in getting free storage for thislarge piece of equipment. There’s anentrepreneurial streak in the family.

My mother supports charities that help thedisadvantaged, my sister opened a beautysalon when she was in her teens and mygrandmother is an author, publishing herown books.

Did you receive any other usefulsupport?I had two meetings with a Business Link

advisor before setting up, but these werejust for a chat. My grandparents were agreat source of emotional support andguidance.

Did you encounter any difficulties ingetting started?At first, I was at odds with some of myacademic mentors, because I wantedsome practical guidance rather thantheoretical knowledge. They wanted to talkabout market research, but I wanted to talkabout how the market was going toexplode – and how it was going to bebrilliant! Also, I felt I needed morespecialist support, especially in the matterof insurance issues.

Factors for success• Stefan already had experience of

running an enterprise, buying andselling supplements to aspiringathletes at university.

• An irrepressible urge to set up his ownbusiness. “I’ve always been driven andmotivated towards that.”

• Hard work and tenacity. His degreecombined academic study with hands-on experience.

• Thinking entrepreneurially. Althoughthis business didn’t survive, “In mycase, it’s an attitude that will always bethere – and it grows all the time. Watchthis space!”

Peter hasdriving ambitionsPeter Richards established Alf-Osten in 2008 with support from theUniversity of Wolverhampton’s SPEED Programme. At the core of thebusiness is Peter’s vision of an entirely new design of racing carwhich can also be driven on the road. The business in Shrewsburyhas diversified recently and now offers project management anddesign services to other organisations.

www.alf-osten.com | www.ospetersen.com

How did you come up with yourbusiness idea?When I set up I was completing anEngineering degree and had spent twoyears as an apprentice at BMW. When I goto kit car shows and even motor showsand see what’s been produced, I oftenthink “I can do better than that.” Workingfor a big company you are limited to asmall part of the operation: but with myown business I get free rein to be creative.

How did you develop your business?I have friends who are also doingEngineering degrees and they help me outsometimes with design issues. Having agood website is essential. My prototypecar will be out of the design stage soonand the next step is to build the chassis sothat we can show people what we aretrying to do. I hope to get pre-order salesto finance going into production. Also, Iplan to get dealerships across the countryto take the car on a sale or return basis.

Were you supported financially byfamily, friends, agencies or banks?My parents have their own companies andare very supportive. The SPEEDProgramme gave me £1,500 for initialcosts and £2,000-worth of mentoring, witha further £3,000-worth from the EFS Fund.

My mentor had experience of running hisown business which was ideal. Someonewho’d worked in a large company wouldn’thave been so clued up. The universitycourse touched on project managementand budgeting, which was very useful.

Did you receive any other usefulsupport?Through Business Link I was put in touchwith the Chamber of Commerce and thiswas good for getting in touch with thebusiness community. I’ve been tonetworking events in Shrewsbury andTelford and made some useful contacts.People have asked about advertising theirproducts on my car, so there’s a possibilityof sponsorship deals.

Did you encounter any difficulties ingetting started?The biggest challenge was convincingpeople that I had the necessaryengineering skills and business acumen torealise my goals. Working in isolation canbe quite lonely. I’d really like a businesspartner who could attend training coursesfor me, visit potential customers anddealerships.

Factors for success• Absolute determination, Peter believes,

is one of the most important qualitiesfor an entrepreneur.

• It’s vital to set up goals: “I want tobecome a limited company and then aPLC, quoted on the Stock Exchange.”

• His ambition for the company isto develop into design andmanufacture of boats and aircraft.

• A passion for the project and a cleardesire for autonomy in his work.

Steffan puts himselfin the pictureIn 2004 at the age of 20, Steffan Aquarone established Ephex Mediawith two fellow students at the University of Warwick. They producedcorporate communications, did post-production television work andretailed online for the video industry. With some of his formerdirectors he then set up Fullrange in Birmingham two years later.

www.fullrange.co.uk

How did you come up with yourbusiness idea?At Warwick Uni I was involved in thestudent TV station which led to carrying outa number of projects for the university andits sponsors. There was a lot of corporateaccountability involved. The three of us setup Ephex Ltd based on this hands-onexperience.

How did you develop your business?Our clients included the University,Vodafone and Land Rover, which was agood list to start with. This supported ournext venture in setting up Fullrange, whichconsolidated our position in the market.Between us, we have a useful range ofskills – technical, sales and financial.

Were you supported financially byfamily, friends, agencies or banks?One of us was able to bring capital into thebusiness. This was matched by investmentfunding by the AEGF of £60,000, as well as£60,000 of private investment. So theavailability of funding to support earlygrowth businesses but getting this supportwas a bit like being on Dragons’ Den – tenminutes to present and five to answerquestions. I think we argued a good game.

Did you receive any other usefulsupport?Later we got extra funding from ScreenWest Midlands to develop a slate oftelevision projects. Some of the teamhoned their business skills through trainingat the Chamber of Commerce. TheDirector Development programmepart-funded a one-year course at a privatesales school, which was excellent. We hadan accountant and a freelance businessmentor we met through the SouthWarwickshire Investment Group. We alsogot advice from a member of theAdvantage Early Growth Fund (AEGF). Inow give talks to Young Enterprise and I’man Ambassador for the local Educationand Business Partnership, which I reallyenjoy.

Did you encounter any difficulties ingetting started?With Fullrange, of course, we set up acompany in the middle of a recession. Thisaffected us badly for some months, but it isnow 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 forBirmingham. There’s still a niche in the UKfor digital, creative industries, so there’splenty of potential.

Factors for success• Ephex set out with a credible client list,

as well as the broad range of skills itspartners could offer.

• Attention to customers’ needs helpedthe company to thrive in a competitiveand challenging environment.

• An entrepreneurial spirit. “If you messthings up it’s your problem and notsomebody else’s. That’s prettyempowering!”

• And Steffan adds: “I don’t really likethe idea of working for other people...”

Robert & Rosanna’spet revolutionElectronic Pet Shop was set up in October 2007 by Robert Fultonaged 24 and Rosanna Mackney aged 23, with support from theStaffordshire University SPEED scheme. Electronic Pet Shop is anonline store that sells interactive and electronic animals targeted atchildren, and adults who may be unable to care for a real pet.

www.electronicpetshop.com

How did you come up with yourbusiness idea?Before setting up Electronic Pet Shop in2007 we had run a web-based businesscalled “AdoptaFurby” in the first year of ourdegree course. This was a success and ledus to expand by setting up Electronic PetShop in our final student year.

How did you develop your business?Both Electronic Pet Shop and“AdoptaFurby” reflect our individual skillsand interests, which are web developmentand toys! We just combined these factorsand created a business. We have now alsolaunched ElectronicPets.org, which is asocial networking and information websitefor people and organisations who areinterested in the benefits of electronicpets, and in collecting them.

Were you supported financially byfamily, friends, agencies or banks?Our business was supported by theStaffordshire University SPEEDProgramme, and through the EnterpriseFellowship Scheme we were given £6,000to develop the business and £2,500 inpersonal development funding.

Did you receive any other usefulsupport?The support from our advisers on theSPEED Scheme and Enterprise FellowshipScheme programme was as valuable asthe funding we received. We had a mentorwho helped us look after our accounts andwe also had a marketing specialist.

Did you encounter any difficulties ingetting started?The most difficult thing to learn is pricingas it is very tricky not to under-sell yourtime and what you have to offer. Anotherdifficulty is trying to find out howcustomers think…the psychology behindthem. Especially parents, who can be quitemad!

Factors for success• Growing a business steadily in

response to demand by building upcautiously and not taking toomany large risks.

• Don’t keep all your eggs in onebasket – welcome new opportunitiesby thinking of alternative directions thatthe business could go in if otherroutes fail.

• Keep a record of all your ideasand brainstorms for future use

• Shared domestic arrangementsand minimal costs mean that theoverheads can be kept very low.

Sharlene and Emmaget in the pictureSharlene King and Emma Blake are planning to launch a productioncompany specialising in TV and video production, also offeringworkshops to schools. They are calling it Triple Productions, usingskills they acquired studying Media and Communication atBirmingham City University.

How did you come up with yourbusiness idea?Our final year project was to set up anenterprise and Sharlene came up with theidea of this company. Neither of us havebusiness experience, but we decided tomake this project commercial rather thansimply academic. We thought that the bestway of finding work in the media industrywas to create our own company.

How did you develop your business?We teamed up with a musician whowanted a video to promote herperformance and made her a documentaryand music video. This project fired up ourenthusiasm. So we decide to continue ourstudies to MA level, where we learnedabout setting up a business, how to marketit – all the things we didn’t know about.

Were you supported financially byfamily, friends, agencies or banks?We received a total of £12,000 from theSPEED scheme at university and £850 tofund places on the Insight Out programme,a five-week course on businessdevelopment. There was also about £500from Birmingham Chambers of Commercefor some start-up costs – which wasimportant as it showed our idea was viable.

Now we are putting through an Unlimitedapplication, which means shaping ourcompany as a social enterprise. Thismeans we will be giving something back tothe community and we’re enthusiasticabout that. All the time, our parents havebeen highly supportive.

Did you receive any other usefulsupport?Business Link has helped us draw up abusiness plan, but our main support hascome from our SPEED mentor at theuniversity. He used us as assistants intaking video training to local schools.Although we had no enterprise educationat school, there’s a new approach thesedays. If children get this coaching early, itcould revolutionise business in the UK!

Did you encounter any difficulties ingetting started?Before we launch Triple Productions, weneed to find more funding to buyequipment. We can’t assume that theschools have the stuff we require for ourteaching sessions. Then we want to carryout a trial run at a local school to see if anyelements need changing before we takeour service to the market place.

Factors for success• Extensive market research. Emma and

Charlene have seen how otherproduction companies engage withschools.

• The technical skills they acquired atuniversity and a good rapport with theyoung people they will tutor.

• Passion and drive. “We want to go towork every day and enjoy every minuteof it.”

• Ambition. In the current recession youneed to think outside the box andcreate your own opportunities.

Rachel’s visionfor the futureRachel Carter established Fullrange in 2008 with co-owners Lee Kemp and SteffanAquarone, which produces TV commercials and marketing and communications films fora wide range of high-profile clients including Jaguar Land Rover, Marketing Birmingham,Arts Council and American Express. Rachel is responsible for client relationshipmanagement and growth of existing client accounts and, as their in-house ExecutiveProducer, overseeing delivery of all Fullrange’s film projects. Rachel has also establishedand 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 directorAnna Louise Shelton.

www.recarter.wordpress.com | www.fullrange.co.uk | www.paperbirdproductions.co.uk

How did you come up with your businessidea?Fullrange started organically with a group ofpeople coming together. I think I alwaysthought about running my own business, itwas something I always had at the back of mymind and I did things like running a tuck-shopwhile I was in primary school. After universityI gained experience of the media industry byworking for the BBC doing live television. Iwas there long enough to get a taster, but Iwanted to be carving out my own route.

How did you develop your business?I realised that if I continued at the BBC justworking my way up that ladder I wouldn't beproducing things without spending severalyears going up the researcher/ assistantproducer ladder. I got involved with Fullrangeto create immediate opportunities for myselfto work as a producer. Fullrange hasdeveloped by securing some major clientsearly on, working out how to add value, andthen building on that portfolio. Now it’s aboutnetworking like mad, and continuing to moveup the value chain with the size of ourcontracts. My key focus is Fullrange but myside business, Paper Bird Productions,provides me with an additional creative outletto develop projects driven more by artisticthan commercial values.

Were you supported financially by family,friends, agencies or banks?Fullrange gained investment from theAdvantage Early Growth Fund, match fundedby a group of private investors. This allowedus to grow, investing in capital expendituresuch as kit and facilities, and also take onfurther staff. Since then we’ve been throughrefinancing in order to change and developfurther. We’ve also benefitted from gainingNon Executive Directors on our board as partof the investment process. Finance,particularly managing cash flow, is alwaystough for SMEs. Individually I have receivedfunding for some of my ventures from ScreenWest Midlands, and commissions from the UKFilm Council. I also won post-productionservices to the value of £5,000 as a prize forsecond place in the short film category at theBAFTAs in 2009 for my film Momster.

Did you receive any other useful support?I’ve had the support of several friends and Ican honestly say I wouldn't have had the gutsand the confidence to go out there and to tryand start something on my own if I hadn't metthe people I have met. I gained a lot ofconfidence and developed the ability to takerisks as a result of working with the peopleI’ve been working with. Also, I have to say thatmy parents were another factor in thisbecause they were so supportive. Theconcept of some of the risk and the routesthat I have taken only in the last few years I

think to them are quite mind blowing. Butthey've really supported me.

Did you encounter any difficulties ingetting started?• The old ‘chiken and egg’ of getting in

with big brands before having a majortrack record. On the whole we did wellwith this by over-delivering, but thenthat can create its own problems whenyou’re trying to move up the valuechain.

• There are difficulties all the time, butthat’s business! Supporting growth in asustainable way is a big one.

Factors for success• Rachel evidently has high level skills as

film producer, demonstrated by thesuccess of her work at various filmfestivals, including her BAFTA awardand two Royal Television SocietyAwards in 2009.

• Clients ultimately invest in people aswell as companies, so it’s aboutnetworking yourself effectively, andmaking sure you deliver.

• If you can accurately measure thesuccess of what you’ve provided for aclient, it’s the surest way to get them toreinvest in you again.

stories of creation, inspiration and aspiration