Success Stories
My work was very supportive and encouraged me to offer my press release writing skills outside of work hours. I thought about the idea seriously, but didn’t know where to start setting up my own business. I enjoy my job, but something inside of me was itching to continue to use the skills I have gained within the media industry.
My name is Sandeep Virdee, I am 28 years of age and hold a BA(hons) Business Studies and Post Graduate studies in CIPD Human Recourse Management. Soon after leaving university (2001) I worked within the HR field for the local authority until January 2008, when my contract came to an end. Since then I placed strong emphasis on setting up my own business, as being my own boss was something I have always wanted to do, specifically in the Asian fashion field. Having believed strongly in what I wanted and how I was going to achieve it influenced me in opening my business.
We are friends and colleagues who have worked together for a number of years. Jointly we have a broad knowledge and experience of all aspects of business including finance, executive PA, office management, event management, sales, import/export, travel arrangements and customer service. So, putting our knowledge and experience together, we thought it would be great to start a business partnership.
In 2002 I arrived in England from Chandigarh, India. I moved over here, with our three children all under the age of 7, to be with my husband.
One day, bored at work, I came across YogaBugs on the internet, loved the concept and decided it would be a good idea to try and combine the two things that I am most passionate about, which are Yoga and teaching to children.
I am hardworking and determined to succeed with my new business idea but I had no financial funding and I had a huge fear of the unknown (as I have never done this before)!! How do I deal with the Inland Revenue? What forms do I need for my business? What are all the correct procedures? I had no idea!
A single mum of two and aged 45 - and has just started up her own business!!
I am Joanne Asselman and I am the director of ThoroughlyChic Limited. I was born in Northamptonshire in England and was educated in England and Scotland; attending The University of Liverpool where I gained a BSc Honours in Mathematics and The University of Glasgow where I studied Medicine.
My name is Kate, I am 27 years old and I have been a lecturer in photography for the past 5 years.
I started teaching as soon as I left university and literally through myself into my job. Though I got so much satisfaction from seeing my students develop their own skills I found it very hard to ever have the time to try and continue my own personal work.
I trained as a Graphic Designer in the early eighties (back in the time of the dinosaurs before PC’s were invented and we had to use ink and glue to prepare artwork!) and have worked in commercial studios and public sector organisations for the last 25 years, developing my skills to embrace the digital era along the way.