If We Can, You Can

Author:

Michael Lowes

Business:

Missing Data 4

Published:

12/11/2008 11:40:00

I grew up in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea and went to high school in Ashington. When I left at the age of 16 I decided to join the army for a year before eventually pursuing a career in sales and advertising. I also worked as a volunteer first aid responder–for the North East Ambulance Service. My career developed further and I became a driver for the service.

After taking an emergency response first aid training course, along with additional courses with the HSC, I became a fully trained first aid instructor and felt that I could offer a valuable service to all businesses in the North East. I also wanted to start earning money from the experience that I had gained – while still doing my voluntary work.

My idea is to start a company that sells first aid courses to businesses and offers a membership service providing; legislation updates; first aid box checks – making sure they are kept up to date; and ensuring that the business has a fully trained dedicated first aider.

The aspirations I have for the company include to one day be the UK’s number one first aid course supplier. In terms of short term goals I want to also establish myself in the region with the possibility of starting a number of offices in the North East, before going nationwide in around five years time.

Success for me will simply be running a successful business that makes a healthy profit. I’ve already received some great support – South Tyneside Council gave me a grant of £3,975 for office supplies and first aid training equipment and I am currently in the process of getting involved with the Prince’s Trust.

I think running my own business will mean I have more pressure and less time to myself but also the fact that I’m my own boss will be great. I never liked being told what to do and when to do it!

The biggest challenge I face is securing the funding – if you come from a background where money wasn’t always readily available, the prospect of securing the finances to start a business is quite daunting.

The best piece of advice I have had to date has been to persevere and to keep going – I’ve found that it has taken over a year to simply find my feet. I think what makes a successful entrepreneur is determination, a good mental attitude and an abundance of skill or expertise in a field.

I have a good eye for detail and I’m really passionate about what I do. I have that self belief and I know that I can achieve things if I put my mind to it. I’m also very organised, hard working and feel I have the right attributes to develop my business idea.