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- Imran Nabi >

Nabi Residential and Nabi & Son's

"Ever since I was a child I have been immersed in the world of entrepreneurialism. My dad came to..."

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- Mike Brown >

CityPadz

"I grew up in Morpeth, Northumberland. As a kid I was never the academic type but I had a keen..."

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- Linda Winship >

Walkeazy

"I always loved biology at school and felt I was lacking something in the jobs I’d done in sales and..."

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- Leanne Hodgson >

Leanne's Bouncy Castle Hire

"I was born and raised in Sunderland and over the years I’ve had a vast array of jobs, from working..."

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- Terry Barnett >

Barnett Safety

"After starting out as a bricklayer I went on to work for various companies as a building site..."

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- Anthony Addison >

Digipoint UK

"My brother Michael has been selling Digipoint products in Norway for the past two years and had the..."

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- Karen Forster Challenge Finalist >

Trampas The Mens Room

"I decided to take the plunge and start my own business, Trampas The Mens Room, twelve months ago..."

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- Belinda White >

Arttia

"I’ve always been surrounded by creativity as I come from a highly creative family. Both my parents..."

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- Craig Rothwell >

OpenPandora Ltd

"Most of the time when I was growing up, I was figuring out ways to avoid going to school. I..."

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- Steve Brown >

Trojan Computers

"I was born in Newcastle and have lived here all my life. I attended St. Cuthbert’s School, and left..."

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- Dave Foster >

Square Photography

"Ever since I was a kid I had a real interest in art. After leaving school I made my way to college..."

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- Lorna James >

MOLLY MAID Berwick

"In 2003 we were both on the brink of redundancy working for a company subject to buyout. Both..."

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- David Shannon >

Gorilla Graphics

"I grew up in North Shields and went to John Spence Community High School. I suppose the early signs..."

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- Keith Barker >

easy2surf Ltd

"About 18 years ago I operated my own driving school, but left that to go into the Financial..."

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- Nicola Cook >

Aurora Training Ltd

"Having gone through a particularly emotionally stressful time in my personal life, I decided that..."

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- Denise Walker >

MOLLY MAID Berwick

"In 2003 we were both on the brink of redundancy working for a company subject to buyout. Both Lorna..."

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- Gavin Knights >

Scene Group Ltd

"I spent my employed career launching and developing major brands. By my early thirties I was..."

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- Les Calvert Challenge Finalist >

Property Abroad Ltd

"I started the business whilst employed as an IT Manager for a large North East travel company back..."

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- Gavin Richardson >

OPUS Building Services Ltd

"I was working as an electrician and progressed through my career, until I became a Project manager..."

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- Andrew Wilkinson >

The Fone Centre

"I moved to Newcastle from Hull when I was ten years old, and after leaving school at 16 I didn’t..."

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- Antonia Clifford >

Quay2 Media

"From day one of starting a career in PR it was always my ambition to either be a freelancer or to..."

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- Sean Gerrie >

Seeded SEO

"I'm always willing to take risks for what I believe in. For years I’ve had the idea of setting up..."

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- Michael Lowes >

"I grew up in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea and went to high school in Ashington. When I left at the age of..."

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- Julie-Ann Pattinson >

JulieAnn Make-up artistry

"I’ve worked as a make-up artist for various companies and organisations over the last 20 years but..."

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- Victoria Bell >

Training Solutions (NE) Ltd and Recruitment Solutions (NE) Ltd

"I was born in Alnwick in 1979 and had a happy childhood. I attended Central High School in..."

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- Sue Harris Challenge Finalist >

Sue Magoos

"My career began working in the retail sector. I was lucky enough to be employed by a guy who..."

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- Clare Tucker >

1-2-hear

"I was a radio presenter, DJ and producer and worked at Metro Radio, Galaxy 1056 and Ministry of..."

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- Rebecca Goodburn >

Magpie

"I never really had that burning ambition to set up my own business, but after leaving school I..."

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- Kaye Winship Challenge Winner >

S. Walton Eyecare

"I suspect, deep down, I’ve always wanted my own business, even if sometimes I’ve been in denial..."

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- Russell Borthwick >

Press Ahead Ltd

"Life outside of work was good for me… on the rare occasion that I was able to spend time with my..."

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- Sandra Vaisvilas >

WilkVais

"Job satisfaction had always been difficult for me to find. I completed a secretarial course at..."

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- Lawrence Jarman >

Pets With Style

"In the past I’ve worked for large corporate companies and found that I didn’t quite fit in. The..."

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- Eddie Czestochowski >

Cell Pack Solutions

"I’m not what you would call a naturally clever person; nor am I a Richard Branson. I suppose I’m a..."

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- Charles Sludden >

KLB Promotions and Events Ltd

"I co- run KLB Promotions & Events Ltd with my partner Karen, who originally founded the company..."

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- James Gutridge >

Excite Sports Recruitment

"I have always been a leader, so I knew when I found a niche that I simply had to fill it. I am..."

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- Kelly Adamson >

Adept

"As a child I lived all over the country because of my father’s work. I loved it - living in rural..."

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- David Goldsmith Challenge Finalist >

Summerfield Photography

"I went from living on Incapacity Benefit to becoming an entrepreneur by turning a lifelong passion..."

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- Rosie Willett Challenge Winner >

Rosie Willett Designs

"I studied an Art and Design Foundation Course in Manchester and then traveled to Australia. When I..."

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- Rona Askew >

Tinderbox Events Ltd

"Myself and three friends, Emma, Verity and Praxedis, all met at Durham University and came out with..."

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- Magdalena Fowler >

Corinth Bathrooms

"After five years of working in offices, I’ve decided that starting my own business is realistically..."

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- Tom Bivens >

C B Cleaning Services

"After college I was constantly on the look out for a job that I could gain fulfillment out of. At..."

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- Susan Pluse >

Washington Dance Academy

"I’ve danced since the age of four and by the time I was 12 I knew I wanted to get into the teaching..."

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- Marie Parker >

Fancy Fingers

"After qualifying to be a dental nurse I pursued the career for six years. Whilst working in the..."

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- Michelle Taylor Challenge Winner >

Design by Bluebird

"I’ve just left a very successful position at Playboy Intimates in order to pursue my dream of..."

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- Nancy Haughey >

Finding Ways Ltd

"I was employed full time as a Training and Development Manager and Health and Safety Officer for a..."

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- William Ingram >

KuteKidz Photography

"I was made redundant in 2006 which forced me into starting my own business. I decided to pursue my..."

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- Alison Stanley >

AJS Cleaning Services

"The weird and wonderful ideas I saw on a daily basis from application forms and phone calls to the..."

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- Matt Stirland Challenge Winner >

Playhouse

"My background is in the health and fitness industry, but at the moment I’m a fireman. I miss the..."

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- Mark Knight >

El Roboto

"Lots of people sit in the pub with their mates and have the conversation about going into business..."

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- Trudy Hindmarsh >

Stagecoach Darlington

"I was a senior teacher in a large primary school in Cleveland when my husband took voluntary..."

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- Greg Phillips Challenge Winner >

North East Bakery

"When I graduated from Newcastle University I wanted to stay in the area because my family and..."

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- Anne Larvin >

Green Files

"I forged a very successful career for myself working in the pharmaceutical industry eventually..."

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- Elizabeth Sells >

Cottage Books

"I was born in London and after growing up in the south I decided to move to the Isle of Man where I..."

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- Christine Fewster >

Pathways to Independence

"Myself and my sister Tracey both studied at university and have many years of experience in working..."

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- Chris Emery >

Orbit Entertainment

"I was a bedroom DJ whilst I was at primary school after my father bought me some decks and I loved..."

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- Anh Mao Challenge Finalist >

MaoCouture

"with my degree in textile and design in 1991, I married and had two children who are now 8 and 11..."

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- David Young >

The Mortgage Doctor

"I started my business 24 years ago after working for an insurance company. I’d realised that..."

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- Gary Lintern >

Storydisk

"My career has been a combination of academia and entrepreneurship on many levels. I studied for a..."

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- Christian Cerisola >

Quay2 Media

"I think there was a sense of fear between myself and my business partner, Antonia, about taking the..."

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- Jonathan Grubin >

MiniG Media Ltd

"I never expected my business to be as successful as it’s been. When I started, I certainly didn’t..."

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- Vien le-Wood >

vien ici

"I went from being very bored and disheartened when I was out of work, to being extremely busy and..."

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- Tony McAndrew >

thebestof Northumberland

"I grew up in Morpeth before venturing to Manchester University to study statistical operations...."

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- David Foreman >

Forfit Structural Glass

"I grew up in Middlesbrough and to this day I still continue to enjoy living in the area. I went to..."

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- Ceyhan Mihcioglu >

YO'Genie Ltd

"Being totally honest, I can’t work for anyone else as I always want to use my own ideas and have..."

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- Melanie Cornish >

Critical Marketing and Media Group

"It did feel like a risk to set my company up, but I was at a stage in my life where it was really a..."

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- Jude Leitch >

Butler & Leitch

"My friend Sarah and I often go to farm shops to look for good products. We found that many of the..."

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- Nathan Robinson Challenge Finalist >

Barclay Elsdon Lettings

"My passion for surfing inspired me to start my own business so I could have a better work/life..."

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- Kevin Owens >

YourFilm

"After completing a four year Media & Computing degree at Sunderland University I started to look..."

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- Steph Chamberlin >

Wheela Trolley

"I grew up in the North East and after leaving school I started a career in banking. I moved to the..."

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- Susan Irving >

Susan Irving Consultancy

"After working for many years in the corporate world I set up my own training consultancy to help..."

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- Bill March >

"I’m just returning to work for the Northumbria Police after a career break, but for the past two..."

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- Fiona Houghton >

Flirtatious

"An idea of starting my own lingerie business in Newcastle had always been in the back of my head...."

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- Claire Thorburn >

Impact PR & Marketing

"I was a journalist for a number of years before I moved into PR and marketing. I worked on various..."

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- David Mills >

"I’ve been a carpenter and joiner for 32 years, and whilst I was fitting a upvc door for my..."

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- Paul Cookney >

Independent Commercial Window Cleaning

"Since leaving school in 1996 I’ve only lasted one year in full-time employment, as a sports..."

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- Rachel Powell >

Fashion Network Ltd

"I had a serious accident in 2001 which left me paralysed. The doctors weren’t sure I would ever..."

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- Terry Priestner >

"Due to many health problems in recent years, I think the way forward for me is to work for..."

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- Lisa Scott >

Pet Taxi

"Two years ago, fed up with earning a minimum wage and with a real passion for animals, I had a..."

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- Gavin Blowman Challenge Winner >

Chooba

"I’d just finished my degree in Documentary Film Making at the University of Sunderland as well as..."

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- Matt Scott Challenge Winner >

Mes Footwork

"A present for my girlfriend was the trigger for my business idea. I wanted to do something..."

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- Kristina Brown >

Sir William Fox Hotel

"I grew up in South Shields with four sisters and one brother. They all became very successful..."

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- Philip Butler >

Woodcraft UK

"When I left school I went to Hartlepool College of Further Education and qualified in electrical..."

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- Jeremiah Alexander >

Ideonic Limited

"I remember coming towards the end of my degree in Computer Games Programming, looking at all my job..."

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- Naomi Johnson >

Absolutely Fabulous

"I’d worked for a bank for years but eventually had enough of working in an office. When I had my..."

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- David Wilson >

Metropolitan Finance Limited

"Before setting up my business I was employed by NatWest Bank as a Senior Business Manager dealing..."

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- Geoffrey Johns >

Geoff the Chef food limited

"I was born and bred in Grange Town, Cleveland. I left school with the ambition of joining the navy..."

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- Lindsay Hogg >

Café Lucca

"I had always thought about setting up my own business until one day someone I knew told me that..."

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- Nicole Race >

New Tastes

"I’ve had a number of jobs but was always very ambitious and felt that I could only find success and..."

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video - secrets>

"Leadership is key, but only in the sense that you’re..."

Simon Pearson: Pearsons

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For more information please contact stephen@ifwecanyoucan.co.uk or call 0191 226 7491