Apax Partners

Redundancy

I had been made redundant for the second time and had no means of raising cash to start up on my own. My parents’ house had been repossessed and I had nowhere to turn. I was staying at my girlfriend’s house until she decided to move away – leaving me without a place to stay during the week. So for five months I slept on a roll-up mattress on the floor of the subsidised office space I was renting.

Ambitions

Once the Prince's Trust Business Programme had helped me set up, the biggest challenge was getting in with bigger companies and being taken seriously. The next challenge was getting talented people to come and work with us for very little money! The biggest reward is managing to get and keep those people. Only one full-time employee has left out of choice in over eight and a half years.

Success

I’m now doing what I’ve always wanted to do: running one of the Top 100 Digital Media agencies in the UK. I’m working with the people I want to work with and working for the sorts of clients I’ve dreamed of.

What does the future hold?

My plans for the future are to carry on as I am now... but more so. The business is growing and we have ambitious expansion plans. Our merchandise business is also taking off so we’re expanding to new premises. Within the next three years will have offices overseas. But we’re not in business purely to make money; it’s vital that we invest time and efforts into helping others develop.

What would I say to someone else in your position who might be thinking about getting involved with The Prince's Trust? What are you waiting for?