Help for Business start-ups and entrepreneurs like Adam in South Yorkshire –funded support and mentoring
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Adam was working at Morrisons as a part-time supermarket assistant during his time in further education when he had a rough time personally, losing two of his closest friends, one to illness and one an absolute tragedy. These life-changing events made him adamant he was going to carve out a career for himself.
His first career opportunity was an interview for the post of accounting technician. During his one-to-one, the director explained to Adam that he owned a lettings agency and offered him a job as a lettings coordinator for a small agency called Rotherlets. This is singlehandedly the best thing that ever happened to Adam. He took the job and quickly developed the bug for the fast pace of the lettings industry.
He left Rotherlets to be Lettings Manager at Merryweathers at the age of 21. From there, he went on to work for William H Brown and had a successful stint at Reeds Rains, where he won numerous awards.
Adam says: “During COVID I was a little lost on where I was career wise, we had just had our second child and I always had ambitions of setting up on my own. It was the worst timing in the world but I thought what did I have to lose?
“I decided to set up my own business and it’s been the best decision I ever made. Once I’d had the idea and I’d talked through a few concerns with loved ones and mentors it gathered momentum very quickly.
“I’m quite a stubborn person and very ambitious. Before setting myself up in business the other partner of the business I was working in wasn’t on the same page as me, and I thought I had no other option than to go for it during COVID. The flexibility of being self-employed was attractive and I had full confidence I could make it work. Some of my long-standing customers backed me, I had a vision and I went with it.”
Adam launched with the help of Rotherham Launchpad his business just over three years ago after researching the opportunity and mulling it over for around four months prior to launch. He now employs a single member of staff, Kerri-Lea.
Rotherham Launchpad is a fully funded business support programme delivered across South Yorkshire, which brings together range of start-up services including workshops, events and one to one support from business advisors and coaches.
The programme helps ambitious entrepreneurs set up and run successful businesses and supports SMEs under three years old and micro businesses of any age, to take the next step and grow their business.
Since it began in April 2016, Launchpad has provided over 87,000 hours of support and helped over 8,500 people to realise their dream of running their own successful business. There is no cost to you as the Launchpad programme is fully funded, thanks to support from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
Adam said: “I love my brand and what we are about. The fact that my team is flexible with the packages we offer and the hands-on personal service makes our daily working life very enjoyable. Obviously, it comes with its bad days but that’s part and parcel of any job.
“Rotherham Launchpad has been amazing! Especially the Business Coaches, who have been such advocates for Flex Residential and I cannot thank them enough.
“I’d recommend Launchpad and its business workshops to anyone wanting to take the plunge. You wouldn’t believe the support they offer to a new business. It’s a lonely time when you decide to make the jump. With the backing of Launchpad for numerous reasons it gives you reassurance that you are doing the right thing. I cannot thank the Launchpad team enough for what they have done to help me.”
To find out more go to launchpadsouthyorkshire.co.uk