Case Studies

Positive Minds client snaps into self-employment

George joined the project in December 2004, having seen the project featured in the local newspaper. George was unemployed and liked the idea of setting up his own business as an alternative to working for someone.

In the beginning, George had many business ideas. Although he had no relevant vocational experience to support a business venture, he was a keen photographer and had all the kit.

After several brainstorming sessions, the ideas filtered around photography. George liked the idea of setting up a high street studio and also offering a web design service.

George was introduced to some web and IT courses run by Futuretrend. Although a good learner, he did not get on well learning in a group. He felt intimidated. As a solution he was introduced to Learndirect. Here, he could work at his own pace at times that suited him. He did this learning from the hot-desk facilities that are provided for the project.

Over the next months, George completed courses in Powerpoint and Photoshop and practised his Photoshop skills from the Project office. He was supported by an IT tutor on an as needs basis. At the same time we worked on the business plan, exploring the market, competition, location etc. Earlier plans were quite ambitious, requiring significant funding. George had some bad debts resulting in a County Court Judgement from 5 years ago and he did not have a current account or credit cards. He did have some money but nowhere near enough to fund the high street studio.

Over time, George agreed to the idea of working as a freelance photographer and hire a studio on an as needs basis. The project arranged to develop a corporate identity for the business and design a marketing web site. Around this time, May 2005, George found a new bed-sit to live in. It was on the 3rd floor behind a parade of shops in the High Street. The 1st floor of this building was offices and the whole building belonged to the same owner who also ran a promotions shop in the front. George got on well with the owner and they negotiated a deal for George to use one of the offices as a studio on very favourable hourly rates. George was absolutely delighted and with renewed energy and enthusiasm, George even managed to secure his first contract very soon after moving in - photographing 300 handbags fro a catalogue. What's more, George also made contacts with another business tenant there who was establishing her own business there as a make-up artist.

George suffers from bipolar depression. George is at the early stages of his business and the project continues to support him in all areas including marketing, bookkeeping and pricing. An important element of the programme is mentoring. The project also helped George secure benefit entitlement and is helping him with the Criminal Record Check so he can work in schools and with vulnerable people.

www.gw-creations.co.uk

More case studies on www.mhb.org.uk - The Mental Health Business portal

Positive Minds client makes the right Call

Athar is suffering from a specific mental health condition which is kept under control by regular medication. Once a week, this medicine makes him feel very unwell. He is long term unemployed and receives benefits. He has a bad credit history and no savings. However, he is bright and has many years sales experience.

From the onset, Athar's, idea has been to set up a business installing CCTV and security devices. He is knowledgeable in this area and would be competent to undertake sales and marketing himself, and employ an assistant for installation.

Athar has been working on the business plan under guidance of the Business Adviser. He started coming to the office every 10 days or so and as his business plan developed, we agreed he should start coming to the office 2 or 3 days a week from 10.30am - 3.30pm so he could get used to putting in a day's work, something he had not done for a while. We did not agree which days as he needed flexibility because of his health fluctuations. Having just come to this working arrangement, Athar slipped in the bath at home and injured his foot. This left him with a temporary walking difficulty and because of this Athar decided to put his plans on hold as he could not see how he could be the foot soldier promoting his services if he could not walk properly (Athar does not drive).

However, since joining the Positive Minds project, Athar has begun to feel much more confident about himself and his abilities. One of the things he has done is to renew his relationship with his brother. His brother, an established businessman, has since offered him a stake in a new call centre venture in Pakistan and given him £500 to buy a computer.

Positive Minds is now supporting Athar with this call centre venture. He has been taught how to use the Internet and email and this has proved invaluable because he has to communicate regularly with contacts in India and Pakistan. Presently, Athar is being supported with sourcing market research, best practice and legislation. If this call centre venture works out, Athar will be the UK sales representative and take a percentage share of any work brought in.

Athar has also rediscovered his interest in filmmaking and is in negotiations with a client to make a short film for a TV selling channel.

More case studies on www.mhb.org.uk - The Mental Health Business portal