Case Studies

Have a look at these case studies to see how our Urban Enterprise Programme is proving to be such a success in helping people start up businesses, and help fledgling businesses realise their potential.

Adrian Bayley had an extensive career working for a large logistics firm, and later, designing and managing drainage systems for South West Water and the Environment Agency.

Following a period of ill health, Sallyanne took the life-changing decision to leave a 20-year career in HR to focus on her recuperation

Single parent Helen wanted to find a flexible means of income that would allow her to spend the time she needed with her home-educated children.

The impact of Myalgic Encephalopathy (ME) on Blatchcombe resident Benita’s health meant that she was unable to continue her 17-year nursing career.

When Bill Callaghan found out he would be made redundant from his teaching post at a Brixham primary school, he had no option but to reassess his future.

With its plans to move to larger premises, Brixham Youth Enquiry Service, a Community Interest Company, needed help with setting itself up more like a business.

Previously a successful carpenter, Daniel was diagnosed with a rare lung disease 7 years ago, which forced him to give up his job and live on benefits. He has been fighting for his health ever since whilst looking for a new career that would fit flexibly around his condition; something he found by pure accident!

David (who has always been fascinated by this eastern medicine) started training in Reiki shortly after leaving the Army in 1982 so knew how powerful it could be. Having experienced the complete generosity of his Reiki healer and suffering none of the common relapses associated with recovering CFS suffers, David started researching how he could make his new business work.

The inspiration to start her own business came about almost by accident for Ellen Grindley, after a friend’s invitation to attend a local business-networking group led her to spot a new opportunity to work for herself.

Felicity Kemp likes to talk, but she never imagined that her chattiness could be the key to her business success…yet her superb communication skills have provided the springboard for not one, but two new businesses that she’s founded in the last year.

It was a natural combination of skills and passion that led Jacqui Shaw and Pauline Neal to consider starting their own business in Torbay.

Kate Wilde set up in business in July 2000; at the time she was a single parent and needed to find full-time employment to support her daughter and herself.

Lynda had been flying high for years, working as cabin crew for a large airline and travelling all over the world. However, this busy career started to take its toll, with long commutes to London, constant jet lag, long hours and ongoing stress.  

After moving to Torbay with his wife in 2010, Mike felt inspired to make a fresh start, settling in the Port town of Brixham…

The prospect of redundancy has become an unfortunate reality for many as the economy continues to recover from recession and employers are hit hard by large-scale cost cutting. Robert was just one of the recent causalities, when after 40 years working for a local electrical contractor, his employer lost a large contract and he was made redundant.

With a long career background in the NHS and the private healthcare sector, providing care for patients with a variety of illnesses, Victoria Bowman found that she could no longer manage the physical demands of her profession.