Mark’s Story - "Most of all, do it today, and go for it."

Click here to see Mark's Story on Video

The folllowing is a transcription of Mark's Story video .......

"Hello, my name is Mark Gill. My company is Presteigne Associates and we carry out private investigation work and legal support services. Prior to starting the business I spent five and half years in the army. When I got out of the army I spent a short time in a couple of jobs which included canvassing and I worked in a factory for a day. I knew that wasn’t the type of work I wanted to do so I had to look around for something more interesting that I knew was going to set me up. I then met an acquaintance who had an investigation agency in Rhyl. From there I got in contact with him and he agreed to show me the ropes. Prior to starting the business we realised we needed some business experience and some business skills, so we went down to our local town and we enrolled in a business start up course, which lasted for 8 weeks.

From there we submitted a business plan to the Princes Trust who agreed that they would finance us if we had a little more information. So I got in contact with the associate, who was the investigator in Rhyl, and he agreed that we could shadow him for a month and pick up the experience and skills we needed to take the business on in our own local area. From there we came back and wrote out a brief report and submitted that again to the Princes Trust who then gave us a three thousand pound loan in order to start our business.

The business was originally set up as a private investigation agency undertaking work such as tracing and surveillance but we soon realised that we needed to increase our services so we began looking for other avenues. We now undertake work for solicitors doing legal support work which includes process serving, which is serving documents such as divorce petitions, statements of arrangements for children, also we do the more mundane types of work which include couriering, and photocopying bundles for court.

The main disadvantages of being self employed are that you can never be sick, as there is no one else to undertake any work on your behalf and the holidays are a difficult time purely for the fact that if you are away you can’t be there working and your clients may go elsewhere, also if there are any problems in the business they are all on your own shoulders which can be very difficult at times.

The main advantage is that what I do is not a job it’s a way of life and the biggest advantage is that I’m responsible for my own future. There is no one capping wages, no one saying you’ve got to work so many hours. The fact is that if I make a success of this it’s going to be all down to me.

My advice to any one starting up in business is don’t be afraid to dream, also be positive, proactive and most of all do it today and go for it."