ISSUE 02 NOVEMBER 07

think it. do it.find out about young people with businesses of their own.

could you be next?

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03 Chewing it overLong live the Urban Revolution

04 Market leadersFor Instant Fashion Happiness, just add success

05 Sounds goodMaking sweet Dolphin Music

06 Let’s meet upConnect to the network

07 Grow your ownSowing the seeds with Nurtur

08 Jam todayIt’s no ordinary jam… it’s SuperJam!

09 Motivation with AmaechiJohn Amaechi speaks to Mint

11 Time for teaLeaf makes a refreshing change

12 Mobile magicTry some Inflite entertainment

13 Child’s playCuddle up with iTeddy

14 Dressed for successLooking good with Gorgeous Couture

15 Be differentCan you think ‘unique’?

17 Inspiration on the roadFrom the USA to Liverpool with Mando Group

19 Kids rule okBe seen and heard at Kids Allowed

20 Wonder webAxamba and the IT crowd

21 Meet the localsYour Safe Planet makes travelling miles better

22 High velocityStay up for hours with Velocity Drinks

23 A tenner goes a long wayTurning ten quid into hundreds

25 When the face fitsTake a peek inside Facebook

26 Straight to the topEnter the world of Vikas Shah

27 Name that tuneWrite the Theme tune, sing the Theme tune

29 Are you an enterprising young Brit?Meet some prize winning young people

It’s the one bright spark that ignites the idea, that then

smoulders away in a corner of your mind until it

begins to consume all your thoughts and dreams.

It’s the bright spark that occurs when you imagine a

product you think people would like, or when you work

out a better way of doing things, or simply when you

realise you don’t want to work for anyone else.

Mint magazine is full of bright sparks, and now they’re

all running businesses that they created. They thought

of something – and then they acted on it. Most of

them are not much older than you – or they weren’t

when they turned their idea into a real live business.

Which just goes to show: bright sparks can strike

at any time.

Don’t let the light go out.

Are youswitched on?How many bright sparks does it take to change your life?Actually, just one.

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They’re fizzing with good ideas, so keep aneye out for them throughout this magazine.

Any litter makes the street look a mess, but when

it’s chewing gum that’s chucked on the floor, the

problem can stick around for years. Removing

chewing gum from pavements costs plenty –

but thanks to Chris Bradshaw’s innovative UR Bin,

there’s now a socially responsible place to put

your Wrigley’s.

Chris, aged 24, set up his company Urban Revolution in Liverpool in 2005.

His bins take chewing gum and cigarette butts, and offer a secure locking

and emptying system while keeping costs down – which is just what his

customers want. His UR bins are now appearing up and down the country,

so if the streets start looking a little

smarter, you know who to thank.

Who helped get your idea off the ground?“The Weston Spirit were brilliant – they

are a charity that helps young people.

They gave me the confidence to produce

a business plan and take the idea to

the marketplace.”

Got any good advice?“Find out about your local business

networking events – and go to them! You

never know who you’ll meet. If I hadn’t

done exactly that, I don’t think I’d have

found the Chinese metal manufacturer

who helped turn my idea into reality.”

Follow in Chris’s footsteps:Weston Spirit – www.westonspirit.org.uk

Make Your Mark Connect –

www.makeyourmarkconnect.org

Chewingit over

From Marks And Spencer to Red Or Dead,

the humble market stall has been the

breeding ground for no end of big brands

over the years. So if you’ve got a product

that could go down well among the hustle

and bustle of a busy market, why not

take your first steps with a stall?

That’s what Sarah Randle did when she started selling her own

fashion creations in Liverpool and Manchester under the name

Instant Fashion Happiness. The 23 year-old John Moores

University graduate not only sold plenty of clothes, she also

made contact with stockists who wanted to sell her stuff.

You can now find her distinctive hand-printed designs across

the north of England – and she still has a stall at Manchester

Fashion Market every Saturday.

Who did you go to for help?“My first stop was a careers advisor who gave me a few

valuable tips. Then Creative Bias and Train 2000

really helped with my business plan – and if you

want to make a go of your business, you really

need one of those.”

What’s your advice for young people with big ideas?“Keep persevering! It’s hard work at first, but it

will pay off in the end. I had trouble getting the

funding I needed, but once I started getting my

work in shops in the UK, I knew Instant Fashion

Happiness could become a strong fashion brand.”

Follow in Sarah’s footsteps:Creative Bias – www.creativebias.org

Train 2000 – www.train2000.org.uk

www.instantfashionhappiness.co.uk

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Market leaders

Act your ageIf you think you need a track record,

a fat wallet and a head full of grey

hair before anyone takes your

business idea seriously, think again.

You might not have much business

experience, but you’re young.

And that can count for a lot.

FEWER RESPONSIBILITIES

Without kids or a mortgage to tie you down,

you can afford to take risks.

BAGS OF ENERGY

You can think of better things to do than just

having a nice sit down.

THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE

You’re used to full-time learning – and you know

you don’t know it all.

FRESH THINKING

You’re not stuck in your ways, and you can see

how to do things differently.

So don’t be put off. You’re the right age to think

about running a business – and the sooner

you start, the better.

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Make Your Mark will help you turn

your idea into living, breathing

reality. It’s packed with tips

about finding help, raising

money and running your

business – it’s inspiring

stuff, and it’s aimed at

people your age.

www.makeyourmark.org.uk

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If you use websites like MySpace,

you’re already networking. But did you

know that networks are also one of the

best ways of meeting business people

and picking their brains?

Networking events happen all over the country and there

are almost certainly events near you. Sometimes they’re

relaxed affairs over a drink and some nibbles, sometimes

they’re breakneck ‘speed networking’ events – but they’re

always full of people who know the challenges and pitfalls

of starting a business.

Networking will help you make contacts and meet people

from the local business community. They might be potential

customers or suppliers, or they could just have some

invaluable advice. And even if they can’t help you today,

who knows what they’ll be able to do for you in the future?

Make Your Mark ConnectYou’ll find all kinds of ideas, information, contacts and

events at Make Your Mark Connect. You can even ask

questions, post your business brainwaves, get online advice

and find out what other people are up to – all from the

comfort of your keyboard! Make Your Mark Connect is about

connecting you with ideas, so take a look and tap into some

free support. And of course, it’s the best place to find out

about networking events near you!

www.makeyourmarkconnect.org

When you’ve got £100,000 worth of

stock lying around in your student

house, you can feel pretty sure that

your business is taking off. And if

you’ve turned over a million quid in

your first year… well, that must

sound like music to your ears.

That’s what happened to Jason Tavaria and Rob Williams

as they finished their courses at Liverpool University

and started selling music equipment online. “Our first

idea was selling dance music software to DJs – but it

soon dawned on us that we could take things further,”

recalls Jason.

Now their Dolphin Music company has expanded

into high street stores in Liverpool, Gateshead and

Huddersfield. They stock vintage guitars for rock gods,

lighting rigs for club nights, and even a range

of instruments aimed at school

kids taking their first tentative

squawks, strums and scrapes.

Jason says it was tough at first – “There were already

large, established companies dominating the market

and it was hard to break into the circle, but we did it.”

These days there are 25 people working for Jason and

Rob, and they deliver instruments anywhere in the UK

the day after they’re ordered. So how do you take your

first steps towards this kind of success?

www.dolphinmusic.co.uk

Sounds good

Let’s meet up

HELLO

HEY

Hi

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“Make sure you have a business plan,”

says Jason. “The more you plan, the

better your chance of succeeding.”

You never know when a good idea

will hit you, but for 22 year-old

Jonathan Gibaud, inspiration struck

after a chat with his mum.

“She mentioned that many of her friends said they

wanted an allotment to grow their own organic food,

but never really had the time or inclination to get

their hands muddy.”

Talking about allotments had planted a seed – and

the more Jonathan thought about it, the more it grew.

Since then his idea has flourished, and is about to

bloom into an innovative new product called an ‘Enu’

developed by his own young company, Nurtur.

So what is an Enu?Well… the design is currently under wraps, but

Jonathan calls it a self-watering gardening pod for

use inside or out.

“It offers all the rewards of allotment gardening

without the effort and the muddy boots,” he says,

and he’s confident it can put down roots in a market

that’s hungry for organic grub without the usual

hefty price tag.

So how will Jonathan’s garden grow?“With a lot of hard work, some crying and some hair

pulling, but then lots more products, more people

joining us, and a fantastic life for all involved,”

he reckons. And his advice?

“If you’ve got an idea, just

do it. You’ll always regret

it if you don’t.”

Grow your own

‘What’s stopping you?’ is the rallying cry

of The Prince’s Trust. They give all kinds

of support to young people, and if you’re

between 18-30, are unemployed, and

have a business idea, they can even

help you out with some hard cash.

www.princes-trust.org.uk

www.nurtur.co.uk

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Fraser Doherty is one of the

jammiest young people in Britain –

but his success is definitely all down

to hard work. 18 year-old Fraser is

the creator of SuperJam, a tasty treat

that’s jam-packed with yummy fruit

but completely free of added sugar

and sweeteners.

SuperJam is proving such a hit that it’s now spreading

nationwide – you’ll find it on the shelves in some of

the country’s biggest supermarkets including Tesco

and Waitrose.

A sticky situationFraser’s first jam session was a batch of marmalade –

he sold six jars door to door, then tried twelve jars…

and after a couple of years, he was mixing up

thousands of jars every month.

“When I started, I didn't really look for help anywhere.

I liked the idea that this was something I was doing by

myself, totally independently. I got help mastering the

art of jam-making from my Gran when I started though,

which I was really grateful for.”

Fit for the futureSuperJam is a healthier alternative to traditional

jams that are loaded with extra sugar, and Fraser

is determined to keep us in shape.

“There are lots of foods

which are traditionally very

unhealthy that, with a bit

of innovation, can be made

much more healthy. I've got

loads of ideas for the future!”

Jam today

www.superjam.co.uk

John Amaechi is the basketballer

from Stockport who did what few

of his countrymen have achieved.

He played – and succeeded – in the

sport’s biggest league: the NBA.

Now he’s back in this country,

motivating people with his own

special brand of inspiration.

Here’s what he had to say to Mint.

MINT MAG:When did you first realise you had a special talent

for basketball?

JOHN AMAECHI:I never thought I had a special talent. I got interested

in basketball when I realised that I was treated like

a commodity by team mates and members of the

basketball community. I was treated like someone

with potential, something to offer. Before that, I had

wandered around feeling just like a freak.

MINT MAG:What do you miss now you’ve retired from the game?

JOHN AMAECHI:I miss being in shape – world-class shape – but not

much else.

MINT MAG:Why did you decide to go into business once you

finished playing?

JOHN AMAECHI:My charity work and my education have been preparing

me for this career since I was eight. This was the only

thing I knew would make me feel fulfilled for the rest

of my life.

MINT MAG:Can you briefly describe your business ventures?

JOHN AMAECHI:I have a consultancy firm called Animus Consulting –

we work with businesses on issues of personnel

development, team and group dynamics, leadership,

and the implementation of diversity programmes.

I also travel Europe and the US speaking to companies,

educational institutions and government departments

on various motivational and inspirational issues.

My charity, the ABC Foundation, incorporates health and

fitness centres with a holistic community centre for children

from 4 through to 80! We encourage an environment in which

youngsters can interact with trained, professional adults.

MINT MAG:What qualities do you need to make a success of yourself?

JOHN AMAECHI:That’s a huge question, but I believe fundamentally

that a thorough knowledge of yourself gives you resilience

against what life throws at you. Knowing who you are

informs you of your strengths and weaknesses, and directs

you to goals that will resonate with your true self.

MINT MAG:What achievements are you most proud of?

JOHN AMAECHI:I’m proud of the fact that I have set out to achieve

implausible things, like playing in the NBA despite a late

start and nearly cutting my hand off, writing a New York

Times best-selling book and so on… and I’ve actually

done them. I’m proud of my ability to complete the tasks

I set for myself.

MINT MAG:What problems have you faced in business and

how have you dealt with them?

JOHN AMAECHI:Creating a buzz about the work I do, and putting myself

in a position to work with world-class corporations and

government institutions was difficult. I have had to break

the stereotype that many people have about ‘dumb jocks’!

I think it’s an ongoing process!

MINT MAG:Have you got any new projects planned for the future?

JOHN AMAECHI:Several new projects are in the pipeline! Check out

www.johnamaechi.com in the coming weeks.

MINT MAG:And finally, what advice would you give to young people

who may be thinking of starting a business?

JOHN AMAECHI:Plan first, know why you are going into the venture, and make

sure it will be rewarding for you in the end, because the

amount of work required to get there will leave some scars.

www.animus-consulting.com

www.amaechibasketball.com

Motivation with Amaechi

“Plan first, know why you are going into the venture,

and make sure it will be rewarding for you in the end.”

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Crazy Frog may have given mobile downloads

a bad name, but there are still loads of fun

games, ring tones and other bits and bobs

worth having on your phone. And as phones

get more powerful, this kind of content gets

better and better.

In fact, the only problem is… actually getting hold of this stuff. Which

is where SnG, Iain Rosie’s Daresbury-based company, comes in.

“The original idea came from the poor experience of trying to buy

mobile content a few years ago. We decided to create a solution

that would allow people to easily browse mobile entertainment

from their phone, and have a look at it before they paid for it.”

The result was a product called Inflite, which can be used by anyone

who sells mobile content across the airwaves. It can be branded

and customised very easily, and it means businesses can reach

their customers round the clock via their mobile.

Iain describes the experience of setting up in business as a

roller-coaster ride and is keen to remind other young people

that they don’t have to do everything themselves.

“A common mistake is to spend too long on things you don’t enjoy

and don’t have the skills for,” he says. “Build the strongest team

you can – that way you share the risks and the rewards!”

So if by chance you’ve still got Crazy Frog on

your phone… thanks to Iain, you can easily

find something a little less irritating. There’s

plenty out there… so what are you waiting for?

www.sng-tech.com

Mobilemagic

Iain describes the experience

of setting up in business as

a roller-coaster ride and is

keen to remind other young

people that they don’t have

to do everything themselves.

She was offered a bright urban space in central

Liverpool – within the city’s Static Gallery – and opened

Leaf in August this year.

“We serve up everything from the classic English cuppa

to Japanese blossoming tea that unfurls in your teapot

right before your eyes. We also have a huge selection

of loose leaf teas usually found only in the coolest

teahouses of Tokyo, New York or London.”

Barely three months into her adventure, she’s concocted

a tasty blend of fine teas and organic food in relaxing,

bohemian surroundings. Leaf also hosts all kinds of

creative events, with its open mic comedy sessions

already part of Liverpool’s late night buzz.

Natalie didn’t look for too much advice – “I just had a

gut feeling that what I was doing was right,” she says.

Now that Leaf has taken root, Natalie hopes it will soon

be branching out – “We plan to open another five Leaf

cafés in selected suburbs in Liverpool, and who knows

where we’ll end up after that?”

So follow your instincts, and don’t let others pour cold

water on your idea. And while you think about it…

why not put the kettle on?

www.myspace.com/leafliverpool

“If it’s something you really love,

then it’s worth giving it a go.”

Time for teaWith a coffee shop on almost every corner, whatever happened to our national

drink? When 25 year-old Natalie Haywood from Liverpool decided to knock the

double espressos on the head, she realised there was nowhere in the city

specialising in that most British of brews – the decent cuppa. Except that the

cups of tea she had in mind weren’t the brick-red-fluid-in-a-chipped-mug

type – she wanted something fresher, healthier, and rather more exotic.

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When Imran Hakim’s

brother dared him to better

his niece’s first birthday gift,

he couldn’t have imagined how

things would turn out.

Never one to turn down a challenge, the 29 year-old

Bolton local put his thinking cap on and came up with iTeddy.

An interactive teddy bear with a computer in its tummy, the

iTeddy is an educational toy designed to help kids learn as they

play. With downloadable cartoons, stories and online tutorials

for basic computer skills, Imran saw this as the perfect way to

introduce young children to emerging technologies.

The next step was to pitch

the toy on the Dragons’

Den. After winning

over two of the surliest

Dragons, Imran realised

he was really on to

something. Now he’s got

an exclusive deal with

Argos, multi-national

toy giants knocking

on his door,

orders totalling

£5 million and

a 2008 forecast

of around

£20 million

orders.

Imran obviously knows a thing or two about

turning a great idea into a viable business and

believes it’s not just one thing but a combination

of attributes that helps you get to the top: “You need

the right motivation and confidence in your own

ability,” he says.

With a mounting portfolio of successful businesses under

his belt, it’s hard to believe Imran knows anything about tough

times. In fact, his future looks very bright with iTeddy set to

be one of the biggest sellers this Christmas. Not bad when you

consider it all started out as some harmless sibling rivalry.

You can find out more about Imran

and his unbearably cute invention at

www.iteddy.co.uk

Dressed for success

There’s nothing old fashioned

about Niki Proctor’s business –

except maybe her belief in what

she calls “old fashioned hard work.”

She launched her Gorgeous Couture

fashion label with two colleagues in

2002 and since then her “work hard,

play hard” philosophy has seen her

clothes being snapped up by the likes

of Myleene Klass, Charlotte Church

and all of Girls Aloud!

“We launched with just a couple of sewing machines,

a laptop, a phone and a dream,” says Niki. “Originally

we sold orders to exclusive outlets all over the country,

but now we are mainly an online boutique offering a

huge range of celebrity-worn and inspired dresses –

all designed and made in-house in Manchester.”

Niki has been wearing Gorgeous Couture outfits at a

lot of star-spangled celebrity bashes recently – the

company has picked up a shelf-warping stack of awards,

including the Manchester Evening News Young Business

of the Year. So with all this success in mind – has it been

an advantage being young?

“You’re more prepared to take risks when you’re young,

so maybe having that confident spirit to start the

business came from us all being youthful,” says Niki.

“It was simply a case of having the initial designs

sampled up, hitting the road, and getting the brand into

all the right stores. And kick-starting the PR machine!”

She makes it sound so easy, but warns that there will

be knock-backs for anyone starting a business.

“Just don’t let the knock-backs become set-backs,”

she adds.

At Mint, we call that good old fashioned advice

that doesn’t need any dressing up.

www.gorgeouscouture.com

“But above all, you need drive,

determination and the energy to

carry you through the tough times

– there are always tough times!”

“Keep your vision and stay

positive. If you’re not excited

about your brand then why

should anyone else be?”

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Child’s play

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One of the best ways to learn is to have a go

yourself, and that’s what Young Enterprise Northwest

helps you do. By setting up a temporary business,

you can really get your hands dirty – and find out what’s

in store when you get your own idea off the ground!

www.youngenterprisenw.org

Got an idea that you think could make

you money? If you have, that’s great.

It’s what Mint magazine is all about.

But is your idea different? If you can do something

differently, in a way that people like, you’ll be unique.

You’ll be doing business, but with a twist that’s

all your own.

After all, being different can be a great way to be

successful. And here’s an example to show you what

we mean…

An idea that stuckOnce upon a time, if you had an idea you scribbled

it in a notepad. Notepads had been around for years,

and everyone knew what to do with them. They couldn’t

really imagine a better place for scribbling ideas,

thoughts, phone numbers or anything else. When it

came to writing notes, the good old notepad was king.

But in 1977, a huge company called 3M launched

a new kind of notepad. It was a pad of paper – but each

sheet had a sticky strip on the back. Now you could jot

down a note and stick it anywhere you wanted, including

on the pages of a book. And because it was sticky,

but not too sticky, you could peel it off again without

tearing the page.

They had invented the Post-it Note. Until then, everyone

had been happy with notes scribbled on paper that

blew away when you opened the window. Now people

could mark pages in books, stick notes to their desk,

slap them all over their bedroom, attach them to the

telephone, put them in their diary, or just write ‘KICK

ME!’ and stick it on the back of their mate’s jacket.

“Is anyone already doing something similar?”

If they are, can you offer a better way of doing it?

A new design, or a new way of selling it perhaps?

What can you do to make your idea different?

“Is there a market for my idea?”

Maybe you’ve had an incredible brainwave –

It was an idea with a twist, and it worked. Within a few

years, virtually everyone in the world was using them.

It was a notepad… but it was different.

The ‘Do It Differently’ testWill your idea stick like a Post-it Note? Or will it float

away on the breeze? Ask yourself these questions…

“Does my idea offer something completely new?”

An all-new product or service could be just what people

want – but how will you convince them if they’ve never

seen anything like it before?

but do people really want it? The best thing to do is ask

people. Quiz your friends, use the internet, or just get

out on the streets and find out!

So does your idea pass the ‘Do It Differently’ test?

If it does, good luck. If it doesn’t…

just stick

at it!

“Does my idea offer something completely new?”

An all-new product or service could be just what people

want – but how will you convince them if they’ve never

seen anything like it before?

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Where will your big idea strike? It could be anywhere. Sitting on

the bus, lying in bed, or scoffing your Shreddies in the morning.

on the road

Mind you, it could be a trip away from

home that gives you the inspiration

to set up a business of your own.

That’s what happened to John Moores

Uni student Matthew Johnson and

his friend Ian Finch as they travelled

through the States in 1997. Matt was

20 at the time, and it was during this

trip that he realised that the internet

had the power to transform business

and communication. It wasn’t just

hype – it really was going to happen.

When they returned to Liverpool, they used their student

loans to set up a website development company, and ten

years later, Mando Group is delivering web and design

services to companies all over this country and abroad.

What made you take those first steps?I’d always wanted to work for myself so it was really

a matter of finding the right idea and getting started.

Did you find it an advantage being young?Definitely. I didn’t have any ties and was able to live

cheaply, which helped to get the business established.

How did you feel on the first day youopened for business?Excited! It was great getting the keys to our first office

and having to quickly learn how to sell.

Who helped out with advice, and whatproblems did you encounter?We went to Business Link for some help, but friends

and family were important too. As for problems, it was

hard winning clients at first, and recruiting staff and

then developing them can also be difficult.

What does the future hold for Mando Group?Our future lies in continuing to develop really strong

relationships with our clients, and helping them get the

most out of new technology over the web – including

getting audio and video onto their websites.

Got any advice for other young peoplewith a business idea?Believe in your idea, remember that cash is king,

listen to outside advice, and be realistic!

And your career highlight so far?In 2000, I won the Young Entrepreneur of the Year

for the north of England. I’m very proud of that.

www.mandogroup.com

“I’d always wanted to work for myself so it was really

a matter of finding the right idea and getting started.”

If you’re serious about your business idea, then don’t

miss Startups, the seriously inspiring website. You’ll find

sound advice covering everything from raising cash

to setting up a website, from taking people on,

to working from home. There’s even a section

dedicated to young entrepreneurs.

www.startups.co.uk

Kids

ruleOK

What do you do when you’re juggling

a couple of kids with a full-time

job, and can’t find the appropriate

childcare facilities? You start your

own, of course!

Jennie Johnson discovered that the flexible, high quality

childcare she needed just wasn’t there. But rather than

seeing this as an obstacle, she saw an opportunity.

At 31, she gave up a successful IT career to start a

nursery of her own. So began the life of Kids Allowed.

Determined to do things differently, Jennie has created

centres that are purpose built, drenched in natural light,

stimulating, safe and secure. And most importantly,

Kids Allowed centres give parents the services they

really want and need – which is why she’s picking up

awards left, right and centre.

How did you feel the first day that youopened for business?“Excited, nervous, proud and stressed!”

Who did you go to for advice?“We did lots of research, and I’ve always been happy

to pick up the phone and ask for a quick meeting with

successful business people who have already done

something I’d like to do.”

Wonder webBack in the mists of 1998 – at the dawn

of Google, and way before Bebo, Habbo

and the rest – 21 year-old Ian Harris

was getting to grips with the internet

for the first time.

Excited by what was possible, he soon had a personal

website online, and having made his own presence felt on

the internet, he realised there was an opportunity to help

Where did you go for advice?“A couple of months after Web Tapestry started, we were

approached by a guy called Duncan Foster who wanted to

invest some money and offer us a wealth of knowledge

and advice. It’s been very useful over the years!”

Got any tips?“It’s important to nurture your business, even during

difficult times – and the early days can be very difficult.

You have to be passionate as well as disciplined.

others take the leap into cyberspace too. Together with a

colleague called Mike Reed, Ian launched Web Tapestry –

by the end of 1999 they were hosting 80 websites, and at

that point they decided to run the business full time.

Now Web Tapestry is part of a wider business called

Axamba, delivering IT solutions with a commitment to

reliability and great service round the clock.

Is it an advantage to be young?“Most people in this business seem very young anyway –

but I did struggle to get people to respect me early on.

I remember going to buy a computer with my dad, and

even when I asked the dealer a question, he would

actually respond to my dad. He was very taken aback

when I took out the cheque book and signed it!”

It’s also important to make sure you balance work and

free time –in Axamba’s early days I’d find myself working

from 8am until midnight, which isn’t too healthy.

And keep a very tight rein on the finances.”

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What have been the biggest obstacles?“In a nutshell – finance. We had a vision, and we needed

a lot of money to get it off the ground. We did it, but it

took 18 months to raise the finance and secure the right

investors. We’ve now got three centres with a new one

opening in Knutsford in January.”

Got any advice for other young peoplewith a business dream?“Go for it… but don’t try and do it all yourself. The first

call I made was to my now business partner as I knew

I didn’t have the skills to do everything alone.”

Take a look at the fresh Kids Allowed

concept: www.kidsallowed.com

“It’s important to nurture your business, even during difficult

times – and the early days can be very difficult. You have to

be passionate as well as disciplined.”

www.axamba.com

Given that a steaming hot cappuccino

is not the best way to keep yourself

awake on a packed dancefloor, canned

energy drinks have proved to be big

business over the last few years.

26 year-old Richard Baister

from Newton Aycliffe noticed

how much people would pay for

the privilege of quaffing a cold

fizzy drink with a high dose of

caffeine – even though, in his

opinion, they tended to taste rather… bleeeagh. As a

result he launched his own Velocity energy drink brand,

designed to deliver a caffeine hit and taste good too.

With three flavours – two of which are sugar-free –

Velocity has proved a big hit in clubs and bars in this

country and beyond. In fact Richard and his team have

deliberately targeted dance music venues, appearing

at famous events like the Southport Weekender and

sponsoring tours by big names like Trevor Nelson.

So what qualities does Richard think you need to handle

the highs and lows of business?

“Determination, the ability

to take a knock and carry on,

enthusiasm, confidence and

creativity,” he says. And then

there’s the ability to work

hard too, as it seems the

wide-awake world of energy drinks is a fast-moving one:

“I haven’t stopped to notice the highlights yet –

once you have your nose to the grindstone, things go

by in a blur!”

www.velocitydrinks.com

High velocity

“Once you have your

nose to the grindstone,

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If you’re between 16-30 and you want

to get your business idea off the ground,

you must visit Shell LiveWIRE. Their

website is crammed with essential advice,

and you could even make it big in their

Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards.

www.shell-livewire.org

Far and wideYour Safe Planet is based in Ulverston, Cumbria,

but its huge network of contacts reaches right round the

globe, and that’s what makes it special. By making use

of detailed local knowledge in some favourite backpacker

destinations, travellers can benefit from the tips, advice

and information that never get into the guide books.

It’s like having a ready-made friend wherever you go –

someone who’ll help you plan your journey, and who can let

you know where’s safe, where’s dodgy, and where to avoid…

Meet the localsTravel may broaden the mind, but arriving in a new country

for the first time can be a daunting experience. 23 year-old

Sally Broom was one traveller who had a hair-raising time

of it while backpacking between Cambodia and Laos, and the

experience gave her the idea for a business – Your Safe Planet.

The travel bugSally’s had itchy feet ever since she set off on her travels

aged 14 – she journeyed through Central America, Africa and

Asia, aiming to see a different side to the world and have a

few crazy experiences along the way. She soon realised that

knowing someone local made things much easier as she

then had the freedom to explore far beyond the tourist traps.

Your Safe Planet is now giving travellers exactly that kind

of experience – and with a commitment to responsible

tourism, Sally is determined to put something back into

the communities that backpackers visit.

www.yoursafeplanet.co.uk

Your Safe Planet is based

in Ulverston, Cumbria, but its

huge network of contacts

reaches right round the globe.

What would you do with ten quid?

See a band maybe. Or get a haircut. Or go onto iTunes® and blow it

on a few downloads. But if you’re wondering how you could turn

your tenner into twenty, or a hundred, or even more, you’re already

thinking like someone who wants to make a success of business.

The Make Your Mark with a Tenner competition gives thousands

of young people the chance to turn ten quid into something

more substantial. And with just one month to do it, their

ideas show just how enterprising Britain’s

young people can be. Here are some of the

high achievers from last year’s competition.

A tenner goesa long way

Hairdressing student Nicole Bothma

set up a hairdressing and nails

service by investing her tenner in

products and posters. By the end

of the month she’d made £182 profit

which she’s using to pay for driving

lessons – so her business can go

mobile when her course is over.

www.makeyourmarkwithatenner.org

Nazanean Shirani set up a company

called Kushions, selling comfy

cushions in a range of bright

colours. Having made £110 profit

in a month, she used the money to

make 30 pillows for Great Ormond

Street Hospital.

In the group competition, the

members of Cathay Craftz made

origami to sell to local businesses.

They pooled their tenners, and after

folding an awful lot of paper, they

made over £650 which they donated

to a secondary school in South Africa.

It’s a big fatround of applausefor Fazila Dadabhoyfrom London who won the individual category by making and selling HomerSimpson’s favourite dish – doughnuts.

She cooked up a whopping £410 which

she donated to various charities(though not Weight Watchers) – a few clicks on a calculator reveals she increased her £10 investment by a huge 4100%.

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Straight to the top

Here’s a warning: running a business

can be addictive. So much so that some

people don’t just stop at one, or two,

or even three. For instance, 26 year-old

Vikas Shah from Manchester currently

has four businesses at his fingertips –

and none of those is the one he started first.

That was Ultima Group, a design and technology outfit that

found itself working for the likes of Nike. Not bad to say

Vikas had never even been employed by anyone else –

“My first business was actually my first job!” he says.

Clearly, Vikas knows what he’s talking about when it comes

to launching a business when you’re young.

Check out Vikas’s current business empire.

Swiscot Textiles: www.swiscot.com

Linen Connect: www.linenconnect.com

Charlotte Thomas:www.charlottethomas.co.uk

Equitas Recruitment: www.equitasrecruitment.com

When the face fits

“Don’t let fear get the better of you. If you want to do something,

go for it. Business is a risk, but without taking a deep breath and

moving forward you can’t succeed!”

What’s the first thing you do when you

get on a computer? If you find yourself

writing on walls, getting bitten by

zombies and sending drinks to your

mates, you’re one of the millions that

have found a space on Facebook.

Facebook is this year’s essential social networking site,

having been set up by Mark Zuckerberg just three and

a half years ago. He was 19 at the time.

Originally designed simply to help fellow students at

the famous Harvard University to keep in touch, it soon

expanded to include schools and universities right across

the States along with a handful of other countries too.

As if we need to tell you, you can find out more at www.facebook.com

Finally, in September 2006, Facebook was opened

up to anyone in the world with an email address.

Cue Facebook mayhem!

Now said to be worth several billion dollars, Mark must

feel that setting up Facebook has been three and a half

years well spent. You can even understand his decision to

take time out from Harvard back in 2004 – and then drop

out completely.

So next time a friend sends you a penguin or gives you a

poke, remember that it’s because Mark Zuckerberg had a

business idea that worked. Spectacularly. If your business

idea creates even a fraction of the buzz that his did, then

you’ll definitely have something to tell your friends.

On Facebook, of course.

It’s clear and easy to navigate, but

that doesn’t mean the Business Link

Northwest site is light on information.

Quite the opposite in fact – this is the big

daddy of business sites, with virtually

everything you could need just a click away.

www.businesslink.gov.uk/northwest

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“Sometimes people consider age to be an indicator of

experience and skill,” he says, “but these are just

challenges to fight against. There can be a great sense

of achievement when you overcome them.”

Vikas had bags of confidence when he started out and didn’t

really seek out any special advice. “Initially I did most of the

research myself,” he says, but adds that it can be useful to get

some outside help. “There is often merit in talking to mentors

and other advisers before you get started, particularly if you

need to put in a lot of money to get moving.”

So let’s ask the man himself – what advice would he give to

young people starting out with a business idea?

“Don’t let fear get the better of you. If you want to do

something, go for it. Business is a risk, but without taking

a deep breath and moving forward you can’t succeed!”

Name that tuneOnce, he was in a band. Then he trained

as a concert pianist. It was odds-on

that Richard Bodgers was going to

make a career in music – and at the

age of 23, he launched Theme…

MINT MAG:What’s Theme all about?

RICHARD:Theme is my business – I compose music and

soundtracks for film, TV, computer games, websites…

MINT MAG:What made you take your first steps?

MINT MAG:There must have been some problems along the way?

RICHARD:Cash flow can be a problem for any business.

One month can be great, but then the next

month it can be beans on toast for every meal!

MINT MAG:So what’s next for Theme?

RICHARD:I think it’s time to concentrate on getting some

really big commissions and move into feature films.

I’m also setting up an online music library so producers

and directors can easily get hold of lots of music.

RICHARD:I realised the music I composed was particularly

suitable for film and TV – and sometimes they pay

rather more than you get from being in a band!

MINT MAG:Who helped you out with advice?

RICHARD:I was awarded grants by both the South Manchester

Business Enterprise Scheme and the Prince’s Youth

Business Trust. That meant I could set up my first

recording studio and afford to market myself.

MINT MAG:Got any advice for other young people with their

own business ideas?

RICHARD:Great! But remember you’ll need to be determined

and very well disciplined – just because you’re your

own boss doesn’t mean you can lie in. At the beginning

it can help to offer your services cheap – or even free.

But know when to start charging the going rate!

“One month can be great, but the next can be beans on

toast for every meal!”

Richard’s music appears on

TV ads in your front room on

a regular basis. Find out more

at www.thememusic.net

Your future is a big thing to think about,

but Connexions is there to help you with

advice on all kinds of issues. Housing,

health, relationships and money are all

covered – and so are the ins and outs of

setting up in business.

www.connexions.gov.uk

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Are you anenterprisingyoung Brit?Flick through this magazine and you’ll

see the Make Your Mark name cropping

up again and again. If you have even half

an idea for a business it’s a name you

need to remember, because they can

give you some seriously helpful advice.

Your first port of call should be the Make Your Mark

website at www.makeyourmark.org.uk

There you’ll find all kinds of useful advice, links to

people who can help, and no end of inspiring stories that

will really make you want to get out there and do it.

Plus, Make Your Mark runs competitions that turn the

spotlight on young people who are making a go of it – and

the prizes will come in really useful too.

The Make Your Mark Enterprising Young Brits competition

is aimed at people under 30 who have turned their idea into

a living, breathing business. There are several categories

including a Teens’ competition for people aged 13-19.

You’ve got a year to wait before entries have to be in for

the next Enterprising Young Brits competition, so while

you’re getting your idea under way, why not take a look at

some of last year’s winners and finalists for inspiration?

After going on a sailing course with friends, A-level

student Tanya Budd realised that the devices that

were meant to rescue people who fell overboard didn’t

actually work very well. So she designed the HypoHoist

for an A-level project… and it’s now on sale in the shops!

Sounds like a watertight idea to us.

www.hypohoist.co.uk

Jay Cousins was at university when he designed a range

of cups and plates that are light as a feather and that

fold away flat. Perfect for picnics, they hold food or liquid

– and they’re now available in 30 countries under the

name Orikaso. He’s even designed a plate that turns into

a chess board when you fold it inside out. Now that really

is flexible thinking.

www.orikaso.com

It’s easy to get your name in the paper with Rebecca-Jane

Philipson’s help. Her company In The Paper – which she

launched when she was 21 – produces personalised

tabloid gift newspapers, and after striking a deal with

Tesco in 2006, she’s really spreading the word.

www.inthepaper.co.uk

Pro-Active Sports was set up by Baljeet Singh and

Rowland Egege in 2006. They realised that many primary

schools didn’t have specialist PE teachers and so couldn’t

deliver a full range of sports activities. Baljeet, Rowland

and their team are qualified to coach all kinds of sports,

so they step in and get the kids moving!

www.proactive-sports.co.uk

Find out more at www.makeyourmark.org.uk

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ISSUE 02 NOVEMBER 07

think it. do it.find out about young people with businesses of their own.

could you be next?