News | Young entrepreneurs
downsmail.co.uk
YOUNG entrepreneurs have had to tap into their creative sides to re-launch their businesses after lockdown. From make-up artists to website developers, Maidstone is blessed with pioneering millennials from all walks of life and industries. The appetite for entrepreneurship is still alive and well in Kent, and these young people can take
their fair share of credit for this boom. Reporter Jade Schopman spoke to seven young entrepreneurs about how they have continued to build their businesses in the face of global pandemic...
Emily’s salon dream comes true
A BEAUTY therapist from Maidstone has taken lockdown productivity to a new level, transforming a section of her garden into a home salon. Emily Irvine (20), of Westwood
Road, Loose, had to overcome the challenges of the Coronavirus lockdown to finally start building her own beauty space, after months of uncertainty.
The former Maidstone Girls Grammar School pupil said hav- ing her own space to work is “a dream come true” after being un- sure what career path she wanted to take. Emily, who launched her eponymous business a year ago, said: “I think the secret to being a good entrepreneur is having pa- tience, knowing that not every- thing you do is going to be
Emily studied government and politics, business and media at A- Level before turning to beauty full time. Despite the difficulties, She is optimistic about the future and hopes to open her salon by the end of the year. The business- woman plans to offer
family
packages where the salon can be rented out while people are re- stricted as to where they can go on holiday.
Emily added: “I realised there
returned to you straight away. It takes time to get your name out there. “I have been doing nails and spray tans since I was 16 years old. I had completed my A Levels
and was really unsure what I wanted to do, so I set this up on the side of my previous marketing job. I knew all along this was what I really wanted to do.”
were actually no benefits of rent- ing a salon, since I could build my own in a completely isolated area at my own home. I want it to feel like a little retreat for the whole family.”
emily@irvineassociates.co.uk (07834 322005)
‘I thrive on learning’
A TEENAGE entrepreneur used the lockdown to her advantage and launched an online fashion business.
‘Don’t focus on money’
A MAIDSTONE software de- veloper has created an app to help those with chronic ill- nesses in their day-to-day lives. Adam Hazem (26), of Maid-
stone, created an app providing a central repository for a per- son’s health records which is constantly updated. Valitudo, which means the condition of body and health in Latin, is a place where pa- tients can store and share their health data with doctors in a secure and transparent way. The former Maplestone Noakes pupil says he was al- ways destined for a future in technology.
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Adam said: “I don’t think there is a secret to en- trepreneurship, but in my opinion you shouldn’t be thinking about money right from the start. “Start by addressing a prob- lem you care about, and find others that might be able to help you. Identify whether or not it is a problem by speaking to a range of people who do not know you personally.
“Then focus on how you can
turn the problem you’ve iden- tified into a business that can sustain itself. Nothing is free.”
Go to
www.valitudo.co.uk
Ella Holder (19), of Lacock Gar- dens, Maidstone, created her own brand, Forward Fashion UK, just before the country was forced to stay at home. The former New Line Learning Academy student says she used the extra time to educate herself on marketing, design, and social media strategies.
Ella said: “I worked through lockdown mainly as Forward Fashion operates from my home and everything is online, which was a great advantage during the uncertain times. “I was aware that purchasing new clothes may not have been an essential for customers, as priori- ties were placed elsewhere in terms of finances, so I ensured that I could keep my products at a rea- sonable price to guarantee I could maintain my customer base. “I work on every aspect of my business each day, with an end goal of growing Forward Fashion into an international brand. The former bar worker has al-
ready gained more than 3,000 In- stagram followers. Ella added: “I thrive on learning
about new aspects within business, as I am just so determined to create a future where I can earn a living from something that I have created at a young age in my bedroom. “I feel this is only the start for my
small business, and I am so excited to keep growing it and showcase what some determination can re- ally do.”
Find Ella at
www.forwardfash-
ionuk.com.
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