How and why did you start in business?
I’ve always wanted to be my own boss.
I guess for me it was about turning the wild ideas and failed side hustles into a business that could go the distance.
How did you get where you are today?
I’ve spent nearly a decade working hands on with drinking water, cooling water and wastewater systems throughout Europe, onshore and offshore.
I’ve always taken responsibility head on and led by example, but most importantly, I’m not shy of getting my hands dirty.
Who has helped you along the way?
My friends and family have been great and stood by me the whole way. I genuinely don’t believe PHX Water would be where it is today without their encouragement.
Surprisingly, a lot of the support has come from clients who are more than happy to help by introducing me to potential new customers and bouncing ideas off each other.
In one instance, we even merged health and safety procedures to the benefit of both companies.
Your biggest mistake?
Sticking in my old job for so long! I was there for seven years and I had gained all that I could from it after four or five.
I spent the last couple of years just ‘doing my job’ and not enjoying like before.
This had a detrimental effect on my work ethic and job satisfaction, which I started taking home into my personal life.
Once I left, it felt like a massive weight had been lifted and I was a much happier person again.
What is your greatest achievement to date?
Being crowned Perth and Kinross Young Citizen of the Year in 2008.
Hopes for the future?
I have plans to grow PHX Water in the Tayside region then further throughout Scotland.
I will be using past experiences to scale up operations enabling the company to provide specialist services to industrial sectors.
What is the hardest thing about running your own business?
Finances. It is true what they say, ‘cash flow is king.’
It is difficult to be the bookkeeper whilst simultaneously being the labourer, company director and everything in between.
It is easy to be so focused on providing a quality service for your clients that you forget to keep on top of finances, only making it more difficult for yourself when you do find the time.
It’s worth contacting Business Gateway to get some advice on how to manage that side of things, instead of struggling alone.
Advice to wannabe entrepreneurs?
Work! Work! Work! Before launching the business, I spent nine months planning, budgeting, making documents, training, designing… the list goes on.
Then, when I launched the business there was very little work for the first six months – I started to doubt myself.
If you stumble, you have to just keep going.
Network, ask questions, work on your social media, enhance your website… just keep going!
