Partner Article

Funded support transforms personal hardship into flourishing business

A YOUNG entrepreneur who moved to Northumberland for a fresh start after enduring the most turbulent time of his life has seen his fledgling business grow by 40% and is now targeting expansion across the North East and beyond.

Kyle Maddox moved from the North West to the Northumberland village of Hadston last year with the aim of kick-starting his life after being diagnosed with depression following a number of traumatic events in his personal life.

He set about creating his own property maintenance and repair empire which has since grown its earnings by 40% in the last six months and landed contracts with two major estate agencies.

It also has a rapidly-growing stable of corporate and individual clients and is now targeting ongoing expansion into the care homes, pubs and restaurants markets as it spreads its reach across the North East.

The company, The House Husband, was launched on the back of enterprise agency Northumberland Business Service Limited (NBSL), which offered Mr Maddox leadership and management skills training funded by the European Social Fund.

The 12-month-old firm now aims to tap into the increasing demand for small maintenance jobs as businesses and individuals look to repair rather than replace things in the current age of austerity.

Mr Maddox said: “I started the business after a difficult two years when things in my personal life went from bad to worse and I decided to move to Northumberland for a fresh start.

“The company had been an idea for many years but due to financial commitments in the past I had never been able to put any ideas into place.

“Having made a new start in a new area I realised that the time was right to give it a go and it was the best thing I have ever done.”

Looking forward, Mr Maddox – whose firm offers electrical, gardening, plumbing, cleaning and DIY services – aims to create new jobs and ultimately invest in property which can be renovated and sold at a profit.

NBSL’s Leadership and Management Programme helped Mr Maddox develop a business plan, evaluate whether it was a viable business and advised him where to go for appropriate funding.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .