Member Article

Entrepreneur shapes up for bright future

A teenage fitness enthusiast has shaped up to be a successful entrepreneur thanks to inspiration from her parents and college tutors.

Sheridan Mordew, who is 19 and from Hebburn, set up her own fitness business Shape up with Sher after studying business studies at Gateshead College and becoming president of the Northern Stars enterprise society – an initiative within the college that supports budding entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses.

Since setting up her business almost a year ago, Sheridan, who is a qualified personal trainer, has helped over 600 people across the UK with their health and fitness goals with her online nutrition and exercise programmes, as well as more than 100 people locally. Sheridan has also established herself as a leading personal and group trainer in her area, working both mobile and from Fitness 2000 gym in Sunderland.

Sheridan said: “I was originally inspired by my parents, who both have run their own businesses. I enrolled on the course at Gateshead College to learn more about business and how to run one independently and successfully. I always wanted to be my own boss so I could push myself, make my own decisions and be in charge of my own workload and earnings.

“My college course taught me a lot about different aspects of business, including how to manage finances, how to market your product or service and when to expect busy and quieter times for different industries. The Northern Stars also taught me a lot about networking, how to be professional and how to develop important people skills, which I think are essential if you want to be a successful business person.”

Sheridan has made use of the growing popularity of social media, marketing her products via Instagram as well as her website, all of which she runs herself.

She continued: “I wanted to keep it personal and run everything myself. Clients prefer to speak to the boss and the face of the company, someone they can trust and who they have got to know. I am really enjoying being the point of contact and hearing all of my clients fantastic success stories first hand. I have helped some people lose up to three stone and become healthier and happier, which is so rewarding.

“I am looking forward to growing my empire, helping others achieve their health and fitness goals and continuing with creating an ecommerce website and developing both my programmes and nutrition plans.”

Kevin Marston, assistant principal for curriculum innovation, said: “Sheridan’s passion for business has always been evident, especially in her work as president of the Northern Stars. It is fantastic to see her business doing so well with no signs of slowing down. She has been incredibly innovative and business minded in creating online programmes and utilising the popularity of social media.

“Sheridan’s endorsement of the Northern Stars enterprise society supports the fact that Gateshead College helps its students set up their own business by guiding them through the process stage by stage and planning every step to ensure that their business ideas reap commercial awards.

“We want to encourage all learners to take part in the activities linked with the Northern Stars Enterprise Society, and encourage them all to view self-employment as a career choice.

“The entrepreneurial programmes run by the college are becoming more popular year-on-year and we look forward to helping many other students reach their career goals.”

Gateshead College’s Northern Stars enterprise society is for students that are serious about starting their own business. It is full of opportunities to learn more about what it takes to start a business, including lots of chances to network with successful entrepreneurs and attend seminars and talks.

To find out more about Gateshead College and the business courses on offer, visit www.gateshead.ac.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Gateshead College .