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Meet the Entrepreneur

If you’ve ever dreamed of being your own boss, take some advice from these guys... Nick Collins

Darren Crockett

Cleverchefs 02920 464511; www.cleverchefs.co.uk

Do Digital Realities 02920 810499; www.dodigitalrealities.com

Tell us about your business in one sentence? An elegant catering and events company creating beautiful food for high profile foodies. How did you get into your industry? I started out in the kitchen when I was 15 and found the whole kitchen environment and lifestyle so exciting. It was demanding but I could see that it could give you that spark to want to get to work and do your very best in whatever section you would be in. What’s been the highlight of your career so far? I think I’m living in the highlight at the moment! I feel incredibly proud and honoured to work with with the team I have and sometimes when we have day with more than seven events, feeding thousands of people at an incredibly high standard I have to pinch myself as I couldn’t ask for a more loyal hardworking bunch What advice would you give anyone thinking of going into your industry? I think the perception of people who run their own business is that it must be amazing to be your own boss butI have never had so many bosses as I do now! From clients in contracts and venues, to brides, grooms and customers, they are all your boss in some way, so it’s important to stay grounded and humble and never let your ego get out – however successful you may be. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Don’t tell me sky’s the limit when there are footprints on the moon. In essence, nothing is impossible.

Richard Shorten Lucid Recruitment Ltd 02921 40 60 64; www.lucidrecruitment.com

Tell us about your business? Lucid Recruitment specialise in sales,

Nick Collins

Darren Crockett

Tell us about your business in one sentence? Do Digital Realities specialises in all types of 3D work for your business. How did you get into your industry? Interiors and product design have been my main interest since leaving college and I started the business when I saw a growing need in the market to outsource 3D services. I knew that it was something that I could do myself, and hopefully be good at. Was this always your dream career? No, but I always knew I wanted to run my own business. What’s been the highlight of your career so far? Winning the NatWest Welsh Entrepreneur of the Year and most recently winning the BiTC Cymru Responsible Business award for Talent Development in June for the DO Academy. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Embrace other organisations, people and technologies. Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who appreciate your efforts. What advice would you give anyone thinking of going into your industry? It will be hard work, rewarding, satisfying and challenging, but above all keep the bigger picture in mind.

marketing and office support recruitment throughout South Wales and surrounding areas. We also have several nationwide clients. I’m surrounded by a fantastic team, affectionately known as the “Lucid Dream Team”, who boast more than 25 years of experience combined with local industry knowledge. How did you get into your industry? It happened completely by chance! Having worked in various sales and management positions for about 10 years prior to recruitment, and having been made redundant twice during the recession, I found myself seeking a new challenge. A friend of mine was working in recruitment and believed it would be a perfect fit for me. Recruitment combines sales, service and relationship building, all of which matched my personality and career ambitions. What’s been the highlight of your career so far? Without doubt, setting up Lucid Recruitment in 2014. I had always wanted to run my own

business and the timing was right for me to give it a shot! Recruitment, as with many industries is highly competitive, but I truly believe that if you are offering a competitive, excellent service, you will succeed. I am very proud of Lucid’s achievements over the last four years and I’m very much looking forward to an exciting future. What is the biggest challenge when setting up a business? Originally, my biggest challenge, was dealing with my own naivety. When starting out, you have no real understanding of what is involved. I had no idea how much I had to learn – apart from the fact that I needed an income! In my enthusiasm, I didn’t give much thought to the day-to-day tasks of running a business such as invoicing, payroll, marketing, tax and VAT. You need to be able to adapt and learn a variety of skills to survive and fortunately for me, this is all part of the excitement of running a business and I have loved the journey so far and wouldn’t change it for the world.