Guy has been keeping busy since the launch of Start-up: a story in April. He co-founded Streetscape after graduating from Accounting and Finance at Bournemouth University. He had no intention of becoming an accountant but had always wanted to start up a business. He knew that elements of the course would be really useful, particularly work around small business finance. Read the beginning of his story here. We caught up with Guy, here is his story 6 months on…
Guy Watts
It seems like a long time since we all met at Westminster for the launch of Start-up: a story. It was great to be part of the project, to meet other graduate entrepreneurs and hear their stories. Since the event I’ve been as busy as ever working on Streetscape and a number of other projects.
Streetscape, the award winning social enterprise I Co-Founded, is going from strength to strength. In 2012-13 Streetscape’s turnover increased 94% on the previous year as we expanded from one to two landscape teams, and from two to four apprentices. Our next challenge is to raise more charitable funds so that we can we can help more unemployed young people into work through an apprenticeship. We’re also working towards making the business more self-funded by increasing the proportion of funds raised through providing landscape and garden maintenance services.
Our team is getting stronger and challenges are becoming easier to face. We are becoming a genuine social enterprise. With all our successes, the highlight for me is still the graduation ceremonies for our apprentices. The next one is today (Friday 4th October) at our base in Myatt’s Fields Park. David, Alan and Troy will be rewarded for all their hard-work and efforts over the last year and we will celebrate all they have achieved. It is so exciting to see Streetscape continuing to train young people and help them find and retain work. It is why we do what we do.
You can find out more about Streetscape via our newsletter or our Facebook page.
Beyond Streetscape I have been using my experience in sales to provide sales and strategic consultancy to SME’s and individuals to help their businesses grow and develop. I’ve also begun developing my newest idea, ‘The Academy’ (the name is pending, so ideas welcome).
The Streetscape Team
The Academy will provide young and motivated individuals with the coaching and work experience required to move in to a career in Business Development / sales. Each candidate will go through a thorough qualification process before beginning a tailored entry level training course. The course is designed to leave every attendee with the skills and attributes they need to move in to and retain their first sales role. My goals in starting up The Acadamy are to:
- Reduce the current skills shortage and provide businesses with a high calibre, well matched, motivated and trained candidate ready to hit the ground running.
- Reduce youth unemployment by providing individuals with the skills and experience they need to move into and retain work.
The idea was inspired by Start-up: a story, it made me realise how passionate I am about working with young people and it made me think about how I could in some way help more young people into work. It really builds on the same idea that was behind Streetscape. I am currently on the hunt for funders, possible partners and individuals looking for a career in sales. If you would like to find out more please email me.
Thank you again for the opportunity to be a part of this project, I wish the best of luck to all those who participated.
