fed up and ambitious!

[ste_86]

Hi Everyone,
I am 25 and have been pondering on my career options, I went to Uni and graduated with a BA in media. I then moved back home worked in my local JD as a asst manager and applied for the police, due to my eyesight i cant puruse that career. I then moved to Yorkshire (from Liverpool) to be with my girlfriend, got a job in a kids care home and was a senior worker, on calls/supervising staff/chairing meetings. I now work in a school as a teaching asst with the naughty kids, I was thinking of applying to do a PGCE (for teaching)
BUT < Big BUT
i have always wanted to have my own business, i work hard and i am very ambitious. I have looked into campsites, i have always been involved in scouts/duke of edinburgh/outdoor pursuits and i would love to open my own activity centre for under priviledged kids/schools. I have tried researching my ideas and obviously funding is the main issue many of these places seem to be privately funded, i've even looked at campsites already estabilished but again cost for land is hurrendous. can anyone help with some guidance, is this a pipe dream? funding wise will i be saving forever?
I really want a challenge and to make something of myself as opposed to the mundane of everyday life.
Steven

 

[blackberry1]

Just a thought

Could you approach a farmer with some space and rent for the spring / summer season to start and offer a share of profits or something along those lines.

Regards

Rob

 

[vickyallison]

Seeings how you're working in education, you could run summer camps in the summer on some local farm land (or get something cheap through your local council because it's educational) and go and do some teacher training and become qualified as a teacher.

Then you can get a decent salary throughout the year and make more money with your summer camp.

 

[ste_86]

I considered this but approaching my local council to use there equipment, i have started voluntary work and in return i can gain my walking quals and kayaking coaching quals, but with the local council it seems young people are just not important, they have youth workers working mon to fri 9-5

 

[vickyallison]

Lie about your age and dress older.
Best thing I ever did!

 

[Steve Sellers]

It's only a pipe dream if you don't act on your dreams. If you see an opportunity to make money then go for it. If you can't afford to set the business up that you want to and can not get funding for it then you need to identify a business that you can get a foothold in for a low cost.

 

[Vontessa]

Have you tried the Insitute of Outdoor Learning. They have a wealth of information about funding as well as information about any licenses needed to provide outdoor activities as well as liability insurances. I recommend a visit to their website for further research about starting a business in that area.

What you may need to consider is what's important to you right now? It may be that at the moment starting a centre will not be viable as you need to gain more experience working with young people, or qualifications etc and so on. If that was the case then perhaps continuing on your current path would be the best plan.

However, if starting a business now is more important perhaps you either need to rethink in what area or start smaller with you current theme - perhaps as a self employed coach/instructer.

I think carry on researching but dont be disheartened if you find that there are obstacles....if it was easy everyone would be doing it! You just need to identify what you want first and then work out the best way of getting it

 

[Root 66 Woodshop]

I know you want to do this yourself, but why not try contacting

http://www.robinwood.co.uk/jobs/

Get some experience from this side as well, you never know Robinwoods may have a position for you, and I can honestly say Dobroyd Castle is a lovely location to do the training that you're already thinking about.



Once you've got experience, you can set your own company up, and perhaps use this location as a main base?

http://buryhostel.org.uk/

They're always after additional income... if you hire an already equipped location you'll get some insight into what you think you need and what you actually need.

 

[TotallySport]

I agree with steve, its a pipe dream if you do nothing about it, if its for under privalige kids, your never going to be able to run it as a normal business as they simply can't pay for it, so you need to look into ways of raising finances, the costs involved the places, and whats available and what can be achieved.

I would recommend what someone else has suggested, start now and try and arrange something for the next six week break, which doing you job and take it from there.

Start putting in the building blocks now, research is the key and getting up and doing something about it.

Good luck and don't forget if you get stuck ask a question on here and hopefully you'll get a bit of extra help.

 

[ste_86]

WOW thank you all for the feedback i really thought that it would be a bit of an ignored thread, so thanks.
Some really good points for me to think about here, i can see what 'TotallySport' say about under priveledged kids, but i suppose for the needs of a business i would offer team building for large companies?
I think i will try an push to get some qualifications and look towards doing something in Easter and Summer hols.

Thanks again

 

[TotallySport]

WOW thank you all for the feedback i really thought that it would be a bit of an ignored thread, so thanks.
Some really good points for me to think about here, i can see what 'TotallySport' say about under priveledged kids, but i suppose for the needs of a business i would offer team building for large companies?
I think i will try an push to get some qualifications and look towards doing something in Easter and Summer hols.

Thanks again

You don't need qualifications to research and build the business, you might need them to do some sports or activities but that comes later IMO.

You'll soon find out that runnung a business isn't as simple as:

"but i suppose for the needs of a business i would offer team building for large companies? "

On your UPK events how will you pay the staff, pay for the rent, bills etc, and every week you do them, you'll miss out on taking the main money from companies.