A pair of travel agents who were made redundant from their last job have set up their own company after getting help from a number of agencies.
Shevaun Joy and Lisa Manditsch both lost their positions at Specialist Travel in Silsden, West Yorkshire, after spending 16 years working for the business, Travel Weekly reports.
However, they used the liquidation of the company - which happened in February 2009 - as the opportunity to start their own firm, using the skills they had learnt in the past.
Ms Joy said that she and Mr Manditsch had approached the owners of Specialist Travel to find out if they could buy the company out.
However, after they were told that was not possible, they used losing their jobs as the chance to form their own enterprise.
"We couldn't buy it as a standalone business and knew if we were going to do it, we would have to do it on our own. Then, when we lost our jobs, we got the opportunity," she explained.
They got advice from the local job centre, Business Link and a small business support centre and also signed up to a service from Advantage Travel Centres, which helps new firms in the travel agency industry.
Ms Joy said that even though paying rent and bills for their shop is expensive, the recession has made some costs - like flooring - easier.
Trading has been good since they opened six months ago and she added that many people in Silsden are loyal to their business.
North-east newspaper the Journal recently talked to two other women who started their own company after losing their jobs at Northern Rock.
Monique Ewart and Maureen Lindberg set up their own resources consultancy after being made redundant.
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