A man has used being made redundant during the recession as an opportunity to become his own boss.
Robert Walker of Throckley in Newcastle Upon Tyne lost his job for property maintenance CLC Group when the economic downturn hit, local newspaper the Journal reports.
However, he has set up his own painting and decorating business - All Potts - alongside his wife Ann and told the news source he has "never looked back" since starting the firm.
Mr Walker got help from FIN - a company that helps entrepreneurs in Newcastle - and he described the advisor that assisted him as "excellent".
"It was great having someone I could trust on hand every step of the way," he stated, adding that starting the company "was pretty daunting at times".
Since setting up All Potts, Mr Walker has won contracts to decorate communal staircases, offices and factories across the area after getting help with how to market his services and decide on prices.
He was also given help on tax matters through FIN, which is part of the Entrust group and is providing help to would-be entrepreneurs using funding supplied by the local authority and the European Union.
Another man who turned his life around after losing his job is Julian Holtom of Mirfield in West Yorkshire, who has started a photography company.
According to the Spenborough Guardian, he recently secured a contract as the official photographer for Huddersfield Town FC until the end of the season and he is also in talks about getting a similar position at a number of other sports clubs.
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