Facing redundancy can be a stressful time both for the individual and their family. However after the initial shock of losing one's job quite a lot of people decide that, rather than finding new employment which can be particularly difficult if not impossible during a recession, it is the impetus they needed to set up in business for themselves.

That is how I as a Chartered Accountant set up my practice in 1991. Having previously worked for other people I found that running my own business has helped me assist many others over the years. It's scary not having the regular monthly salary paid into the bank at first but the new challenges and rewards of running your own show soon make you wonder why you didn't make the move before.

It's not easy and if you are going to succeed you need the right advice and who better to provide it than someone who has been through it all themselves.