Interview with an Entrepreneur

As one of their Extended Learning Tasks, Year 9 students were asked to carry out an interview with a local entrepreneur. This proved quite a challenge for some but we have had some great responses which I've really enjoyed reading. Over the next few posts we'll publish some of them. First up: Stephanie Robson-Close and her interview with Janette Harbron of Formcrete Ventures ...

Janette Harbron - Formcrete Ventures

 

Introduction: Who is the entrepreneur? What does your business sell? Where is it located? How long have you been running for?

The entrepreneurs of the business are the directors and they are Mark and Janette Harbron. Mark, the main director of the business is the person who drives the business forward. This business Formcrete Ventures sells expertise and knowledge for in-situ-concrete structures for newly produced buildings or alterations to existing buildings.  The office for Formcrete Ventures is located in Newton Abbot, but their structures are built all over Devon, Cornwall, and Somerset. Formcrete Ventures has been running for almost twenty years.

What motivated the entrepreneur to start up their business?

The directors started the business by chance. A family member secured a contract for the business and needed help to complete it so he offered the directors a partnership. By starting their own business the directors were hoping for a good income rather than working for another business. One of the directors said: "I had no experience before I started the business, but as the business has developed I have learnt more about it each day that I work."

How has the entrepreneur made the business a success?

The business has been a success by competing successsfully against other businesses which also produce in-situ-concrete structures. Having fought-off the competition, the owners of Formcrete Ventures continued to make use of specific skills to make the business even better; determination, being committed to the business at all times through thick and thin and hard work. Also a little luck has helped to make the business a success.

What top 5 tips does the entrepreneur have for people who want to start up their own business? 

 

1.  To know their target market that the business is aiming at. Don’t avoid the target market - attract attention.
2. Employ a good accountant who has a working knowledge of your business and knows what they are doing. 
3. Hire competent staff who are always on time and want to drive the business further. Employ staff who have a good work ethic. 
4. Start and encourage a close relationship with your bank, meaning that you get to know the bank manager so if you get stuck you can get help
5. Every now and then take a leap of faith. Take some risks when times are tough. If you don’t take risks you will never know what could happen!

Is starting a business something you would like to do, after talking to the entrepreneur?

After talking to the entrepreneurs I would like to start my own business as I could make the decisions. I would hope that the business will drive forward into something special. There would be no set hours of when to work and where, so days off could be taken whenever needed. Once the business has been set up, the commitment that I would give my business will be the best as I would want to drive the business forward to become something that people will know and recognise. Talking to the entrepreneur made me think deeper about what actually would happen owning a business and that there is more than just being the entrepreneur of the business. There are also many other aspects that are involved, so being the owner is harder than it seems.  Starting my own business would mean that I would hopefully earn a good living from my own ideas rather than working for someone else.