Success stories
"I wanted to be able to run a company the way that I wanted to and put the knowledge that I had gained over the years to good use."
"I realised that I kept putting off starting because it was outside my comfort zone. I had to face that and start up properly. So that’s what I’ve done."
Richard Slater
It's better than a real job. And it's better than watching the world go by. Lots of people have done it; very few regret it.
Richard Slater is the founder of Slater Public Relations, a full-service marketing agency in Blackburn. Following a writing and journalistic career which has scaled many heights, Richard's ultimate quest for the perfect job saw him eventually create his own.
He enjoyed the experience so much that just four years after starting Slater Public Relations, he launched Lancashire Business View magazine. But he's not resting on his laurels, with some ambitious plans for growth...
Why did you want to start your own business?
I've had a pretty varied career, beginning as a journalist with the Lancashire Telegraph, and later writing for The Independent and The Independent on Sunday. Other jobs have included working as an agent and promoter in the music industry and co-authoring 'There's Only One Simon Garner', the autobiography of the Blackburn Rovers all-time leading goalscorer.
Immediately before launching Slater Public Relations, I was head of PR and copywriting for a large North West marketing agency.
Even when I was employed, I always had some business project going on in my spare time. Ultimately, I wanted to test myself and create the kind of business that I would want to work for.
What was the deciding factor for you?
My then baby daughter needed to be looked after and I thought that I could combine dad duties with working from home. A burglary which saw all my work-kit pinched forced the decision to get proper office space and that was the real catalyst to the growth of the business.
How did you get the business off the ground?
Slater PR happened pretty quickly, with a laptop, a stationery set, a decent contacts book, good advice, zero finance and a steady nerve. I kept on some of my writing commitments to support the business in the first year.
I then approached people who could help - anyone I felt could give me advice, and access to potential clients. In the early days it was common for me to meet advisors with a six-month old in tow!
Lancashire Business View was much slower - it required investment and serious planning. Over the course of a year or so we had a couple of false starts, but it ensured we got it right when we launched.
Best bits about working for yourself?
Taking decisions. Providing employment. Doing a good job. Beating expectations. Having and sharing a 'can do' attitude. Getting to meet and advise serious businesses and organisations.
What have been the biggest challenges so far?
Getting up and running was relatively straightforward. We steadily built a small client base and tightened up the working systems, adding additional services and personnel when we could afford to.
Growing the business was trickier, as it became more complex. Again, I got advice from a support agency, my accountants and also from an independent consultant, who continue to help me shape the business.
What would you have done differently if you could go back?
Acted more swiftly when key, but tricky, decisions were staring me in the face.How does it feel to be your own boss?
I feel: Responsible. Challenged. Determined. Scared. Excited. Driven. Frustrated. Independent. Creative. Tired. Invigorated.
It's better than a real job. And it's better than watching the world go by. Lots of people have done it; very few regret it.
Finally, a piece of advice for those thinking about starting up?
Surround yourself with people who can give you their honest opinions and then treat it not as advice but as information from which you make your own decisions.
Talk to business folk with experience. You can never have enough mentors (I have about half a dozen, and I don't think any of them are aware that I view our relationships like this). Make friends and they'll introduce you to their friends. Network like there's no tomorrow.
