By July the consultancy work was flowing more steadily, but I knew I needed something bigger to anchor the long-term plan: premises. A physical space where learners could walk through the door, train, and be assessed.
So began the hunt. Industrial units, training spaces, classrooms — I viewed them all. Every time I thought I'd found “the one,” it slipped through my fingers, usually snapped up by more established businesses with deeper pockets or longer track records.
It was frustrating. I could picture the classrooms, the workshops, the learners — but without a set of keys in my hand, it was all still just theory. Another round of sleepless nights followed, filled with the usual doubts: Have I jumped too soon? Am I chasing something that isn't there?
Looking back, that period was less about losing out on premises and more about building resilience. Each near-miss toughened me up and sharpened my vision of what I really needed. And when the right opportunity finally came along, I was more than ready to grab it.