Could 2009 be the year to turn your life around?
The new year is often a time when people decide to follow a new career. Catherine Scott met four people who have done just that.
Technology to oenology
Kristian and Nicola Jordan's love affair with wine began in 2003 when they both took a break from their jobs in the IT industry to travel.
Upon reaching Australia and New Zealand, the pair were struck not only by the fabulous wines being produced, but also by the passionate yet relaxed Antipodean approach to the whole wine experience.
Kristian says: "We began to realise that in the UK there are actually very few places that aren't top-end restaurants where you can enjoy really interesting wines.
"Nicola and I became passionate about the idea of creating a venue where people could sample high quality wines – not necessarily expensive – in a relaxing environment."
On their return to Yorkshire, the Jordans lost no time in making their dream a reality, studying for professional qualifications in wine knowledge and drawing up a business plan.
After a long search for the perfect location, Lazy Lounge finally opened in Leeds earlier this year.
"We want to give people the chance to experience fine wines in a relaxed environment," says Kristian. There are 90 wines on the wine list, 30 of them sold by the glass.
"We encourage people to try different wines – New and Old world – so that they can get a feel for what they like."
The staff are key and they have all tasted the wines and are therefore in the position to make recommendations.
The York couple have had a tough time since opening with the economic downturn and nearby developments on Wellington Street not going ahead as planned, but they have survived and Kristian says they have no regrets.
"It has been hard year, but we really want to build our business.
"It is not the finished article yet, but we would love to have other Lazy Lounges in the future."
Army chef to corset designer
It is hard to think of two more opposed careers, but for Susan Allan it has been the perfect move.
Susan, from York, joined the Army as a chef shortly after leaving school and spent time in Germany and Kosovo.
"After five years in the Armed Forces I realised that wasn't really the life for me," Susan said.
"I was only 18 when I joined and was eager to find a trade, but being a chef wasn't something that excited me so I decided to make the change and go for something I could be really passionate about."
The career change was also driven by a desire to spend more time with her children Brett, eight and four-year-old Gabriella.
Susan says her obsession with style has grown over the years, starting with a fascination for tailored and well-cut Italian fashions. But her enthusiasm really came to the fore after she had left the Army in 2005 and discovered the art of corsetry in Spain.
"I'd just moved near to Marbella when I started to learn more about corsetry," says Susan. "And it was something that captured me straight away."
Susan, now 28, began to experiment with her own designs and in 2006 hosted her own fashion show at Marbella's famous Nikki Beach.
The corsets she showcased were a resounding hit and encouraged Susan to pursue her dream of designing her own collections, making corsetry more accessible to UK women.
Susan and her family moved to York in summer 2007 and earlier this year she succeeded in bringing her dreams to fruition, opening her first online store Chique Corsetry from her home at Leeman Road, York.
She offers a wide selection of corsets from the best of the British handmade bespoke tailored corsets, prom gowns and wedding dresses, through to more casual day wear and high-class lingerie.
Susan's home also acts as a base for her personal styling business Urban Rock Chique, which helps women dress to suit their body shape and personality, through styling advice and a personal shopping service.
"Chique Corsetry and Urban Rock Chique are both designed to help Yorkshire women find their inner confidence and make the best of their bodies," she says.
For more information or to book an appointment with Susan, visit www.urbanrockchique.co.uk or call 07983 851675.
Marketing executive to ethical on-line jeweller
Sian Foster had spent the majority of her professional life as a high-flying marketing executive, the latter part of it travelling the world representing an international tea and coffee importer.
So what was it that persuaded her to give up the corporate life in favour of launching an ethical, online jewellery business?
"There were two reasons really," says Sian.
"I've been designing and making jewellery as a sideline since I was a child. And it had always been a dream to run my own jewellery business.
"Even more importantly, I just could not bring up my daughter Ella the way I wanted to working in the corporate world."
The demands of Sian's new costume jewellery business (named after her daughter Ella Georgia) and the whirl of family life have kept her grounded and now home is definitely where her heart is.
Home, in this case, is a beautiful modern property in North Yorkshire that has ample room for both family and work activities.
"I adore North Yorkshire and have lived here for over 15 years," says Sian.
"I think it offers an ideal work/life balance."
Sian designs many of her jewellery pieces herself, selling others by up and coming designers from the UK and Ireland, as well as craftspeople from further afield.
Sian's ambition is twofold: to supply chic, timeless jewellery that is a joy to wear, whatever the occasion. And to supply it in the most ethical way possible.
"I'll be the first to admit that the reputation of the jewellery trade has been tarnished with exploitation, of both indigenous peoples and the environment," she says.
"However, I honestly believe that trade, more so than aid, can make the biggest contribution to alleviating poverty, particularly in the Third World countries that provide much of the raw materials and artisan skills for the jewellery industry.
"As such, at Ella Georgia, our aim is to try to ensure that every component in every piece has been sourced to the highest ethical standards, and hence provides very real and tangible benefits for the producer.
"Hence, we carefully and constantly vet our supply chains, and adhere strictly to Fairtrade principles.
"We also try to be green in everything to do with the running of the jewellery business.
"All our packaging is recyclable – and made from recycled materials.
"We even buy our electricity from a company that produces energy solely from wind power."
For more information and to view the range, visit www.ellageorgiajewellery.co.uk
Assistant head to full-time father and author
Tim Atkinson had been in education for more than 20 years, but earlier this year he gave it up to look after his son Charlie and to complete his first novel.
"I had been assistant headteacher for five years and the next step was to become a head, but I just didn't want that," he says.
"I thought about downshifting and being a subject head again so that I could more involved with actual teaching again rather than admin, but then Charlie came along."
Tim and his wife discussed the options available and they decided that Tim would stay at home with Charlie while she went back to full-time work, also as a teacher, to support the family.
"It is very tiring and does take some getting used to. I was the only dad at the toddler groups.
"But I am loving it. and haven't had as much fun
in years."
And giving up work has enabled Tim to finish the novel he has been working on for five years.
Writing Therapy is a book within a book which deals with the thorny issue of teenage mental health.
Ten per cent of the royalties will go to Young Minds, the teenage mental health charity.
"I spent a lot of time looking after the welfare of teenagers and in the last five years I saw a massive increase in the number of teenagers with mental health issues," says the 43-year-old who grew up in Wakefield.
"Talking to mental health professionals they said one of the main issues, as well as addressing the illness, is the social stigma that still surrounds it.
"I thought if I could write a book about a perfectly normal teenager who then suffered mental health problems then that might go someway to reducing that stigma."
Writing Therapy was published this month and has received some good reviews.
Tim also finds time while Charlie has his afternoon nap to write school textbooks and start on his second novel.
"It was initially a career break of a few years until Charlie starts school," says Tim, who also has a 10 year- old daughter.
"But if the writing takes off then who knows."
To order a copy of Tim's novel Writing Therapy published by YouWriteOn/Legend Press, visit Tim's blog at http://bringingupcharlie. blogspot.com or Amazon.co.uk.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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