The dating business that became my perfect match

Haley Hill knows what it is like to struggle to find a man.

After deciding to bail out of her planned stately home wedding for 150 guests with just 24 hours to go, Haley then struggled to find another relationship.

After two fruitless years of internet dating, introduction agencies and trawling wine bars with friends, she decided to set up her own upmarket dating agency, Elect Club.

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"I'd had a whirlwind three- month romance. Matt popped the question and I accepted," explains Haley, now 31.

"I was so caught up in the romance and the fantasy, that I think we both confused that with love. But once we moved in together we started to row about everything. The worst one was the day before we were due to get married."

The couple were in turmoil, should they call it off or vow to make it work? In the end they agreed they weren't right for each other and called it off.

"It was really hard telling family and friends. But they were great about it, in fact my parents were quite relived, they'd had misgivings about the relationship from the start. It was still one of the hardest decisions I have ever made."

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After an initial heartache following the separation Haley decided to enjoy the single life for a year.

But then when she was ready to start dating again she found it a struggle.

She was heading up the pharmacy department at London's Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and says there was a complete lack of eligible professionals at work.

"I had a big social circle, and went to the gym regularly but I just didn't seem to be meeting the right sort of person that I might want to spend the rest of my life with."

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She joined an upmarket dating agency but ended up going on a date but to no avail. "They were all a bit old-fashioned and stuffy."

Haley and her single friends then trawled the City bars but soon tired of City traders trying to impress with their wealth.

After that she tried internet dating.

The idea appealed to her but after a couple of dates she wised up to the terminology.

"They just didn't live up to their descriptions," she says. "I tried it for six months and had some fun, although I did meet some weirdos, but I didn't meet anyone I would want to start a relationship with."

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In 2005, tired of the fruitless dates, she took a very brave decision and left her career as a pharmacist to launch her own upmarket dating agency in London. "I'd just run out of ideas how to meet men," she explains. She bought a laptop, set up Elect Club and started to interview suitable singles to sign up to her agency.

"I interviewed each would- be member for at least an hour face-to-face and gave them free membership if they proved they were single, successful, intelligent and, above all, interesting company."

She quickly had the 50 men and women she needed and in March 2006 Elect Club was officially launched. Haley now has more than 3,000 singles on her books.

She now employs five consultants who interview every applicant before deciding if they can join the club. Not all are accepted, she says.

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"There are some people that you know just wouldn't fit in. We do have people who have children to a previous relationship, but it can prove difficult," she admits.

Haley believes her success is down to the personal service her club offers. All the consultants are qualified relationship counsellors which means

that Elect Club

is much more than just a introduction agency.

"We do an exit survey when people leave and we found that 90 per cent of our clients were happy with the service, this is far higher than a recent Which? Report which found that on average the figures for on-line dating agencies was below 50 per cent."

Most of Elect's members find someone they want

to form a meaningful relationship with within four months.

They pay a one-off joining fee which starts from 400, with a monthly subscription thereafter.

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If a member finds someone, they can put their membership "on hold" and avoid the monthly fee.

Elect Club also runs a "classic" service for the

over- 40s.

The success has been phenomenal, with Elect Club boasting ten marriages, 20 engagements and two babies.

Haley says she never tires of playing Cupid and has been a guest at the weddings of most of the couples she has introduced.

This year she plans to expand her business to Leeds and Manchester.

And one of those marriages just happens to be her own.

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Within six months of launching Elect Club she met James, at one of the events where members are allowed to bring along a single friend.

"James was the most genuine guy I'd ever met; honest and caring but strong."

After just eight months of dating James proposed, but this time Haley knew it was right.

"Although we'd only been together for eight months our relationship was built on love, trust and shared values and goals."

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The couple married last February in James's home country of South Africa with just 70 close family and friends.

"This time it was about the marriage, not a big showy wedding."

So was she tempted to call time on Elect Club after she had found her own Mr Right?

"Not all. Having found out what it is like to have a meaningful relationship which ends in marriage makes me even more determined to help other people achieve the happiness I have found."

HALEY'S TIPS ON FINDING LOVE

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Focus on what you want from a relationship, not what you want from

a person. Shared values and goals are fundamental

Before you demand perfection, take a look at yourself – what can you offer to a relationship?

Get to know someone before you commit

How has your attitude affected your past relationships?

Never give up – learn from mistakes

Don't expect love to come to you. Be pro-active and increase your chances of meeting people by joining an introduction agency and accepting invitations – you never know where they might lead.

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