Profile: The Fighter

From catering to BA Honours student to financial PA to glamour model, and now owner of a contemporary clothing and lingerie brand for big-busted women, it’s been quite a journey for single mum Nikki Hesford, as Mark Williams finds out

Nikki Hesford is no stranger to overcoming the odds - as a single mum, she has set up and developed a successful business and beaten cancer. “I knew something wasn’t right, but they wouldn’t give me a smear test because they said I’d have to wait a year until I was 25,” she recalls.

“I paid for one in the end and a small lump was discovered as a result. A biopsy showed it was cancerous. They removed it and I had six weeks’ of radiotherapy before getting the all-clear.”

Lancashire life    

Nikki was born in Blackpool in 1985, the daughter of a rugby league playing father and glamour model mother. “My parents split up when I was very young,” she remembers. “Aged 13, I went to live with my dad in Rochdale, but moved back to the Fylde coast and was living on my own from the age of 16.”

Nikki worked as a commis chef to support herself through her A-levels. She had ambitions to go to Oxford University, but all that changed. “I got pregnant and I gave birth to my son, Oliver. I was 18 and had no support.”

Nikki later finished her A-levels and went to Lancaster University, where she read English Literature. “Completely irrelevant to anything I’ve done since,” she acknowledges. In her second year, Nikki did an internship with KPMG, but realised a career in financial services wasn’t for her.

Briefly, she also considered becoming a mortgage adviser and did a CeMAP qualification by distance learning, but sensed problems ahead in the property market. “I was offered interviews for mortgage adviser roles, but as soon as I mentioned I was a single mum, interest cooled immediately. 

“While going for the interviews, I had problems buying blouses to fit – even though I’m just a 32D, which isn’t enormous. That’s when the idea for Miss Fit UK was born.”

Glamour model

Nikki initially had blouses made for her own use. “They looked great and fitted perfectly. Then my little boy’s paternal grandmother suggested I launch a business, which I did in April 2008, in my final year at university.”

While trying to establish the business, Nikki took glamour modelling assignments. “I’m not ashamed of it – doing that one day a week provided an income. I did shoots abroad, mainly lingerie and swimwear – I’ve never done topless,” she makes clear. 

“I didn’t really even know where to start, but after doing some basic market research, I was confident I had an idea I could transform into a successful business.”

Two years on, Nikki has again been proved right. “Miss Fit UK manufactures blouses, dresses, lingerie and swimwear for big-busted women. Our retail and wholesale sales are excellent and we’re growing all the time.”

Biggest challenge 

At first, Nikki says her biggest challenge was to be taken seriously. “I needed about £10,000 to create prototypes, do a small product run and carry out more market research. My age and gender worked against me, I think. The bank refused a loan – it was almost a case of ‘now go away and play with your Barbie doll elsewhere’, which was really annoying.

“Others sniggered – you know, ‘women with big boobs’. Two years later and my business has been nominated for several awards and is hugely successful.” Nikki also gives enterprise-themed talks at Lancaster University and other business events.

“I want to build the business up and maybe exit in five years’ time, when I plan to concentrate on new ventures and consultancy work, possibly. Recently, I sold Lancaster Playschemes, my OFSTED-registered childcare facility for up to 48 three- to eight-year-olds. I created it in early 2009 after I found out there were no local provisions for parents of primary school-age children during the holidays – that’s 15 weeks a year, far surpassing most people’s annual leave entitlement. Also, I’ve just launched Auto-Pro Training, which will provide affordable training to small firms.”

Greatest achievements

Although successful, the prospect of extreme wealth isn’t Nikki’s key motivation. “I enjoy the challenge. I’m proud of my business, sure, but my son – and raising him on my own – they’re my two greatest achievements. I faced a lot of pressure when I got pregnant, but I was determined to keep my baby, even though it meant doing it on my own.

“Some people said they wanted nothing to do with the baby or me. Others said: ‘That’s it now, you’ll be living on a council estate on benefits for the rest of your life’. That’s partly what has driven me – to prove them wrong,” she admits.

“I’m often asked for advice about starting a business. Firstly, I say, sometimes you’ve got to bend or break a few rules. Secondly – and perhaps more importantly – don’t let others limit your ambitions. Keep telling yourself you can do it. I did,” she concludes.

Nikki’s top tips

• “As Doug Richard says: ‘Every pound you don’t spend is a pound you’ve been relieved of the obligation of having to earn’. Minimise your costs.”
• “I also like the Richard Branson saying ‘KISS – keep it simple, stupid’. Why over-complicate things?”
• “If you’ve got money to spend to publicise your business, spend it on PR – not advertising.”    

• Find out more about Miss Fit UK

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