Start up stories

Founders are interesting people with a story to tell. Here they share their tips for success and help you avoid the mistakes that they made.

Creating a marketing plan can be challenging. Here Sara Drawwater explains how she developed a plan that worked for her design business.

How Charlie Low and Dale Comley wrote a best-selling book about converting vans into off-grid mobile homes and created their award-winning business, Climbingvan.

How ex-bartenders Matt Mahatme and Jordan Palmer created Lixir Drinks, a tonic water and mixer brand that "combines big flavours with less sugar, fewer calories and nothing artificial".

West-Midlands-based entrepreneur Surlender Pendress looks back on starting her business with Mark Sherwood and shares her start-up top tips.

In this start-up story episode, we speak to Troy Johnson, co-founder of Sweet Dee's Jerk, award-winning Caribbean food brand, kitchen and meal-kit maker, which is based in Tooting, South London.

Lee DeSanges of Baked In Brick retells his journey from garden shed start up to street food award-winner and Birmingham restaurateur.

Eve Kekeh of pioneering baby clothing rental service Bundlee looks back on the steps she took when starting her small business and offers advice to others.

How Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones, managing director of The Black Farmer, pursuaded supermarket chains to stock his sausages and other products.

Potato farmer Will Chase started the gourmet snack brand Tyrrells Crisps in 2001 and since 2008 he's been making vodka from his potatoes.

Michael Parker has recreated an old-fashioned sweet shop online, selling more than 600 varieties to satisfy the demand for retro sweets. Find out how he did it.

Leo Scott Smith was inspired by personal circumstances to develop an intelligent personal safety device - the world's first, in fact. He tells us more.

You don't come across many Goths who run their own accountancy practices. Meet Psyche Coderre, owner of London-based Death and Taxes.

Musician, producer and business man Jamie Giarraputo lives by the Italian motto 'vivere senza rimpianti' - live without regrets. He explains here.

Mark Williams finds out how one man's belief in organic farming turned into a prosperous business delivering food to thousands of UK homes

It is a problem many working mums face: how to balance a highly demanding job with the responsibility of looking after young children?

Entrepreneur Sue Tumelty shares her start up story and explains how she grew the business into an international firm.

Falling out of love with life as a professional road racer led Yanto Barker to start his cycling apparel business Le Col. Here's what he did.

It's not easy to be a wedding photographer, even if you're as talented as Guy Hearn. Many couples seek to save money on photographs on their big day.

Aaron Chatterley, founder of feelunique.com, can thank drink for his hugely successful online cosmetics business.

Not many people have been in the Guinness Book of World Records and established their own business. Adam King is still trying to be a world-beater.

Henry Buckley is the entrepreneur behind the highly successful leaflet delivery firm, JogPost. Mark Williams finds out what inspires him.

Gandys flip-flops uses some of its profits to help orphans in India – just one reason this fast-growing brand continues to win admirers.