CASE STUDY: TPG Consulting WITH an uncertain future hanging over his job, Andrew Harvie came up with a business plan that has since blossomed into a successful South Wales property and surveying company. Andrew was working as the estate and maintenance manager at Peacocks when it went into administration. He wasn't made redundant, but the uncertainty prompted him to go out on his own and set up his company, TPG Consulting. “There were so many different things to think about at the time,” explains Andrew, an experienced chartered surveyor who worked for Peacocks for more than eight years. “I took the job at Peacocks because I was keen to relocate my young family back to South Wales. I was devastated when it went under because my initial thought was another similar job would mean relocation. I had to think about my entire future in a very short space of time. I decided I should go into business on my own. I could have stayed on at Peacocks, but we didn’t really know what was going to happen in the future.” Andrew set up TPG Consulting, which offers a variety of property and facilities management services, and found lots of help and support for people setting up new businesses, including the Local Investment Fund. The company is able to offer clients a one‐stop solution whereby it is a single point of contact for all property matters. “It was a big decision to go out on my own, but if you go looking for it, there is a lot of help and support,” says Andrew, who received LIF funding from Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council totalling £1,162. The money was awarded to TPG to help with the purchase of IT equipment, which helped the newly established business grow and recruit staff. The equipment included design software for laptops. And it looks like Andrew definitely made the right decision. In the first few months of trading the business won two large contracts and the number of employees has increased from two to six. "There is support available if you want to launch your own business, but you must work hard to find it," says Andrew. "It has been a tough job and in the current economic climate it will be a long journey to get to where we aspire to be. By focussing on your business plan and keeping your objectives simple you should be able to work on what you do well. Above everything, we are aiming to continue ensuring we always deliver an exceptional service and continue to develop our professional competencies." If you are interested in how LIF can help you to start your business in the Rhondda Cynon Taf area please contact: Business Support Team 01443 495169 invest@rctcbc.gov.uk