Ross kicks his way on to shortlist
A former East Kilbride high-school pupil turned his back on banking for a career in martial arts.
And Ross Penman is alive and kicking, having been shortlisted for young entrepreneur of the year at the Natwest Great British Entrepreneur Awards.
The former Duncanrig Secondary pupils set up his kickboxing, taekwondo and jiu-jitsu business four years ago at the age of 21.
He had trained in martial arts from 12 and holds black belts in taekwondo and kickboxing.
The certified personal trainer and sports conditioning coach set up I-Kick Martial Arts and has two clubs in East Renfrewshire, offering adult and kids’ classes.
Ross also set up sports coaching business Fighting Fit and is working on a number of ideas to get off the ground in the new year.
“I always wanted to own my own business but it wasn’t until I got seriously involved in martial arts that I realised what I wanted my business to be,” Ross told the News.
“It came as a bit of a shock to be nominated and then shortlisted for the awards, given the quality of the other nominees.
“I don’t think of myself as an entrepreneur. I’m just a hard-working guy and love what I do”.
The awards’ creator Francesca Russell said: “These awards are different because they celebrate the story behind these people.
True entrepreneurs are as much about their story as they are about their balance sheet.”