The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Perthshire firm makes sports available to all
Caroline Ness believes everyone can take part in sport
Q. How and why did you start in business?
I worked with Perth and Kinross Council as a sports development officer for 11 years, leaving in 2016. Initially, I registered as a self-employed consultant and worked with a local charity for two years.
I’d had a business idea for some time about a product I wanted to develop and so I started attending business courses. Through these I realised that I could deliver my own sports development services, and Making Sport Fit was born.
Q. How did you get to where you are today?
My first degree is in sport health and exercise and I also have a master’s degree in public sector leadership.
In terms of business specific training, I have done the Coca-Cola 5by20 and the Famous Grouse Ideas Centre Creative Accelerator 12-week programme.
Q. Who has helped you along the way? Everyone who contributed to my learning during every single training or networking opportunity – coming from a public sector background I had no idea the majority of these resources even existed.
Q. What was your biggest mistake?
I have a tendency to take my time when reflecting on any service I want to develop and this probably held me back from launching the business earlier.
Q. What is your greatest achievement to date?
Securing a contract as a provider for the Children and Families framework with Dundee City Council. It completely validated my business idea.
The framework also allows me to work with Perth and Kinross and Angus councils.
Q. How has coronavirus impacted your business?
Coronavirus has seriously impacted on my business – I have been unable to organise new work through a public sector contract I secured, physical delivery of sport has had to stop and three schools events I organised on a consultancy basis had to be cancelled.
The employed work I had with Scottish Athletics on a casual contract basis as a tutor was also cancelled, so the consequences of coronavirus are tremendous.
Q. What do you hope to achieve in the future?
Neither business is about earning lots of money but I need to ensure a certain level of profit to be sustainable and make improvements and develop new products. It’s about impact for me – if I can positively impact on people’s lives and make a difference then that is a marker of success.
Q. Do you want to recruit in the future? Notwithstanding Covid-19, my projection is that demand will grow for my services over time and that I would recruit freelancers with a view to a part-time worker beyond that.
Q. What is the hardest thing about running your own business?
Not having a colleague to bounce ideas off.
Q. Any advice to wannabe entrepreneurs?
Do your research and make sure there is a demand for what you want to offer, attend as many relevant business training opportunities as you can and have faith in your offering.