Could there be a more apt name for Newtownabbey athlete Dean’s new business?

Three times NI 100m champion Dean is an international sprinter, currently specialising in indoor 60m sprint.  He has been involved in sport since he was a teenager.   He personally knows and understands what motivates athletes. He is currently employed full time in The University of Ulster Sports department working with Athletics NI.  Recently, he decided to utilise the skills that he has learnt over the years to establish his own business.  He believes that these skills can be transferred to multiple sports, particularly those which require short explosions of speed to maximise the individuals ability to win.

Did you always aspire to be self-employed?

No, not always. Only more recently, after providing some speed sessions in my spare time, (on top of my full time job) I thought being self-employed could be an option.

How long did you have your business idea before meeting with a Business Adviser to discuss?

Two years. I always felt that there was demand amongst team sport athletes to learn about how to become faster and improve speed.  With my background as a sprinter and coach, I felt this is something I could deliver, make a difference to numerous athletes and ultimately be successful as a business owner.

What does your business do?

Speed Solutions Consultancy aims to educate athletes in the importance of speed to their gameplay, as it can often be the difference between winning or losing.

Once this mindset is established, the athlete can:

Become a better mover
Enhance key movement patterns and reduce injuries
Develop linear and lateral acceleration mechanics
Implement cues and exercises to help achieve key positions and aid force application to travel forwards as fast as possible
Add in effective deceleration mechanics

How long have you been trading?

Just over 18 months when I factor in the initial test trading period when I was testing out the appetite for this type of service.

Are you happy that you went into self-employment?

I’m delighted that I can finally put all of my ideas into practice and I’m excited to see how it develops.

If you were to give one piece of advice to someone starting up what would it be?

Literally just Go For It!

Everyone at some point doubts their ability to start their own business but these beliefs are just that;  they aren’t fact and you never know what you’re capable of until you try!

Was the Go For It programme beneficial to you? If so, how?

The Go For It programme allowed me to see how a business practically functions, factoring in all of the relevant expenses involved and gave me an indication of what my annual turnover might look like.  It gave me a good practical understanding of what was involved with bringing my business idea to fruition, understand potential challenges I may face and how to tackle these.

It essentially gave me confidence in my idea and reaffirmed my view that my business had potential.  My business adviser Sandra Young from Mallusk Enterprise Park was extremely supportive, knowledgeable and informative throughout.

What was the best part of the programme?

The financial mentoring.  Projecting income and expenditure for my business was extremely useful as it allowed me to calculate various financial scenarios. Once I established my business I was able to update this and add in more information to reflect my current business situation.

How did you finance your business?

I self funded by business.

Where do you see your business in 5 years time?

I envisage having improved the speed and overall athletic potential of hundreds of athletes from a wide range of sports across Northern Ireland.  I aim to have numerous programmes that will be beneficial for all from the novice all the way up to high performing athletes.

I am already known as an athlete in my own right now, however I hope my business has equal success and I ultimately aim to be a well known business, with a good reputation for getting results for my clients when it comes to enhancing speed.

Are you motivated by Dean’s start-up story?  Then get in touch!! If you are interested in turning your idea into a reality, just like Dean did, then simply contact us now and a member of our team will be in touch

Our team will work flexibly to suit you.  Meetings can be conducted either virtually or face to face. During the day or in the evening. Its entirely up to you!