Palace Trained Nadia turns her Fruity Designs into a Kent based business

Palace Trained Nadia turns her Fruity Designs into a Kent based business

[UKPRwire, Mon Mar 08 2010] It’s not every day that you can buy products from a supplier trained by someone who served the King of Thailand. Local entrepreneur Nadia Yeomans has recently set up with her own fruit carving business Fruity Designs, with advice and support from Business Link. Now Kent based Nadia, who was born and raised in Thailand is offering her beautiful fruit art to customers all over the UK from her base near Folkestone.

Nadia’s aunt worked in the Royal Palace in Bangkok. After school and during the holidays Nadia would spend time with her relative learning the beautiful craft of fruit carving– a popular decorative art form in many parts of Asia, using melons, pineapples and other tropical fruit.

As a teenager, Nadia hadn’t thought about the career opportunities fruit carving could bring, she was more interested in learning English and developing a career in the hotel and hospitality trade. It was on an educational training visit to the UK to learn English and gain work experience, that she met her British husband, Vincent. Two years later and living with her husband and young daughter in Kent, Nadia decided that fruit carving offered her the opportunity to be her own boss, and work flexibly in order to cope with the demands of family life.

Nadia explains, “I learnt fruit carving from my aunt in the Royal Palace. I used to love to watch her and the palace craftspeople carve the most intricate designs. Over time I have developed my own designs with a variety of fruit and vegetables. I’ve created many displays for family and friends and it’s often been suggested that I do it for a living. I thought it would be a great idea.

“Initially I thought a shop would be the first step in the process and I contacted the Creative Foundation in Folkestone, who had space to rent. From my discussions with them they suggested I call Business Link. I met with my local adviser who helped me develop a business plan and questioned what I wanted to achieve. It was clear I could run the business from home and the shop would be an overhead we didn’t need. We looked at marketing and distribution and I now have a plan for the development of the business over the coming year. Business Link have been great and helped me see what I need to do, refining my ideas into a sound business proposition.”

Lizzy Seward, from Business Link, said, “Business Link helps people to spot opportunities, utilise their talents and develop the skills and confidence necessary to succeed in business. Nadia is one of a number of young female entrepreneurs who have used Business Link’s services and benefited from coaching and intensive support. As a result she has started an exciting and rewarding business using her fruit carving skills, and is able to fit work around family life.”

To learn more about Fruity Designs visit www.fruity-designs.co.uk

For more information about Business Link’s support for individuals who are thinking about starting a business or in the early stages of running a business and face barriers to enterprise because of personal circumstances visit www.bringyourideastolife.co.uk or phone 0845 600 9 006.

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Media contact:

Katie Mason

Telephone: 02380 613255

Mobile:07882 102555

Email: katie@ambmarketing.co.uk


Notes to Editors


About Business Link

Business Link’s information and advice services are available through the website www.businesslink.gov.uk/southeast or by phoning 0845 600 9 006.

Business Link is the government funded national business information, advice and support service, delivered in the South East by the six Business Link Providers. In the South East the service is funded by SEEDA.

Business Link helps businesses and entrepreneurs to establish new enterprises and maintain and grow established companies by helping them to locate and benefit from the broadest range of public, private and voluntary business support services.

Business Link offers specific help to individuals who are unemployed, currently only working a few hours week or in a situation that makes it harder for them to get involved in enterprise or to access Business Link support. These two services help people to start a business and offers free, advice, coaching and intensive support from having and idea to when the individual starts trading. Once the business has been established the business owner is encouraged to take advantage of the extensive information, advice and support provided by Business Link’s core service.

SEEDA, the South East England Development Agency, is the Government-funded agency responsible for the sustainable economic development of the South East of England – the driving force of the UK’s economy. Through supporting businesses, encouraging innovation, developing skills and engaging with public and private partners, we aim to create a successful, sustainable future for the region.