The entrepreneur says the dedicated business support, manned reception, professional image and dedicated support at the centre, based in the town’s Oakham Business Park in Hamilton Way, has helped to progress the business. Going from strength to strength the firm now boasts 160 registered drivers, up from 80 two years ago.
The specialist driver recruitment agency was initially based at Adina’s home for the first eight years, and now having reached its 11th year the company is reaping the benefits of being based at in a thriving business centre community.
Adina, who now employs four members of staff, said: “Moving to the Innovation Centre was the best thing I ever did. It changed my mindset and made me feel like I was running a proper business. It made me get up in the morning and get dressed for work. I was also and still am offered ongoing support with training, mentoring sessions based within the Innovation Centre.
“I could see that I was approaching a turnover of £750,000, my accountant said you are too big to be running from home, but my mindset was still set that I was a small business.
“Before when I worked from home, drivers used to walk through the house but this would not be suitable due to the limited flexibility for interviewing the drivers, as well as having a residential address not portraying a professional image to clients.”
Adina set the firm up after being made redundant from a similar enterprise she worked within for a friend of her husband. She secured Sports Direct as her first client and is still working with them today.
She said: “I was told, ‘you will not be able to do this business because you are a woman’, which gave me the motivation to succeed. I had very little support and unsure who I could turn to, so I researched from the internet, liaised with other businesses and with time and patience developed my own book keeping, spreadsheets and forms to ensure the business was fully compliant.”
Mansfield IC centre Manager, said: “It’s thrilling to see Adina flourish at Mansfield IC. She really looks after the interests of her drivers and clients, which ensures they keep returning, but having a professional base for her business has also helped contribute to her success.”
Managed by Oxford Innovation, Mansfield IC provides a base to more than 50 growing businesses. The Oakham Business Park site boasts 36 self-contained offices and five workshop units ranging from 144 sq ft to 1,200 sq ft as well as meeting and conference facilities, tailored business support, a café and children’s nursery.
Find out more about Mansfield IC workspace here and our growing community here.
