Whiteley business owner celebrates two decades of trading

A BUSINESS owner is celebrating two decades of running both of his firms.

Colin Bielckus is celebrating 20 years of his businesses Avenue Business Services and The Outsourced Finance Director.

He launched the two alongside each other on November 22, 2002 and has not only overcome many challenges but has seen the emergence of the digital world change the way people work.

He said: ‘Technology advanced from desks to our pockets, and 2002 marked the turning point of there being more digital information in the world and surpassing the number of analogue files available.

‘The addition of computers, mobile phones and even taxes going digital, the idea of running accounts online didn’t exist when I started so I’ve had lots of changes and processes to adapt with. I don’t even think I had a mobile phone when I started, or if I did it wasn’t as commonly used as it is now. Now I hold meetings over FaceTime on my iPhone.’

He’s had to overcome financial and national challenges including the 2008 recession, which he is proud of surviving.

He said: ‘I’m not one for nostalgia but looking back I can see how much I have come through and it’s a proud feeling to be hitting two decades in business, when most businesses don’t make it past five years.’

He started the business after becoming a partner at a previous firm, he wanted to go in a different direction so went solo.

He is still a solo business owner, but his wife Lorraine helps him, and he uses freelancers which he says has helped him, especially allowing them to move to Spain two years ago.

Colin’s next steps are to publish a book which will help new business owners starting out on their own journeys.

It will feature lots of tips and advice from Colin around what he wish he knew when he first started his business, mistakes he made along the way and the lessons he learned.

He is hoping it will be finished and available to buy next year.