British social activist Adam Bradford runs an Emirati business that supports young entrepreneurs

“Our school has just installed a new batch of equipment, and I started working on programs like quizzes, educational software and games to help teachers make the classroom more interactive. Wechat has won numerous awards in business competitions, and this experience has inspired My inner desire to start a business.”

Bradford found school challenging, mainly because he had Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism. He added: “I often find myself alone and out of my age, and I get stressed unless I have something around me that comforts me. Business seems to provide me with an outlet, a way” My speed exercise my passion and work. In a way, it’s therapeutic. “

As a teenager, he was headhunted to study at the business school of Peter Jones, an investor in British TV show Dragons’ Den. Instead of going to college, he took a course in entrepreneurship.

After his education, he started working in the charity sector, designing projects and programs to fund young people’s business ideas, and participating in international projects that encourage social enterprise entrepreneurship. “

“I have owned my consultancy Adam Bradford Agency for many years, which implements CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) and sustainability programs for companies, as well as assists with educational and entrepreneurship programs that focus primarily on social impact businesses.”

According to Bradford, doing business in the UAE is a different experience than doing business in the UK. “In my home country, the UK, you pay a fee to the corporate regulator to incorporate and open your business.

“However, in the UAE, you need to know that you need to use the professional services of an agent to help you choose the right company type and license type. Before writing your business plan, you must consider the differences between the two” Everyone When considering moving to the area. Of course, these compliance fees are separate from your usual startup costs such as website, office space, business cards and marketing. “

Bradford used his savings to invest in the initial set-up costs of his business, such as visas, trade licenses and set-up fees, to start operations in the UAE branch.

“The main costs are trade licenses and visas, proper insurance and professional advice to help get started.

“Our permit cost us around AED 36,731 ($10,000) including all visas, agency fees and other setup fees. I also moved here and rented for a short term while we were setting up. This funding came from our previous Trading profit.”

Bradford says building any business is like venturing into uncharted territory. Even with the most thorough business plan in the world, you can’t predict what will happen tomorrow, he added.

Bradford’s learning curve lies in his resilience in building strength and confidence. He said: “As an entrepreneur, I know my strength is in bringing others together, connecting the dots, and having a vision for new things that others haven’t seen. I also know I can’t do this alone. A little. So when I have a challenge, I ask for help or go to my network for strength.

“I respect and appreciate the diversity of the business world and know that we can always learn from each other. Mentors have been crucial in my journey, especially other entrepreneurs who have been there and done.”

He argues that cooperation is better than competition, noting that there is no need to reinvent the wheel because everyone has something unique to offer in the economy.

“We love working with others to make a bigger impact. Additionally, support networks such as the UK Business Group (representative body for UK companies and individuals) have also helped me realise my vision and connect with the right stakeholders to make business a reality boom.

“Our work involves consulting with clients, attending events and running training sessions. The pandemic has helped us see new ways of working, such as webinars, digital coaching and training for our clients, which has also saved us thousands dollar cost.”

Bradford witnessed times when money was a struggle, and those moments taught him to value what he had. Never chase money, he added, because then your relationship with it could become toxic.

“Some entrepreneurs have become very money conscious, and for us, given the societal impact, we prioritize the most significant impact on our work.”

He further stated that prudent financial management and prudent spending are also crucial in business. “We are cautious about spending. We have seen cases where entrepreneurs take on big contracts or raise investments and burn through money quickly, causing their businesses to become unsustainable and sometimes even lead to bankruptcy.

“I always apply the principle of being able to afford more than three times as much to make sure our financial plans are realistic and safe. I’ve always learned to have enough room in our cash flow to spend enough spare reserves to do what we need The thing. If we want to spend 500 dirhams, we should have at least a budget of 1500 dirhams.

“We haggle and negotiate when necessary, especially in new businesses where we want to protect our investments. Often, especially after COVID, we choose to use as many digital tools as possible to reduce costs and increase efficiency, such as digital project management, Virtual instruments and team work facilities.

“There have been a few times when I’ve been with the company without a salary, but when you build up savings to help keep costs down, the position is much better and less stressful.”

Before starting his business, Bradford was a youth adviser to the local council, advising organisations and public sector bodies on how to engage with young people.

“We do a lot of work like market research, marketing campaigns and events to bring young people closer to their city. I learned a lot about interacting with different populations and the importance of having fun in whatever you do sex.

“We are a diverse and wide-ranging team of over a dozen youth advisors with strong personalities. Our experience in dealing with challenging issues and crime, education, health, politics and more helped me embrace teamwork.

“If you can get through every day without wanting to work, I believe you have the best job,” he said. “I try to make every day like this in our company.”

Bradford’s parents had a huge influence on his focus and career. He said his mother was an avid shopper, good at finding bargains, and her negotiating skills were second to none.

“Even today, I use this skill to help manage expenses. My mother constantly encourages us to save, be diligent, and always remind me of the value of respecting the opinions of others and being inclusive.”

His father, who was in business, has always been a voice for his new ideas. He is an honorary member of the Bradford Corporation Board of Directors.

“As an accountant, my dad did an excellent job of giving us budgeting tools from an early age, such as listing expenses, investments and savings plans.”