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Adam Bradford, a 29-year-old British expat, occasionally describes himself as an “accidental entrepreneur”. However, his life journey made him think again, because being in the business world was no accident for him.
When he was 13 at secondary school in the UK, he was awarded 125 dirhams (£25) as part of a competition to encourage start-ups. “From a very young age, I taught myself how to use computers, program them and build them from scratch,” he said.
“Our school has just installed a batch of new equipment, and I started to develop programs such as quizzes, educational software and games to help teachers improve classroom interaction. Wechat business has won numerous awards in business competitions, and this experience has inspired my inner desire for entrepreneurship eager.”
Growing up years ‘challenging’
Bradford found school challenging, largely because he has Asperger’s syndrome, a form of autism. He added: “I often found myself alone, out of step with my peers and stressed out unless I had something comforting around me. A career seemed to provide me with an outlet, a way to express myself. passion and work at my speed. In a way, it’s therapeutic.”
In his late teens, he was recruited by headhunters to study at the entrepreneurial academy of British TV show Dragons’ Den investor Peter Jones. Instead of going to college, he took specialized courses in entrepreneurship.
After completing his studies, he started working in the charity sector, designing projects and schemes to fund young people’s business ideas and working on international schemes encouraging social enterprise start-ups. “
“For many years I have had my own consulting firm, Adam Bradford Agency, which implements CSR (corporate social responsibility) and sustainability programs for companies, and assists with education and entrepreneurship programs that focus primarily on social impact businesses.”
What was your experience in starting a business in the UAE?
Starting a business in the UAE is a different experience than doing business in the UK, says Bradford. “In my home country, the UK, you pay a fee to the corporate regulator to register and set up your business.
“However, in the UAE, you need to be aware that you need to use the professional services of an agency to help you choose the correct company type and license type. Before writing your business plan, you must consider the differences between the two every time you consider When moving to the area. These compliance fees are of course separate from your usual start-up costs such as website, office space, business cards and marketing.”
How do you fund your business?
Bradford used his savings to invest in the initial setup costs of his business, such as visas, trade licenses and setup fees, to start the UAE branch operations.
“The main expenses are trade licenses and visas, proper insurance and professional consultancy services to help get started.
“Our license cost about Dh36,731 ($10,000) including all visas, agency fees and other setup costs. I also moved here and rented short term while we got things set up. This was profit from our previous deal Funded in.”
3 Lessons Bradford Learned From His Entrepreneurial Journey:
Starting any business is like venturing into the unknown, says Bradford. Even with the most thoughtful business plan in the world, you can’t predict what’s going to happen tomorrow, he added.
Lesson 1: Know your strengths and be open to asking for help when you need it
Bradford’s learning curve lies in his resilience in building strength and confidence. He said: “As an entrepreneur, I know my strengths lie in bringing other people together, connecting the dots, and having a vision for new things that no one else has seen. I also know I can’t do it alone. To this point. So when I am challenged, I ask for help or go to my network for strength.
“I respect and appreciate the diversity in the business world and know we can always learn from each other. Mentors have been essential in my journey, especially other entrepreneurs who have been there and done it.”
He argues that cooperation is better than competition, noting that there is no need to reinvent the wheel because each has something unique to offer in the economy.
Bradford: “Starting any business is like venturing into the unknown. Even with the most thoughtful business plan in the world, you can’t predict what’s going to happen tomorrow.”
“We love working with others to make a bigger impact. Additionally, supportive networks such as the UK Business Group (the representative body for UK companies and individuals) have helped me develop my vision and connect with the right stakeholders, Make business boom.
“Our work includes consulting clients, attending events, and running training sessions. The pandemic has helped us see new ways of working, such as webinars, digital coaching, and training our clients, which has also saved us thousands of dollars the cost of.”
Lesson 2: Triple Check Project and Procurement Affordability.
Bradford has seen money struggle firsthand, and those moments have taught him to appreciate what he has. Never chase money, because then your relationship with money can become toxic, he added.
“Some entrepreneurs have become very money-conscious, and for us it’s critical to think about social impact and we prioritize making the most significant impact through our work.”
He further stated that prudent financial management and prudent spending are also important in business. “We are very cautious in spending. We have seen cases where entrepreneurs take on big contracts or raise investments and run out of money quickly, causing their business to become unsustainable and sometimes lead to bankruptcy.
“I always apply the principle of being able to triple what we can afford to make sure our financial plans are realistic and safe. I’ve always learned to leave enough room in our cash flow to spend on the things we need and have Sufficient backup reserves. If we want to spend Dh500, we should have at least Dh1,500 budget available.
“We haggle and negotiate when necessary, especially in new ventures where we want to protect our investment. Often, especially post-COVID, we choose to use digital tools as much 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 didn’t take a salary for the company, but when you build up savings to help cover costs, the position is much better and less stressful.”
Lesson 3: Start loving your job and embrace teamwork.
Before starting his business, Bradford was a youth advisor for the local council, advising organizations and public sector bodies on how to engage with young people.
“We do a lot of work like market research surveys, marketing campaigns and events to bring young people closer to their cities. I learned a lot about interacting with different groups of people and having fun whatever you do importance.
“We are a diverse and broad team of over a dozen youth advisors with strong personalities. Our experience including working on challenging issues and crime, education, health, politics and more has helped me embrace teamwork.
“I believe you have the best job if you can not feel like working every day. I try to get through every day at our company,” he said.
What money values did you learn and acquire from your parents?
Bradford’s parents had a huge impact on his focus and career. He said his mother was a keen shopper with an eye for bargaining and her negotiating skills were second to none.
“Even today, I use this skill to help manage expenses. My mom always encouraged us to save, be diligent, and always reminded me of the value of respecting other people’s perspectives and inclusion.”
His father, who had worked in the company, was always the face of his new ideas. He is an honorary member of the Board of Directors of Bradford Corporation.
“As an accountant, my dad did an excellent job giving us budgeting tools from an early age, such as listing fees, investment and savings planning.”
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