Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health & safety but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Christopher Haynes, Director of Origin Health and Safety Ltd, located in Swindon, Wiltshire, United Kingdom.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My business is Origin Health and Safety Ltd, which I started with the main aim of helping SMEs to meet their legal obligations. Remaining Health and Safety compliant can be complicated when running a business, especially when taking on the first few employees, and I feel I am well placed to facilitate a business to be both safe and successful. I support a variety of businesses of different shapes and sizes, from small sole trader start-ups looking to get themselves on the map to larger businesses looking to enhance their existing reputation. Health and Safety are an integral part of every business.
Tell us about yourself
With over 15 years of Health and Safety experience, including almost 9 years in a management role, an advisory role felt like a natural progression when looking for a change to further develop my existing knowledge and expose myself more broadly to health and Safety across different industries. I worked for a consultancy for just over 3 years, supporting clients from London to Birmingham before deciding to go it alone. I see myself as a problem solver and love to provide solutions so that my clients can focus on what they do best. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted to me that I was doing a good job supporting my clients, and in February 2020, a few months after getting married during a global pandemic, my wife and I decided starting my own business would be a sensible thing to do too. Although I was not ready or prepared for it, within a few days, I decided to give it a shot, and I have never looked back since. The strong relationships I have developed have given me the confidence to stand on my own feet, and my aim to build something a business to support a family gives me the resilience to make Origin a success.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
From the outset of starting my own business, I wanted any work I could get my hands on. I set my prices low compared to my competitors, which made me work very hard without being able to reap significant rewards in the short term. I’ve had many ups and downs along the way, but I would say my biggest accomplishment is that after almost 2 years in business, I am still here, and I am feeling very positive about the future of my business. I see most of my clients as friends, and I understand the value of the services I provide.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The hardest thing for me was working out what success would be. I thrive on the day-to-day, as this comes naturally, and after just under 2 years in business, I am genuinely happy to make it to the end of the month and have enough to cover the essential outgoings, as long as I can see that I am doing a good job for my clients. But when it comes to looking at the bigger picture, watching my business spending, and plotting what I need to be doing to earn enough money to support a family in the future, this doesn’t come so easily.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Be honest and keep learning – never pretend you know something in any line of work; you can always research after. Focus on your CPD to continue learning and stay honest.
- If saving money doesn’t save you time, is it really saving you money? Get specialists to help you with the important stuff. I was told I could save money by doing my own accounting. I spent 2 days trying to work out simple things such as invoicing and soon realised the importance of engaging a competent accountant so I could concentrate on making money.
- Consider joining networking groups with like-minded business owners that have a wealth of experience in running a company; they can provide valuable advice / stop you from making mistakes.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.originhs.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064894094539
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/originhs/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/origin_and
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-haynes-techiosh-857a2440/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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