Andrew joined the Restart Scheme with COPA in June 2025 after facing a challenging period in his life. Losing his business during the Covid pandemic in 2020 had a significant impact on his mental health and left him uncertain about his future career direction.
With support from COPA, Andrew was signposted to Adferiad for specialist mental health support, which he continues to receive. Despite these challenges, Andrew remained engaged with the programme, actively applying for jobs and exploring new opportunities.
During one of his appointments, Andrew shared his interest in returning to self-employment. In response, the team provided contact details for Big Ideas Wales and supported him in attending an online Business Wales webinar to help him develop a business plan. From there, Andrew began laying the foundations for his new venture, creating a website, connecting with Prime Cymru for advice, and researching available grants.
By November, Andrew proudly reported that he was officially self-employed as a business consultant. He launched his website (www.nwbcuk.com), set up a LinkedIn profile, created business cards and started marketing his services to small local businesses. His consultancy focuses on supporting small businesses and start-ups in North Wales, offering practical advice and tailored solutions.
Andrew brings 30 years of experience in self-employment to his new role, having first started working for himself in 1995 – “All of my ventures have relied on my ability to market effectively, build relationships, and operate efficiently,” Andrew explains. “Now, I’m applying my experience to help other businesses succeed through clear advice and hands-on support.”
Although his business is in its early stages, Andrew will continue to receive ongoing support from the Restart Scheme team to help him grow and sustain his consultancy.
