Nicky Edwards, A former primary school teacher with 2 little girls who are now 5 and 7.

I recently set up Flying Start Games where I design and sell educational games. I fall into the category of ‘accidental entrepreneur’as the idea for Flying Start Games came about when my daughter’s Reception teacher gave her a pile of laminated words to learn. We used the words to make a game of pairs, snap and lotto which we played together. She and her friends enjoyed the game and learnt the words. Spurred on by the warm reception, it wasn’t long before Flying Start Games took off. I sought advice from Business Link and funding from the North East Enterprise Investment Centre, and with the help of a local designer who is also a teacher (Joni Daglish of maia cards) came up with a range of numeracy and literacy games. mumsclub continues to be an invaluable source of inspiration, ideas and encouragement .

Two years on and I sell the games at school fairs in the North East and through the website, flying start games, with a proportion of sales offered to schools Parent Teacher Associations through a 10% Donation Scheme.

Ultimately, I would like to expand my range of games and buy in other games and activities from wholesalers to increase the product range offered through the website. I am also keen to enter the Home Education market and to increase the number of schools through whom I sell games. Having my games endorsed by headteachers is a powerful sales method, as I’ve discovered!

Nuggets of advice for anyone wanting to pursue their inner entrepreneur? You don’t have a boss breathing down your neck, telling you what to do so YOU have to make the decisions to go ahead to take things forward. Others will help, but they haven’t got their heart, soul, money and everything else invested in your business like you have, so it’s down to you! And if you never tried it, you’d never know, would you?