I started Pangbourne College in Year 7 and followed right through to Upper Sixth, looking back it was an opportunity of a lifetime, (thank you Dad and the College!). I studied Business and Design Technology at A Level and funnily enough the skills learned in these two subjects are exactly the skills I utilise in my day to day life now.
I am currently 26 and left Pangbourne 8 years ago, I went on to get my degree at Bristol UWE and I now run a small independent business called Bristol Concrete Studio Ltd, which makes bespoke concrete furniture. We have been running a little over a year now and are doing very well. I think the opportunities that Pangbourne enabled me as a student have allowed me to become the person I am today.
I think everybody at Pangbourne has heard of the Flag Values...I could even remember four without having to check on the College website! I remember struggling to memorise each one for the test in Junior School; however I’d like to think they are now part of my daily life.
The resilience and industry learnt at Pangbourne, mixed in with lots of moral courage and initiative have been key for me personally with my new business. Starting a business from scratch with my own savings didn’t prove to be as easy as I had hoped, but by digging deep and pushing forwards to get through every obstacle and challenge it presented, these elements have definitely been an integral part of my success.
Pangbourne for me, was very much a people place and the friendships I formed here are the ones that have stood the test of time, many of those have been involved in helping me get my new business up and running. My friends have been so supportive and amongst other things, have even helped me with deliveries on a Sunday morning to the other side of the country...kindness and selflessness to the extreme!
Another Pangbourne friend; Ru Pawluk (who is a fantastic talent) has also been key to the success. He used his skills in 3D imagery to really boost my marketability in the earlier months and this year, together we are launching ‘The Bristol Sink Company’.
A large part of the success of my brand has been customer service. When designing bespoke pieces, you have to work closely with clients, working to achieve exactly what they’re looking for or wanting to achieve; this takes time, perseverance, patience and integrity and has resulted in some heart warming customer reviews.
I think in any walk of life and certainly any business - respect is a huge quality which is necessary in order to do well. Pangbourne certainly instils this in people and I think it does so, in a manner which produces great people. Thank you Pangbourne!
BCS Ltd specialises in high quality, handcrafted, bespoke furniture made from concrete for both internal or external spaces; dining tables, coffee tables, side tables, consoles, seating and plinths...some examples here of my designs which I hope will entice you to look further at my website www.bristolconcretestudio.com or you can find me on facebook, instagram and Etsy.
