About Me and My Businesses..

Over the past 20 years, I have founded three businesses (four if I include my current venture), each with varying levels of success.

The first was a retail business catering to the equestrian sector and operating at events across the UK. With a £17k bank loan, I single-handedly developed it into one of the leading event retailers in the country. This journey began when I left a position at one of the world’s largest telecommunications companies, a bold and risky move, but it was the perfect opportunity to explore a new path in life. From the initial idea to making my first sale, the experience was an incredible learning curve in small business startups. At its peak, the business was valued at over £2 million. I successfully navigated it through the turbulent times of the 2008/09 Great Recession.

During this period, I also relocated to a different area with my then-wife. It was here that I experienced my greatest business mistake, a challenging and painful experience, but one that provided an invaluable lesson. Despite the difficulties, every step has contributed to the knowledge and resilience I carry with me today.

These experiences have shaped both my professional journey and personal growth, and I'm proud of the lessons I've taken along the way.

I sold my house, with plans to reinvest the equity into a new property that would enable me to run my business from home. Around the same time, I married my long-term girlfriend and made her a 50/50 partner in the current business. However, she grew tired of traveling to events and wanted to move back to Ipswich to start a new venture. Together, we decided to open a lingerie shop just outside the town centre, she would manage the shop while I continued focusing on the original business.

Unfortunately, this decision had devastating consequences. The lingerie shop quickly became a financial burden, draining resources at an alarming rate. I found myself working seven days a week, often putting in 15-hour days, just to keep both businesses afloat. Despite my best efforts, with no support from suppliers or the banks, I had no choice but to declare bankruptcy and walk away from both ventures.

The fallout was deeply traumatising, leaving me feeling abandoned and unsupported by friends and family. It’s remarkable how quickly people disappear when the money runs out. My mental health took a significant hit, and my wife had to take a part-time job. Less than a year later, our marriage came to an end.

Looking back, I recognise this as one of the lowest points in my life. However, I’ve come to view it as a valuable lesson, an experience that shaped me and taught me resilience in the face of hardship.

Recovering from those losses was a long journey. After spending four years working at a leading supermarket, I finally decided it was time to move on and start a new venture, but I wasn’t sure what that would be.

During my recovery, I began walking a friend’s dog, and it was actually my friend who suggested I turn it into a professional service. The idea of being a professional dog walker had never crossed my mind before.

After thorough planning and research, I launched Our Walkies Dog Walking a few months later. Initially, I reduced my supermarket hours to balance both roles, and before long, the business took off. When the time was right and the income was steady, I happily left supermarket life behind, no regrets!

I ran the business successfully for seven years, becoming the number one dog walker in the local area and even weathering the challenges of the COVID period. However, walking dogs for such an extended time took its toll. After a knee injury and subsequent surgery, I made the tough decision to close the business.

Around the same time, my elderly father suffered a fall and faced a prolonged hospital stay. When he returned home, I took a career break to care for him, prioritising family during this challenging period.

For the past couple of years, I found myself in a bit of a limbo. I took on a role at a football charity, but it turned out to be the worst job I’ve ever had, I only lasted five months. Balancing the demands of caregiving with the challenges of a toxic work environment was never going to be sustainable.

Which brings me to Stuart Ashley PA and here we are! I’m excited and ready to put my skills and personality to work for you. With a launch date set for 2025, this new venture promises to be a thrilling journey, and I can’t wait to dive in.

Let’s see what we can achieve… together!