We have some great news here at MeeCreative that we would like to share with you all. We are pleased to announce that our Creative Director, Liam has been shortlisted for the South Wales Young Entrepreneur of The Year award, pretty cool right? We thought so too!
As a result we thought it would be a nice idea to put him on the spot and have a quick Q&A with him about his life as a budding Entrepreneur.
So Liam, how old are you?
“Believe it or not I’m only 26 years old…I was getting into pubs at the age of 13. It was the unkempt beard of course!”
Where were you born?
“I was born in Merthyr Tydfil. A great little town (Don’t be fooled by Channel 4) in the heart of the welsh valleys.”
What is your current occupation (I already know but others may not)?
“I am the founder and Creative director at MeeCreative, responsible for managing busy schedules and sourcing new and exciting projects for the MeeCreative team. Also, I part time lecture product design at UWTSD (University of Wales Trinity St David), which is hugely rewarding when you see students flourish because it wasn’t all that long ago that I was in the same position as them.”
What course did you study at university and what qualification did you achieve?
“I studied BA Product Design at UWTSD back in 2007 when it was legendary named Swansea Institute (shenanigans down Wind St…oh they were the good ol’ days) and achieved the qualification of a First-Class honours.”
What inspires you?
“Mmmm, good question. I have a serious love and fetish for furniture so I have always looked upon the wacky work of Australian designer, Mark Newson. He experiments with materials and form to create pieces of furniture that are truly unique and original. The other people who inspire me daily are my staff – learning new methods and techniques to achieve outstanding results for our clients is something they do week in week out. They are a my biggest asset, they are all driven, professional and creative individuals with an energy that is inspiring. Without this team we would never be where we are today!”
What does it take to be a young entrepreneur in South Wales today?
“Personally I think it takes a lot of resilience, courage and perseverance; not everything goes as planned in business and sometimes the easy option is just to give up when things aren’t going as planned. You have to keep reaching for your goals and realise success doesn’t always come overnight. Setting small targets while subconsciously driving towards the larger vision is essential.”
What has been your biggest challenge so far in building your business?
“Initial start-up was always our biggest challenge here at MeeCreative. Trying to build the foundations and establishing yourself in a competitive discipline was difficult. We are in an industry where track record and a solid portfolio win you business; and of course when you start a design agency such as ours you have neither so you have to convince clients that you are the right choice. This was a great hurdle that we had to face but we did it!”
What is your top tip for young entrepreneurs just starting out?
“An army isn’t built around one individual. In business you need to armour yourself with the right support mechanisms. You can’t do it alone, so stop trying. In Wales we are lucky to have a lot of support from the Welsh Government but there are also very talented individuals that go unrecognised that can provide you with business support. We have a fantastic chairman here at MeeCreative – Barry Wanless – who keeps us in check, acting as a solid mentor and soundboard. The more people you talk your ideas and business objectives through with the better because conversations spark new ideas and new ideas open uncharted doors.”
The team at MeeCreative wish Liam the very best in the forthcoming awards. The ceremony will take place on the 11th of September at The Bear Hotel in Cowbridge, Cardiff. FINGERS CROSSED!
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