Businessman John Barker is now in the fast lane, selling his unique range of bespoke gentlemen’s jackets at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Yet, before he found Learning Links on the Isle of Wight, he was struggling in first gear.

Problems finding good suppliers had thwarted his previous attempts to run his own successful business, knocking his confidence and motivation, and leaving him uncertain of his future.

Adviser Hammie Tappenden at Learning Links enrolled John on the SOS project led by Prevista, funded by the European Social Fund and the regional development agency SEEDA. She supported him to turn his enterprising ideas into reality. A series of one-to-one meetings and counselling over several weeks resulted in new contacts, suppliers and manufacturers to help him start production and achieve his ambitions. This positive advice helped restore his confidence in his business skills and encourage him to take action.

Edward Thomas at Prevista said: ‘I’m delighted John is doing so well, thanks to the support he’s received from Hammie. It goes to show how essential these programmes are to make a difference for people.’

Market research revealed the car festivals at Goodwood may be good places to find customers – and the theory has worked with healthy sales figures and commissions for future work.

John is looking forward to the future: ‘Without the SOS Project, Learning Links

and Hammie’s help, I would not have

been able to get the business off the

ground,’ he said.