Each week, we ask small businesses key questions.
Here we speak to Sarah Urquhart, who runs Turtle Property Services, of Kingseat, near Newmachar, along with husband Andrew.
How and why did you start in business?
We have been landlords for the past few years and had always wanted to start our own business.
Andrew worked for 10 years in the oil and gas industry, providing technical services for operators in both field and office roles.
I was an operations controller for 10 years, working 12-hour shifts and overseeing the day-to-day operations of a regional airline.
More recently, I also ran my own photography business after doing extensive training with a local renowned photographer.
Our decision to set up on our own came after Andrew was made redundant.
Our prior work experience and wide-ranging skills gave us the confidence that we could make a success of setting up on our own in a new industry.
How did you get to where you are today?
As landlords ourselves, we know the hassle involved with arranging a handful of different people to go to a rental property to do all the different annual certificates and inspections.
We thought it would be so much easier if we could get just one person in once a year to do it all at the same time – no more hassle passing the key around and arranging access for several different visits.
Through lots of training and late nights we’ve managed to get to where we are now.
Who helped you?
We have had amazing support from our parents, especially Andrew’s. They believed in us even when we were finding it hard-going. It’s such a rollercoaster starting a business. Networking groups we have joined have also been a massive help, while Andrew is a member of the Federation of Small Businesses. It is so important to get out and network.
What has been your biggest mistake?
Wasting time on stop-gap solutions to the redundancy.
What is your greatest achievement?
It is most definitely our four-year-old daughter, who is beautiful in every way.
Also, getting the business to where it is today. It has been one of the most challenging things we have done, and it’s not always easy for husbands and wives to work together.
We are now so proud to be doing steady work for several letting agents.
What do you do to relax?
Although our work schedule is hectic, we have a rule that Sunday is a work-free family day. We usually go swimming and then out for a nice lunch, although our daughter always has the final say in what we do. We are also big film fans and enjoy a night in watching movies.
If you were in power in government, what would you change?
For there to be more support for people made redundant.
What do you waste your money on?
This past year we have been watching our spending due to us getting the business to where it needs to be. Normally, it would be a takeaway at the weekend or a meal in a nice restaurant.
What do you still hope to achieve?
We hope we can become the preferred contractor for several more leasing agents.
What are you currently reading, listening to or glued to on the TV?
Outlander – the new season has just started.
How would your friends describe you?
That we are hard-working and would do anything to help someone out.
What would your enemies say about you?
We hope we don’t have any.
What do you drive and dream of driving?
The company vehicle, which is a Nissan truck, but we would both love a Tesla Model X.