Tommy Sandhu
“My journey in the world of business began in the bustling retail industry, where I learned the ropes of marketing, forecasting, and business planning. As my skills grew, so did my ambition, and I went on to set up and sell multiple successful businesses, including a flourishing marketing company, a high-end designer outlet store, and a thriving taxi business. But it was in the driving industry where I truly found my niche,
Read more...and I have since flourished and settled into this challenging and dynamic field. In addition to my business ventures, I have built and manage a substantial property portfolio. My journey has been filled with obstacles, but it has also been incredibly rewarding. Through sheer determination and hard work, I have developed a six-figure salary and gained invaluable expertise in various aspects of business.”
Graham Hooper
“I left school and began developing my business skills while working in a bank. At the end of every day’s trading, I had to ensure the books were balanced. Working in that environment, handling large sums of money, helped me understand the importance of managing what comes into a business and what goes out on a daily basis.
Read more...With a keen interest in risk and reward, I ventured into the Retail Betting Industry, spending the next 18 years in the field. I started as a trainee manager in one of the busiest shops in North London and quickly became the youngest betting shop manager in the country at the age of 18. I managed a small betting shop in the back streets of Tottenham, close to the Broadwater Farm estate. Rising through the ranks, from the lowest graded manager to the highest, I discovered that I could improve the turnover and profitability of every shop I ran.
Eventually becoming a district manager, I was able to pass on my marketing and customer skills to my own team, growing my district by two grades in two years. However, as I started a young family, I felt that the betting shop environment was not suitable for a family man.
Transitioning to become a driving instructor was relatively straightforward, and I passed my exams on the first try. I then wrote a ten-year business plan with the goal of becoming an instructor trainer. Having a plan and a commitment to continual professional development enabled me to target markets and areas that commanded higher pay rates. My CV is a testament to the hard work I put in to become a trainer of trainers.
I discovered that with every new skill I acquired, there was a market eager to know more. I became heavily involved in SAFED for Vans, a government-sponsored van driver training course in 2005. This course paid trainers £350 a day back then and inspired me to create The Big Red Fleet Company with another trainer. I wrote a fleet training course, and my clients included Andrew Love and Dr. Sandra McDonald Ames.
I also delivered half-day driving instructor training courses to clients on a 2-1 basis, charging £100 per client, and the demand was very high in 2003. Learning how to diversify and explore other markets helped me develop a training company that sold in excess of £3 million worth of courses.
Now, as the director of PDIADI.com, I have decided to set up a series of training programs with Tommy Sandhu to inspire others to grow and diversify their own businesses, whether as a company, sole trader, or franchisor.”