Christine Robertson, City & Guilds NVQ in Upholstery

‘My life as a PA didn’t excite me and I yearned for a career that would,’ says Christine, ‘One day I realised that my childhood passion of working with wood and textiles was something I should pursue for my new career and was drawn to upholstery. When I discovered that I could study City & Guilds Upholstery at London Metropolitan University I was stunned and impressed that a course existed right on my doorstep.’

The training gave Christine the skills to pursue her dream, but other challenges lay ahead. ‘Setting up on your own is scary, there is no point pretending that everything falls in to place. It is hard work and you need skills to see you through. You also need to firm grasp of bookkeeping and an understanding of how to market yourself. Competition in every industry is tough, so arm yourself with as much knowledge as possible.’

Christine found that maintaining confidence in her abilities was one of her biggest struggles. In 2001, Christine won a City & Guilds Medal for Excellence, which recognised her outstanding knowledge, originality and innovation for her work on the City & Guilds course. ’Whenever I doubt myself I think back to when I received my award and remember that other people believe in my skills. I even got to meet Prince Phillip; I would never have been in a position to meet royalty working in an office.’

Christine has been running her upholstery business for three and a half years now and she says the key benefits of the setting up on her own was a real feeling confidence and freedom for the future.

‘I never expected to be a millionaire running my upholstery business but it is much more fulfilling than anything I’ve done before. I don’t regret a thing except not doing it earlier in my life!’