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Setting up a new business is always a daunting prospect – have you thought of everything? What if something goes wrong? Where can you find support? After many years answering these questions for others, Phil Shakeshaft finally decided to start his own business in 2008 at the age of 60. Despite his extensive experience working with regional development agencies, the process of starting a business was no less nerve-racking.
Phil has worked for several agencies including One North East, where he edited the Regional Economic Strategy between 1999 and 2004. More recently he was project director of Future Matters; a project concerned with improving the regional economy by equipping organisations with the skills to deal with change and uncertainty.
By the end of the project, Future Matters had generated enthusiastic feedback and tangible benefits, convincing Phil of the need for this type of strategic consultancy. In partnership with David McFarlane, a talented economics graduate who had worked with Future Matters, he went about setting up Futurist.
Armed with an ambitious business plan and the intention to create ten new jobs in its first three years, Futurist won three months free accommodation at the BIC in Sunderland. Support was also secured from Business Link and Sunderland City Council, allowing the team to set up an office on the banks of the Wear.
Having secured contracts with Social Enterprise Sunderland and Northumberland County Council, Phil has set his sights further afield, and is planning to spread the Futurist message on a visit to the Middle East later in the year.
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