What work have been you doing beforehand?
I spent 15 years working as a Nuclear Security Engineer.
Having gained a Masters Diploma in Nuclear Physics I put my expertise to make use of within the civil nuclear business. Initially my work targeted on growing codes to foretell temperature situations for varied elements inside and round a reactor core.
As my profession progressed I gravitated extra in direction of Nuclear Security.
What are you doing now?
I run Eagle Home with my spouse Helen.
We offer luxurious lodging in a surprising Grade II listed residence. We’ve got three mattress and breakfast rooms in addition to a comfortable one bed room self-catering Condominium.
Why did you modify?
Proudly owning and working a B&B has at all times been a dream that my spouse and I had.
It was one thing we deliberate to do once we have been older however a mix of things made us resolve to make the change early.
When was the second you determined to make the change?
I might begun having fun with my job as an engineer much less and fewer.
This was largely as a consequence of adjustments in the way in which I used to be required to work as a consequence of COVID.
In the direction of the top of the pandemic, my spouse was recognized with most cancers. This made us each reassess our priorities and our basic outlook on life.
How did you select your new profession?
It was one thing my spouse and I had at all times dreamed about.
It gave us an opportunity to work for ourselves and have extra time to spend collectively as a household.
Are you proud of the change?
Completely.
It has been numerous exhausting work however undoubtedly worthwhile.
What do you miss and what do not you miss?
I miss the individuals essentially the most.
I labored with some incredible engineers throughout my profession and do miss the day-to-day interplay with them. Nevertheless, as you possibly can think about, I meet lots of people working a B&B and love constructing relationships with our clients.
I undoubtedly don’t miss the commute. Spending at the least two hours every day within the automobile appears nearly ridiculous now.
I am additionally glad I now not have to sit down in conferences that don’t appear to attain something.
How did you go about making the shift?
We moved home, we arrange the enterprise and I continued to work full time as an engineer for the primary 12 months.
I used to be in a position to go full-time on the enterprise after about 18 months.
We needed to be taught all the things it takes to run a hospitality enterprise, from high to backside. We’re nonetheless studying and making an attempt to make issues higher daily.
I actually loved studying to create, develop and handle our web site. Integrating the web site with our reserving software program, cost techniques and visitor communications was difficult and actually streamlined the work we have been doing.
How did you develop (or switch) the talents you wanted in your new function?
The obvious transferable expertise are these related to security; basic well being and security, fireplace rules and many others.
However the expertise I used to reveal and doc compliance are equally relevant to one thing like meals security.
There are additionally numerous smooth expertise I developed throughout my profession which have proved very helpful. For instance, expertise I might developed interacting with shoppers will be equally related with company at our B&B.
Likewise, systematic strategies for scheduling and recording upkeep and testing are as relevant at our B&B as they have been on a nuclear energy plant.
What didn’t go nicely? What incorrect turns did you’re taking?
Establishing a enterprise just isn’t easy, there are many massive selections to be made.
We targeted numerous our vitality on the service we wished to offer and the client’s expertise. I feel we received most of this spot on.
Had we made totally different selections concerning the non-guest going through expertise, we might have doubtlessly made our lives simpler. Since we first began we’ve got reconsidered who to financial institution with, methods to run our web site and what reserving engine we use.
It’s exhausting to know if these points might have been prevented with extra analysis on the outset or in the event that they have been simply errors we needed to make.
How did you deal with your funds to make your shift doable?
We knew that build up the enterprise would take time.
For the primary 12 months the B&B was open, I used to be nonetheless working full time as an Engineer. Because the variety of bookings elevated, I moved to half time hours. About 18 months after we began the B&B, it was my sole supply of earnings.
What was essentially the most troublesome factor about altering?
Lastly letting go of my earlier job.
Leaving my job as an engineer, and the common earnings it supplied, was an enormous psychological step.
Despite the fact that the B&B had been open for 18 months and had been doing nicely, for me, this actually felt like the beginning.
What assist did you get? 
It wasn’t only a change of profession, it was a change of life-style for me and my household.
We moved from Manchester to the countryside. The property we discovered for our B&B is on the sting of the countryside market city of Eccleshall. The native individuals and companies have been so welcoming to us and we’re actually grateful for that.
What assets would you suggest to others?
I like to be taught and there’s a great deal of info obtainable without spending a dime.
Helen and I spend numerous time absorbing info from books, movies, tutorials and podcasts. No matter business you’re in, there will be somebody speaking about it on-line.
For extra particular info, we have discovered it actually helpful to attach with native and nationwide business our bodies or associations.
For us, these are organisations like Take pleasure in Staffordshire, Go to England, Go to Britain, Staffordshire Enterprise & Surroundings Community (SBEN) and The Skilled Affiliation of Self-Caterers (PASC UK).
All of those organisations present up-to-date information and knowledge in addition to alternatives to attach with different related companies.
What would you advise others to do in the identical scenario?
When you’re working for your self, it may be troublesome to say ‘no’.
It is vital to believe within the service you’re offering and recognize clients who reward you for good work. There’ll be numerous clients searching for precisely what you do, so consider doing it nicely.
On the similar time, perceive that often individuals will come to you searching for one thing barely totally different. Be versatile, however perceive the place your boundaries are.
We caught up with Andrew just lately to see how his shift was figuring out, one 12 months on. Here is what he is been as much as, and the most important classes he is realized.
What’s modified for you in your profession since we first revealed your story?
After we first opened the B&B, I continued working as an engineer for round 18 months.
On the time the article was initially revealed, it hadn’t been lengthy since I had left my engineering job to deal with the B&B full-time. The B&B has now been our sole supply of earnings for about two years.
How do you are feeling about your work now?
I actually take pleasure in working the B&B with my spouse.
In 2024, we have been recognised by the Staffordshire Vacationer Board as the very best B&B in Staffordshire, which was an enormous honour. I really feel an actual sense of satisfaction within the service we offer, and I like with the ability to inform individuals what I do for a residing.
The change in life-style has been essentially the most vital facet. Having the ability to say goodbye to my daughter when she leaves for college, and being there to welcome her residence, is one thing I actually cherish. It is one thing I hadn’t actually thought-about earlier than making the shift.
What challenges have you ever come up towards since making your shift, and the way precisely have you ever handled them?
Beginning out in an business we had no prior expertise in was undoubtedly difficult.
At first, we have been repeatedly confronted with new conditions we hadn’t handled earlier than, and needed to shortly discover ways to resolve them.
Now that we have been working the B&B for almost 4 years, that occurs far much less usually. In fact, challenges nonetheless come up, however due to our previous experiences, we normally know the place to start when tackling any issues.
How is the monetary aspect of issues panning out, and is that this what you’d anticipated?
After I determined to alter careers, we absolutely understood that this may imply a drop in our family earnings, and we deliberate accordingly.
What have you ever realized since making your shift?
Far an excessive amount of to listing! We needed to be taught all the things, from methods to run a B&B to the basics of managing a enterprise.
To seek out out extra about Andrew’s enterprise, go to https://eaglehouse-eccleshall.com
What classes might you’re taking from Andrew’s story to make use of in your individual profession change? Tell us within the feedback beneath.