At 16 years old I would help my sister on her stall at markets and around the country at country fairs and festivals. I loved it all and learnt how best to design a stand, present products, set up and break down, and most importantly, manage our overheads!

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The inevitable doubts surrounding my more unconventional career path began to set in as my friends around me began the 9-5 London rat race – and I couldn’t help but feel pressured to go in that direction too.

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After some time, I realised that the 9-5 wasn’t for me. I missed the spontaneity of the market girl life, and never knowing who I was going to meet each day. I’ve met so many inspiring and interesting people over the past few years, who’ve given me the confidence to continue following the path that is right for me.

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I’ve now been working trade fairs for the last 6 years, with absolutely no regrets – and I can proudly say I’ve never worked with a business that hasn’t asked me back. That said, as I’ve worked with more and more businesses, I’ve realised that recruiting reliable short term staff can be one of the hardest aspects of being a small business owner. Through Nest, I’m keen to fulfill this need, while also giving people like me the confidence to follow the less ‘conventional’ career path.

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