Starting out on ya' own - Working for your self!!!

[haggistini]

I have been working for a large south wales civil's and road surfacing firm for two years and we have been slabbing for most of that time.....i found i got a flare with cutting and laying and my work looks set to last years. I have had a few jobs come my way from passers by who always ask "what are they layed on" and "how much are they" and then i just ask them if thet want it done ...but my dream would be to work for myself .So any advice would be great from the forum. I love this site because it covers everything i need to get the job done and surprize the other gangs with my new found skills even my latin names for compo!!!
p.s. thanks tony for the hard work

[seanandruby]

Hi Hag. Nice to see that you are keen. hope you are doing the " foreigners" as they are a good learning curve. I think you need to cover other aspects of the civils, IE drainage, deep drainage,shuttering, steel fixing, bricklaying, tarmacing, etc; There isn't enough call for just slab laying, im afraid that is just a low percentage of the skills you will need. you will need to be able to set out, delegate work, book keep, and the killer...pay wages. remember preparation is ninety% of the job. i would hang in there for another 2/3 years broaden your skills by working with other trades. Most definitely go on training courses. hope i haven't burst your bubble, rather give you food for thought. in the mean time you need to save your pennies so that you wont have to get high interest bank loans. By the way what is the Latin for "compo" ? :;):

[haggistini]

hi im thirty and worked with builders most my life i first layed a block paving driveway when i was 13 with my uncle who kept me off the streets with hard work and a dodgy old shovel im not green and i know the crack as my hands tell a woeful tale the correct latin word for compo is...........cementious shiticus !


p.s. " foreigners"???

[seanandruby]

A "foreigner" is doing a bit on the side for yourself. Didnt mean to patronise you, just wanted you to look at the bigger picture. :;): good luck with what you decide.

[haggistini]

yeah plenty of foreigners! have a look at my post on marshalls variation see what you think!! im stuck for ideas! :p

[lutonlagerlout]

we call them PJs round this part of the world
private jobs
LLL :;):

[haggistini]

nice.....we call them hobbles in south wales

[Mikey_C]

Can't help you out with the starting up, I'm only a DIY'er, but do remember it's not just about doing the manual graft, there is accounts and stuff to do as well.

However, I can retort about my version of Spanish concrete "compo viejo" a vintage year whenever it is mixed.

It's "private jobs" or "homers" down here in Dorset, "foreigners" is a term reserved for your normal job but away from home.

Best of luck.

[Tony McC]

"Nixers" in Ireland.

[bird]

You could have a look at some of the welsh enterprise agencies [eg. Business Eye Wales
Tel: 08457 96 97 98, Website: www.businesseye.org.uk]. I started my own business and got a grant from one of my local schemes in the North West of England. They also went over the basics of accounting, marketing, pricing, insurance, employment laws etc etc. It was very helpful, and so was the cash


Good luck