How Redundancy was to be a sucess to start new business venture for iCandy Print

PLYMOUTH, U.K. - March 19, 2014 - PRLog -- NOTICE of impending redundancy served as a springboard for Plympton family man Simon Longley to start two new businesses.

Things looked bleak when the married father-of-two received notice that his employer, Stowford Mill paper works at Ivybridge, was due to close in 18 months.

Mr Longley had worked for nearly 10 years as a watermark technician, a highly specialist job.

With little chance of finding a similar position locally, he decided to learn about printing and web design, training in his own time.

In the event, he took redundancy at the end of June 2013, using his pay-off to buy hardware and software for his businesses, iCandy Print and Digital Scarab.

After a brief break, he started in Business on August 1.

Mr Longley said: "Between the two businesses I produce an extensive range of printing including 3D printing in plastics, bespoke web design, graphic and logo design, E-commerce web sites and content management for users to edit and manage their own sites."

Being a one-man band is hard work, but brings several advantages.

Mr Longley has no employees to worry about and keeps overheads low by working from home.

Being a qualified printer, he has access to a state-of-the art £1.8million lithographic press which produces stunning high-definition quality.

"I can produce 500 lithographically-printed Business cards with matt lamination in five days," he said.

He added: "Being made redundant from a specialist job doesn't mean that you can't learn something new and start your own business

"Redundancy could be the best thing that ever happened to me."

Paper manufacturer Arjowiggins announced the phased closure of Stowford Mill, which then had about 100 employees, in September 2012.

It said there would be a phased closure in line with plans to relocate its operations to Aberdeen.

Last October, two developers began early-stage talks over the proposed redevelopment of the historic paper mill into a mixed-use scheme.

Burrington Estates and Pillar Land Securities said they were in "early discussions" with South Hams District Council.

The mill had been in operation for more than 200 years.

Formerly a corn mill, the listed property by the river Erme was the last remaining building of its kind in Ivybridge.

Situated on 3.5 hectares, besides the main mill with its landmark chimney and engine house, the site includes industrial buildings of various ages and condition, and a Victorian walled garden.

Last September, South Hams District Council published a planning brief for potential developers, following a six-week public consultation. It said developments would have to preserve and enhance the site's historic features.

Read more: http://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/Trouble-blueprint-success/story-20609281-detail/story.html#ixzz2wQZeaLdP