I was made redundant late 2008, and offered a job with a competitor in the same field, then realised I was just being messed about really to pass information on my old workplace.

I am 43 and married with 3 kids and a mortgage, so when a close friend who had seen what had happened suggested I start up on my own, we both had a laugh about it, as I had no finance and no savings.

It's a passing comment like that, which can completely change your whole life. The seed was planted.

I searched on the net for tools and machinery, I knew what I needed, and I also knew all the contacts from my previous employer. It was then the idea was born to start my own turbocharger remanufacturing business, small scale to start with ( very small scale) I did all my own research, bought units to strip and train myself, sourced consumables, tools and equipment, even started market research and projected cash flows.

I'm now in my 2nd year, and been in profit each month - Started with nothing and very happy to have done everything on my own, with the full support of my wife, family and friends. It can be an uphill struggle, a very steep hill, especially when banks will not back you, even though you're making money, you just have to keep going, as it will get harder once you're self employed. I have to say the fight is well worth it though. 100%

I now have a partner in the business, and just moved into our new unit in Portrack Lane in Stockton, we are in the middle of investing around £10,000 this month in new machines and cleaning equipment, so it's all go for 2011 I think, more stock, more sales, venturing into ecommerce and overseas sales........

Our new address is, Unit 4 Portrack court, Portrack Lane, Stockton on Tees TS18 2HP

0845 1222615

Turbo Connect updates Jan 2011/2012

Been a while since we updated here so here goes.

2011 we continued to expand the business re-investing about £20,000 in new machinery and equipment to increase our productivity.

We won a couple of awards with the Tees Valley Green Business Network:

In May 2011 we won the Bronze Award and in July the Silver Award. These measure your carbon footprint within the business, we were very pleased at these as the remanufacturing industry has always had a bad name for being a dirty business and we have proved you can be a remanufacturing business and be clean.

Through the back end of 2011 we continually tried to raise finance to expand the business and still being knocked back, even though now into our third yea, we ahve had two years of being in profit.

December 2011 we entered the Local Business Accelerator Competition and were shocked to actually get through and win together with Fudge Fancies and CAT-UK. This is a great achievement for us, as we get free advertising for the business in the Evening Gazette and mentoring from three top local businessmen.

We are also waiting the outcome from the Best New Business Awards 2011 as we know we are finalists but the winners are not announced until the Gala Event at the Middlesbrough Stadium later this month, so fingers crossed.

We have just uploaded the new website www.turboconnect.co.uk and are starting to see sales coming through already and we have a few expansion plans hopefully through February, so watch this space as it looks like it could be up and up for Turbo Connect.

If you have read our story, we started with nothing, we have received no backing from any banks and we are now into our third year, IT CAN BE DONE!!!!!

We did it and so can you, don't give up if this is what you want to do......Go for it!

February 2012

It's even more good news for Turbo Connect, we just found out today we are now also finalists in

The North East Business Awards (Low Carbon Entry) Results to be announced in early March!

Thats a hat trick then;

Best New Business Awards 2011 Finalist

Local Business Accelerator 2012

North East Business Awards 2012 Finalist

We do not expect to win either but as far as I see it third place is a win to us, it proves anyone can do it!

Wish us luck..........

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NEWS UPDATE 21st February 2012

TURBO CONNECT WINS THE BEST NEW BUSINESS AWARDS 2011 - Remanufacturing Category !!!

Woop Woop and another WOOP......

Total shock on the night, I even started clapping when the winner was announced then realised it WAS US!

What a night, what a month, and hopefully what a year. We owe our thanks to the Ifwecanyoucan challenge and

it was this chaalenge that got us out there when we entered. Many many thanks to everyone who has helped us

along the way, you know who you are, for the ones that have supported us and spread the word.

And also a short message to the banks who wouldn't back us as we did not have a viable business idea, then this

message is for you - READ ALL OF THE ABOVE GUYS BECAUSE YOU WERE WRONG LOL