*Will is a finalist in the 2011 IWCYC Challenge - click here to read more*

I always imagined myself working for some large company in London, living the high life with a nice car, impressive home and definitely having all the answers. From the moment I was born my journey started, first with my grandad's plans (I was the apple of his eye), then mine.. Uni, the dream job and of course to never look back ..

It started off well .. I got the GCSE's and A Levels, well I could have done better, but not bad. Next came Newcastle University for four years. The plan firmly on course. Next up on the agenda was my 'job in the city' ; with a six figure salary set firmly on my horizon...

So let's rewind a little. At school I always had to be in charge - cubs, scouts, young enterprise, Cadets you name it I was 'the boss'. I was right there getting every badge and accolade going. So as you can imagine when I hit 18, I was becoming confident in my abilities and probably downright arrogant. Even worse revision was not something I engaged in. If I couldn't do it, I just wasn't interested.

Then life stepped in. And life is so unpredictable. I was almost killed in a car crash and even worse almost killed my friends in separate car crash. This experience set me on a course of discovery about who I am today, and more importantly who I want to become in the future.

Without going into too much detail as these memories will always feel raw, the first accident made me realise I am NOT indestructable, and the second taught me that you cannot be in control all the time. Life is so fragile if you don't take care of it, and I knew then that I had to make the best of my life while I could. 'It will never happen to me' .. Don't believe it.

So back to where it all started. Yes I had the enviable privileged childhood and going to University was my first foray into 'real life'. I made friends with people from every background. Suddenly i saw different values, lives and cultures.

My path was set and I will always be grateful for this experience, it has made me the man I am today. In my second year of uni I started to apply for placements during my year out - Accenture, Marks & Spencer and so on. I reached the finals of every one only to fail at the last hurdle. I couldn't understand it! .. and given my belief that I have all the answers I came to the only natural conclusion.. I will do it myself!

And do you know what, I actually did it. I set up my own business, and it has been the most exciting, scary & challenging journey of my life so far. My company (wow that makes me feel proud) is called Dovcor. We design and produces ranges of bathroom furniture and screens for independent UK stores.

Based initially in Preston in Lancashire near the much needed support of my parents; and latterly operating from Sunderland near my beloved Uni days and the real leap into the business world on my own.

I followed the standard set up. Research the market, play to your strengths (my father is a furniture designer - my USP, a bespoke, quality product using a man I trust), create the business plan. I quickly realised that you don't HAVE to change the market place. Just do it better.

Finally I had the product, - it was so exciting, and our designs were unlike anything else in the UK. Couple that with superior quality, good prices and excellent service I had my ingredients and the cake was ready to be baked.

I launched myself into the business full time, working 12 hours and more a day, until I was literally kicked out of the building. I desperately wanted to improve the services and products that the company offered. Bringing deliveries down from 10 days to 24 hrs was my first major achievement and immediately product numbers went up from 8 to 100!

It became all work and no play and I LOVED it! So remember this .. having your own business changes you as a person. Honestly it really does. You appreciate the dignity of labour, you realise how hard it is to earn every last penny. And not once have I felt I didn't want to carry on.

From leading the company, doing the accounts, making a sale, loading a truck or even cleaning the warehouse. It all matters. Every last solitary detail.

It is very hard to gain the credibility needed to get on the radar of stores, builders and architects, especially for larger projects. Most people don’t think a design based and high quality bathroom company can come from Sunderland, let alone be driven by someone fresh from Uni with a baby face to boot.

But I will keep pushing forward to help my company to grow and develop. Through new product ranges and offering a better service to my customers and future customers. . Truly, I do not have all the answers. I don't know who I will be by the age of 25.

Each year I realise I have grown up a little more - without realising it. I pride myself on how I treat other people, customers or not customers . It is all about respect. Hard work, honour and loyalty are traits which I live by and are the very foundations that my company has been built upon.. Thank you for listening ....