Thinking about working for yourself driving a van?

I've learned the hard way — so you don't have to.

I left school at 16 with no exams and went straight to work on building sites. After passing my car test, I started driving the company van and quickly realised that driving for a living was for me.

I passed my PCV test and built my driving skills the hard way — with maps and an A to Z Atlas rather than a sat nav. I drove passengers around the UK and Europe before moving into taxi driving, buying a minibus, doing airport runs and building my own taxi business.

From there I bought a stretch limousine and a Rolls-Royce, taking on weddings, racehorse trips and other private work. After eight successful years, increasing competition led me in a different direction.

I started driving a friend's 3.5-tonne van. When he retired, I took on the work. I had the work but not the money, so I begged and borrowed and put three vehicles on the road. The business grew to six vehicles and five employees, delivering all over the UK.

Then the company we depended on changed hands. Twelve months later, the new owners brought the transport operation in-house. I had to ask my drivers to find other work, liquidate the business and eventually went bankrupt. It devastated me and my family. We had to sell our own home and use the equity to try to pay some of our creditors.

But I didn't bury my head in the sand. With the full backing of my family, especially my wife, I went again. Today I have two vehicles back on the road.