I was 19 when I started my first business Quality Catering in partnership with a school friend. It only lasted for a year but we had some small successes.

The business was awarded finances from the Youth Enterprise Scheme and the Prince’s Trust and this got the attention of Channel 4 who were looking at startup businesses for an episode of Moneyspinner – so we were filmed and appeared on television.

The Prince’s Trust put us in touch with the Legal & General insurance company who were staging a festival at Greenwich. It was held in the dry dock where the Cutty Sark.

It had a different theme going on at each corner around the ship, but the celebrations aboard were reserved for employees and guests of the insurance company. Quality Catering provided food and drink for around 500 people at the first ever Greenwich Festival.