As high-flying Londoners with senior positions, Sarah Heward – the MD of hospitality brand Corney & Barrow – and her husband Steve were confronted with the reality of being cash rich but time poor.
From big chief to Little Chef
So, having grown weary of their demanding corporate lifestyle, the entrepreneurial couple embraced the opportunity to resurrect a former Little Chef in a small Scottish village.
Given Tyndrum’s location on an A road connecting Glasgow with Fort Williams, they shared a vision. They wanted to open a high quality roadside fish and chip shop serving locally-sourced food to the 4 million travellers passing by each year. And so the Real Food Café was born.
“Without my tenacity I would have given up”
After overcoming the logistical challenges of being in a remote corner of the Scottish Highlands, tragedy struck the pioneering pair. Steve died unexpectedly and Sarah spent three years in a downward spiral of alcohol, over-working and exhaustion.
However, after making some fundamental changes to her lifestyle, she started to get herself in shape – physically as well as mentally.
Speaking of how she was able to turn her life around after hitting an all-time low, Sarah says: “I would say that fortunately I am one of the most determined and resilient people I know. That may sound big-headed but the business wouldn’t have survived otherwise. Without my tenacity I would have given up in the face of adversity years ago.”
Having stopped drinking and undertaken a 12 month training programme, she completed an Ironman event on the fourth anniversary of Steve’s death. “I enjoy keeping fit and have completed two Ironman triathlons along with many marathons and other endurance races, although I now tend to favour 10ks!”
Aching to achieve
When asked to pick out her greatest achievements, it’s little wonder that overcoming personal challenges such as recovering from alcoholism, reinventing herself and her lifestyle plus nursing her dad at home until his death figure high on the list.
However, there’s no doubt that Sarah’s strong-will and courageous spirit have turned her dream business into an iconic and popular pit-stop. To date she can credit herself with having turned a derelict Little Chef into a thriving business with a turnover of over £1m. What’s more, her company buys its goods locally, serves over 100,000 customers every year and has created jobs for 26 people in an area where non-seasonal work is hard to come by.
Prepare for the unexpected – and other tips
With Sarah and her business now both fighting fit, she has shared the seven most valuable lessons she learned from setting up her own business. These are:
- Do your research properly. Don’t get carried away with your enthusiasm – make sure that the dream is balanced with commercial realism.
- Keep it simple.
- Be prepared for the unexpected and bear in mind that it will probably take longer and cost more than you anticipate.
- Create an environment so that you can enjoy the journey.
- Celebrate your successes.
- Get a partner that understands you and will support you at every step along the way, no matter how challenging the path becomes.
- Finally, remember to appreciate that partner. This is something I’m always working to improve.
Gravitas and endorsement: award-winning kudos
Sarah’s remarkable story earned her the accolade of being a NatWest Award winner in 2014. But what does this mean in tangible terms?
“From a personal point of view, there are two ‘best things’ about winning the Award: the endorsement of my work by top-tier business women that I aspire to be like and the fact that I believe I’ve inspired others to change their habits and take courageous steps by being held up as a role model,” explained Sarah.
“And, from a professional point of view, the media and networking opportunities have been outstanding. Additionally, the gravitas that the award commands has raised the business profile along with my own personal profile. This is an important factor when you’re a small business and need to punch above your weight.”
