Aurok
It might be an exaggeration to say that engineer David Philips has petrol coursing through his veins but his passion for motor sports is boundless, according to his wife Patricia with whom he launched Aurok Ltd in 2002. [read on]

Carolin Jacobs
When Caroline Jacobs swapped ‘suits and boots’ for ‘shoots and roots’, she had no idea that within five years it would lead to her setting up her own business. [read on]

Elite care
Portsmouth-based care firm has radically increased its customer base necessitating a move to larger offices after working closely with Business Link and implementing simple changes. [read on]

Embrace
Su Mihelic (pictured right) worked as a civil servant for 28 years in a customer focused role, and managed a team of staff. [read on]

Gifts ‘n’ Gags
Debbie Edwards on her Wedding Day had a dream and inspiration from her Mum to start her own business. Mum’s gift was a special ‘Gift Box’. Everyone at the reception thought the Gift Box was hilarious and a great idea. [read on]

Infosec
IT Security reseller Infosec’s Pete Sherwood & Steve Malone recently won the Young Entrepreneurs of the Year award at the Basingstoke Business Awards INSPIRE 07. Their previous company they worked for was taken over in 2005, but customer service seemed low on the agenda, so Pete Sherwood and business colleague, Steve Malone, decided to set up their own business. [read on]

Jane’s Tiling Company
Mother of four starts her own building business. A skill alone is no guarantee of success when you are self-employed. [read on]

Little Kickers
When young mums Sarah Field and Christine Stanschus watched their small children playing football their business brains kicked in and they decided to launch classes offering very basic football coaching to children from 18 months to five years old. [read on]

Market Makers
Just 21years of age, Managing Director Paul Thomas started Market Makers in October 2004. His business partner Henry Braithwaite joined in January 2005. Both were just 21 when the business was launched. [read on]

Matt and Paul Studio
Hairdressers Matt Coles and Paul Hirst are cutting it in their own thriving salon, thanks to entrepreneur Lewis Wheeler and Business Link. [read on]

Menitest
Medaro Medical and Maddison Product Design have joined forces to develop Menitest. Maddison Product Design, the award winning specialist product development company, has designed an instant Meningitis test for Petersfield based, Medaro Medical. [read on]

PE Composites
An Isle of Wight manufacturer has gone from strength to strength since undergoing a management buy-out in 2003 with help from Business Link. [read on]

PH Warr plc
15 year Celebration for PH Warr When surveyor Philip Warr launched a company from his dining room table in 1992 he had professional skills, enthusiasm and big dreams. [read on]

Pink Plumbing
Inspired by a Business Link Work4Yourself programme, Trisha Wingate launches her own plumbing company. [read on]

Premier property
The ups and downs of the property market make it a potentially precarious profession, as Hampshire-based Nigel and Barbara Sellers know only too well. [read on]

RedTie Theatre
Drama teacher Helen Reading took on a new leading role when she left her job at a high school on the Isle of Wight to set up her own theatre company. [read on]

SCS
Turning a dream of being your own boss into a reality can be a daunting process, especially when it is in a male- dominated industry like construction. Having the right attitude and determination is critical to success. [read on]

Signature Balloons
A Hampshire business which started out as a ‘sideline’ is set to double annual turnover to almost £400,000 after increasing its range of services and moving into new premises. [read on]

Southern springs
New Milton based manufacturing company Southern Springs & Pressings Ltd celebrates 60 years of trading. Founded in 1948, the company has established an excellent reputation as a manufacturer of springs and pressings for customers world-wide. [read on]

Spring a lings
Turning a dream into a business Mother of two Julie Bishop had a dream business idea but was unsure where to start. She realised that there was a gap in the local market for a music and movement group for the under 5s, but turning the idea into a business was daunting. [read on]

Stretch a leg
DVT, UK’s silent killer. An innovative product to help prevent deep vein thrombosis (DVT) has been brought to market with help from Business Link. [read on]

Suburban Oasis
After 28 years in the Royal Marines, retiring Warrant Officer First Class Bob Platts has changed his green uniform for a new career in horticulture. His business, Suburban Oasis, is a result of a life time’s passion for gardening and will provide a garden maintenance service for those in the Hampshire and West Sussex area. [read on]

The Lady Gardener
Turning a hobby into an income is never an easy challenge but Hampshire woman Ruth Jenkins has shown she is equally adept at growing her company as well as the flowers she tends in her garden maintenance business. [read on]

United Refrigeration
The company offer a full bespoke design service to suit every requirement in comfort cooling, close control, air conditioning, cold storage and remote display case systems to the commercial and domestic market. [read on]