Conducting internet business from the top of a hill

12:41pm Tuesday 18th March 2008

A WEB based business owner prefers the simple life at home - with no access to emails or mobile phones.

Mark Blayney, 44, managing director of Creative Business Finance, in Darlington, and his wife, Pat, 52, call a barn conversion in the Pennines home.

And so remote is the property they share with Old English sheepdogs Daisy and Robbie that it has no broadband connection or mobile phone signal.

But rather than seeing it as a hindrance to his work, Mr Blayney, whose business is based in Bakehouse Hill, Darlington, believes it offers the perfect work/life balance and environment to run a business more successfully.

He said: "I do have an office at home and it allows you to get on and do things without being a slave to email.

"In a way, it allows me to have more control over my working life and arrangements.

Sometimes it is a pain when you need to be in contact and have to drive three miles up a hill with your laptop, mobile and various bits, but when I need to, I can do it."

Mr Blayney's home, near Alston, Cumbria, has a supply of spring water, a septic tank and oil-powered heating.

The electricity is provided by a wind turbine.

He said: "Living like this does allow you to switch off and disconnect a bit and I think it helps your work/life balance.

"It would be easy to sit in my office at home until 9pm, so you still do have to work at managing it, but it is under your control."

His home is in contrast to his business as an independent commercial finance broker, with associates around the country and an office in London as well as in Darlington.

As part of its services, it offers a website, which is a selfhelp and information site so that businesses can get guidance on what would best suit them.

His company specialises in helping small and medium sized firms to fund everything from expansion and acquisitions to management buyouts and refinancing.

Mr Blayney said: "For example, if you need a commercial mortgage to buy a business, there are about 150 commercial property agents, so how do you choose the right one?

"We take businesses through whether a particular sort of financing is right for them in the first place and what are the factors they need to look at."

Mr Blayney believes that On course for new record A TRAINING company has scored a major success by helping one of its main clients generate record levels of new business.

Accountancy firm Harlands saw a significant upturn in fortunes after attending a course delivered by Aurora Training, based in Consett, County Durham, and achieving ten per cent of its annual target for new business in only three weeks.

The three-day programme not only honed the sales skills of Harland's staff, but also focused on every aspect of their business and personal relationships.

Philip Murray, business development consultant with Harlands, said: "When you think how much new business the course has brought in, then it has been a very worthwhile investment."

Aurora Training delivers courses and programmes aimed at stimulating business and personal growth. Clients include D1 Oils, Newcastle's Eldon Square and Darlington Building Society.

his lifestyle demonstrates that it is possible to live without mobile phones and Blackberries.

He said: "This technology is supposed to be there to help people and help you manage your life, but in some cases it becomes enslaving rather than liberating.

"It is a tool for us, not something that should control what you do.

"If somebody sends you an email and wants an instant response they are managing your time, whereas I think my time is for me to manage.

"We have set up so our customers get a timely response, but when it comes to my business I need to manage it myself."

Mr Blayney has worked for a FTSE 100 company, a UK clearing bank and as a "turnaround"

partner in a top 20 accountancy firm, before setting up his consultancy business.

He writes and speaks extensively on finance and business issues and is the author of four books.

To find out more, go to creativefinance.co.uk

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