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Hi again murdrobe

Re further training: have you spoken to the Learning & Skills Council about opportunities and funding that is available for you?

If not, I would encourage you to do so, explain the full picture to them and I feel sure that they will be able to point you in the right direction. You sound right for an apprenticeship to me - you've done a lot of the theory work already.

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As far as starting your own business goes, HM R&C have an advice site and a help-line:-

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I started my own business when I was 21 (not catering though) and the paper-work wasn't anywhere as demanding as I expected.

If you open a business account and keep it solely for your business, then the Bank statements provide most of the information needed to sort out your accounts - I used to do my own book-work, and then pass the books to an accountant before the figures went to the Revenue, they do the fine tuning to ensure you don't pay more tax than you need to.

If you pay for everything with your Business account debit card, it really is very simple to keep track.

I would imagine you will be well below the VAT level, at first anyway.

Not having transport is a real disadvantage though.

However, to be frank, I think you would be well advised to consolidate your training up to at least NVQ level 3, and 4 if at all possible.

You might have to prepare food that is not your first choice, but once you show an employer that you have talents in certain areas, the chances are they will give you some rope and let you develop your special dishes within their kitchens.

I appreciate you may say: "but why do it for someone else when I could do it for myself?" ... but it will be a two way thing, i.e. you will get the opportunity to test your specials on their customers, and then later on, there will be no reason why you can't start up on your own account. Maybe you can get transport by that time too?

Again being somewhat direct about this, I doubt that the books, etc, will be the problem, most people in business take some knocks at some point, often early on in their venture, and that can knock your confidence too, and if you're the only one around to take responsibility, it can be very hard at your age.

Believe me, a lot of business people "talk big" and "act small" when it comes to being fair over money.

So my advice is to have a 'ready smile', 'talk friendly' and keep a 'sharp eye on your back' at all times, because if you don't, you can bet other people will.

Getting your money in your bank, in reasonable time, can be quite tricky when someone is dragging their feet over paying you - the problem tends to be that you don't want to get too heavy with them because you need their business, and of course they know that only too well.

Anyway, I don’t want to discourage you, just a word from one who has been there – I learned quite quickly that there are “friends”, and then there are: “business associates”, and it doesn’t do to confuse the two.

Have you thought of sub-contracting to local pubs, even if they do their own food, maybe you could sell the idea of them having an “Indian” evening once a week based upon your menu?

Good luck!