West Lothian woman's business venture proves the pawfect solution to work woes
'I just quit my job on the Monday by the Friday I was working full time by myself'
A Livingston woman who was fed-up with the 9-to-5 world of work came up with the paw-fect solution by launching her own business.
Mya Sweeney was working in a corporate estate agents but decided to make the break and start-up a new small business providing 'reliable and loving care for people's pets' of all shapes and sizes.
The 22-year-old's Pawfect Days with Mya is now offering a range of services from dog walking and home boarding, to small animal and reptile care, as well as pet check-ins and taxi services.
Mya from Eliburn, a former pupil at James Young High, explained: 'I was working full time basically, with a corporate estate agent – just two months ago, you can imagine what that entailed. It was pretty boring, computer stuff.
"I'd done some volunteering in the past working with animals and thought it was so much fun.
"I've always had animals and I've always been good working with them.
'I've a dog of my own called Peanuts, and my mum has two dogs. We've always had dogs.
"I'd just got to the stage where I thought my physical and mental health just couldn't take sitting in an office on a computer any longer, so I just quit my job on the Monday by the Friday I was working full time by myself."
Mya's business took off and she soon decided to increase the selection of available services on offer.
'I've just built it up over the past two months to where it is now.
'It was through word of mouth at first, then I got some flyers printed and I had some nice people that helped me put them around and do some social media marketing and stuff.
'I started off with dog walking and pet sitting, then I added cats and different types of walks,' said Mya. 'I'm learning as I go and offering more as I go along.
'I'm covering most of Livingston, so wherever the dogs live I do a bit of research and see if there's a secure field where they can freely run, or a nature walk nearby.'
Mya is steering clear of neighbourhood walks, as she's more likely to come across other people's dogs and can't always tell how they will react.
So far she's only had any issue with one little dog she was asked to take care of, who had never been on his own before, but Mya insists he's 'all good now' once they got to know each other.
Mya is already looking to enhance her business by finding herself more suitable transport, she's currently using her car.
'Even though it's only been going two months I'm getting busier and I need a van,' she said.
However, if Mya thought getting away from the restrictions of an office would give her more free time, she was mistaken - but she is enjoying being her own boss.
'I'm working seven days a week now. I've quit a 9-to-5 job to work 24/7,' Mya joked.
'It's honestly so much better. I'm always outside now and my brain is clear, it doesn't feel much like work.
'I'm looking to connect with more pet owners who are looking for a trusted, caring hand. I'm excited to welcome new clients with open arms and wagging tails.'
Pawfect Days with Mya is on Facebook and Instagram.
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Edinburgh Live
5 days ago
- Edinburgh Live
West Lothian woman who left 'boring' 9 to 5 says 'my brain is now clear'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A West Lothian woman who was sick of the 9 to 5 world has said her 'brain is now clear' after making the change. Mya Sweeney was working in a corporate estate agents, and was 'pretty bored'. The 22-year-old has since launched her own small business, caring for pets of 'all shapes and sizes', reports the West Lothian Courier. Pawefct Days with Mya offers dog walking, home boarding, small animal and reptile care, as well as check-ins and taxi services. Mya, from Eliburn, explained: "I was working full time basically, with a corporate estate agent - just two months ago, you can imagine what that entailed. "It was pretty boring, computer stuff. I'd done some volunteering in the past working with animals and thought it was so much fun. "I've always had animals and I've always been good working with them. I've a dog of my own called Peanuts, and my mum has two dogs. We've always had dogs. "I'd just got to the stage where I thought my physical and mental health just couldn't take sitting in an office on a computer any longer, so I just quit my job on the Monday by the Friday I was working full time by myself." Mya's business took off and she soon decided to increase the selection of available services on offer. I've just built it up over the past two months to where it is now. Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox "It was through word of mouth at first, then I got some flyers printed and I had some nice people that helped me put them around and do some social media marketing and stuff. I started off with dog walking and pet sitting, then I added cats and different types of walks," said Mya. "I'm learning as I go and offering more as I go along. "I'm covering most of Livingston, so wherever the dogs live I do a bit of research and see if there's a secure field where they can freely run, or a nature walk nearby." Mya is steering clear of neighbourhood walks, as she's more likely to come across other people's dogs and can't always tell how they will react. So far she's only had any issue with one little dog she was asked to take care of, who had never been on his own before, but Mya insists he's "all good now" once they got to know each other. Mya is already looking to enhance her business by finding herself more suitable transport, she's currently using her car. "Even though it's only been going two months I'm getting busier and I need a van," she said. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sentstraight to your messages. However, if Mya thought getting away from the restrictions of an office would give her more free time, she was mistaken - but she is enjoying being her own boss. "I'm working seven days a week now. I've quit a 9-to-5 job to work 24/7," Mya joked. "It's honestly so much better. I'm always outside now and my brain is clear, it doesn't feel much like work. "I'm looking to connect with more pet owners who are looking for a trusted, caring hand. I'm excited to welcome new clients with open arms and wagging tails." Pawfect Days with Mya is on Facebook and Instagram. You can get in touch with Mya by email: pawfectdayswithmya@ or on WhatsApp: 07539 752075
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Daily Record
West Lothian woman's business venture proves the pawfect solution to work woes
'I just quit my job on the Monday by the Friday I was working full time by myself' A Livingston woman who was fed-up with the 9-to-5 world of work came up with the paw-fect solution by launching her own business. Mya Sweeney was working in a corporate estate agents but decided to make the break and start-up a new small business providing 'reliable and loving care for people's pets' of all shapes and sizes. The 22-year-old's Pawfect Days with Mya is now offering a range of services from dog walking and home boarding, to small animal and reptile care, as well as pet check-ins and taxi services. Mya from Eliburn, a former pupil at James Young High, explained: 'I was working full time basically, with a corporate estate agent – just two months ago, you can imagine what that entailed. It was pretty boring, computer stuff. "I'd done some volunteering in the past working with animals and thought it was so much fun. "I've always had animals and I've always been good working with them. 'I've a dog of my own called Peanuts, and my mum has two dogs. We've always had dogs. "I'd just got to the stage where I thought my physical and mental health just couldn't take sitting in an office on a computer any longer, so I just quit my job on the Monday by the Friday I was working full time by myself." Mya's business took off and she soon decided to increase the selection of available services on offer. 'I've just built it up over the past two months to where it is now. 'It was through word of mouth at first, then I got some flyers printed and I had some nice people that helped me put them around and do some social media marketing and stuff. 'I started off with dog walking and pet sitting, then I added cats and different types of walks,' said Mya. 'I'm learning as I go and offering more as I go along. 'I'm covering most of Livingston, so wherever the dogs live I do a bit of research and see if there's a secure field where they can freely run, or a nature walk nearby.' Mya is steering clear of neighbourhood walks, as she's more likely to come across other people's dogs and can't always tell how they will react. So far she's only had any issue with one little dog she was asked to take care of, who had never been on his own before, but Mya insists he's 'all good now' once they got to know each other. Mya is already looking to enhance her business by finding herself more suitable transport, she's currently using her car. 'Even though it's only been going two months I'm getting busier and I need a van,' she said. However, if Mya thought getting away from the restrictions of an office would give her more free time, she was mistaken - but she is enjoying being her own boss. 'I'm working seven days a week now. I've quit a 9-to-5 job to work 24/7,' Mya joked. 'It's honestly so much better. I'm always outside now and my brain is clear, it doesn't feel much like work. 'I'm looking to connect with more pet owners who are looking for a trusted, caring hand. I'm excited to welcome new clients with open arms and wagging tails.' Pawfect Days with Mya is on Facebook and Instagram.
BBC News
19-03-2025
- BBC News
Covid five years on : Small businesses reflect on pandemic impact
Some businesses were born in Covid while for others, the lockdowns marked the end of the road. The rest were forced to adapt to have any hope of surviving. Five years on from the pandemic, the BBC has spoken to small business-owners about both the opportunities and the fallout from the Wander, 24, played netball professionally before coronavirus hit, but when sporting events dried up she started a Caribbean takeaway business. "We started as a little takeaway service in a small flat in Hatfield. We set up on Deliveroo and Uber Eats, and then people started asking for catering, and it grew from there." 'We bought a fryer and some tongs' In the past five years, MJ Eats has grown into an events and hospitality brand offering Caribbean and pan-Asian food, networking and job opportunities including model casting. "We went from one employee to 50. We have models, chefs, kitchen staff, creative staff, event managers."Mya's grandfather is co-founder, responsible for logistics and HR. He was also the company's first investor."He gave me the first £150, so we bought a fryer and some tongs," Mya says. "He is now the person who does the heavy lifting. It's great to have that alliance with somebody I love." Mya says despite the company's growth, she's faced challenges along the way. "There are very few people who want to give a young black girl five, 10, 20 grand to start a business with. So MJ Eats is funded primarily by myself."The Confederation of British Industry estimates that some 800,000 companies were registered in the first year of the pandemic, a 22% increase compared with the previous believes the pandemic gave her the opportunity to start something new."I think Covid was revolutionary. If it didn't happen, I wouldn't have stopped playing netball, or taken the time to invest in myself. It went from a side-hustle to this. It was never supposed to happen!" 'I feel displaced' Penny Burdett has been a knitwear designer for 38 years. Before Covid, she had a clothes shop based in Camden Lock."I was right near where the boats came in. I had my knitting machine there and made my work on the premises. People came from all over the world."In 2020, when lockdowns were imposed, she gave up her shop because her turnover plummeted. "Covid was a nightmare," Penny says. "We had to ask the market to shut down because there was nobody coming at all. The place was deserted." She went from employing three to four people, including textiles students, to working alone in her home now sells her clothes online but finds it "much harder than selling face-to-face because you can't show people how beautiful the garments are."Looking back at Covid, I think it was a double-edged sword," the designer says. "It made me feel I should not be mass producing, and should be more innovative."But Penny says that five years on from Covid, she feels "displaced". 'It was chaotic' Henal Chotai opened the Red Cup Cafe in Harrow with his wife Reena in 2015."It was a dream for me and my wife. It was our baby - we were here seven days a week."When Covid hit, the couple went into action to help the local community. "We gave out biscuits, sweets and care packages to nurses, doctors and the ambulance service. We also fundraised."The cafe also signed up to the Eat Out to Help Out programme, but Henal felt the scheme was "chaotic". "Everybody was taking advantage of it and we were trying to observe all the rules." Henal and his wife decided to close the cafe in 2022, due to the financial fallout from the pandemic. They took out a government loan, which they paid back, but rising bills made it financially unviable for the business to continue. "We managed to get through Covid but with the increases in prices, increase in rent... it was unsustainable. We had to put our heart to one side, and put a business head on." Five years on, Henal has mixed feelings."It brings back memories of a sad time, of not knowing what was going to happen next," he says."I look at the joyous moments that we had, the hundreds of people per day that we helped. It was a great opportunity."Henal has changed career and is now a life coach."I realised I had a good rapport with people and I was able to help them with their lives. I still want to help out the community." Henal believes the hospitality industry needs "drastic help". But with looming tax rises in April, businesses are facing further financial challenges. Henal says he wants the government "to reverse their decision on National Insurance, reduce VAT, look at the business rates".According to research by CGA and AlixPartners, there were almost exactly the same number of hospitality premises in 2024 as 12 months earlier. Karl Chessell, from CGA, says that "after thousands of net closures during Covid and the period of high inflation that followed, 2024 brought some welcome respite" but he warns "there was a constant turnover of sites, with a total of 4,078 closures and 4,085 openings. In other words, an average of 11 venues a day closed their doors."The Federation of Small Businesses wants the government to "set a target of supporting and encouraging 500,000 more small businesses to exist by January 2028 across the UK".It believes this could help take the small-business community back to its "pre-pandemic size of six million across the UK", would reduce "economic inactivity" and "cut the benefits bill". A government spokesperson said it recognised the "vital importance of small businesses to our economy" and was "protecting the smallest businesses from the employer National Insurance rise and late payments, and capping corporation tax".
