Not having a Ruff time of it
Leeds graduate beats the unemployment trend and makes a living selling her own dog biscuits
With highly competitive graduate schemes and a severe lack of jobs on offer, most of us would happily sign up for an extra year at uni.
But for one optimistic student, failure was never an option.
Philosophy graduate Sophie Tregellis used her dogged determination to turn a humble cooking hobby into a full-time job.
Did someone say dog eat dog? The cut-throat nature of the job market didn’t faze Sophie.
The inspirational graduate brushed aside the possibility of unemployment by starting up her new dog biscuit business, ‘Top Collar’.
The self-made entrepreneur, who had been making canine treats with her mum to sell at RSPCA, turned her charitable pastime into a business after the advice she gained at the careers office in Leeds.
She said: “I loved making and selling the biscuits but certainly had never thought about it being a serious business proposition.”
Like a dog with a bone: Sophie looks in her element with her new business
The careers team advised Sophie to visit Leeds Enterprise Centre, SPARK, on the university campus where she was given yet more encouragement to develop the idea further.
She remains grateful to Leeds Uni for her their support in setting up her business and hopes to expand her range next year to cater for cats.
“My university has been phenomenal and offers support for seven years to graduates even once they’ve left.”
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