London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, Sep 14, 2025

How to survive a pandemic as a young entrepreneur

How to survive a pandemic as a young entrepreneur

Starting your own business as a young person can be a gamble.

It might be just you and a friend taking a risk to build your idea into something sustainable.

So what happens when a pandemic comes along?

Three entrepreneurs tell Radio 1 Newsbeat how they managed to adapt their businesses to the "new normal" - and give their tips if you're hoping to go it alone too.

Zoe Lucock


'Don't be afraid to ask for help'

"There is no right time to start a business, you just don't know what's around the corner", food truck owner Zoe Lucock says.

The 28-year-old runs Trailer Trash with her mate Jessica Buckley.


Zoe and Jess' food truck company Trailer Trash had all their business cancelled in 2020.


Before the coronavirus pandemic, the pair had their summer booked up serving burgers and cocktails at weddings and festivals.

But thanks to lockdown it was all cancelled, so they started looking for something more stable that would provide an income.

They decided to throw their energy - along with some savings - into changing their business. So they bought an old train carriage and recruited some friends who were furloughed to help renovate it into a café.

It now sits on a old train line in Stratford and they serve take-away coffees to passing dog walkers and cyclists.

"Everyone is feeling safer outside, which is what we can offer, with outdoor seating and take-aways", Zoe says. "Without having the breathing space and time to do it I don't think we would have taken it on."


Zoe and Jess are now renovating a disused train carriage and turning it into a café.


Zoe says you should never be afraid to ask for help "whether that's from the county council, government grants or loans" to support your plans.

Feedback from friends, family and existing customers helps too. "Take on positives that you hear, and just go for it," she adds.

The friends have plans to turn it into a proper café, serving food and wine, and they hope it will last as a long-term approach.

"We know we can adapt this business model if we go into another lockdown," Zoe says.

Keaton Rich


'Broaden your horizons to get work'

Like Zoe, Keaton Rich's entire year of work was cancelled. He's a photographer who shoots artists at gigs, festivals and events all over the world.

"I realised if I couldn't go outside and take photographs, I'd have to go and do something else," the 25-year-old tells Newsbeat.


Keaton had to go back to basics and reinvent his business when lockdown hit.


So he fell back on other skills he had and added these to his company's portfolio.

"I went back into my old path of graphic design, designing and rebranding websites, consultancy. It means in the long run I can make a similar salary as when I take photos."

Keaton's taken on jobs he wouldn't normally have done in order to pay the bills, and says you should put "ego" aside.

And diversifying what he does has ended up been a positive step.

As well as taking on new clients - from fashion to insurance - he's ended up doing unexpected jobs he loved, including designing a vintage football shirt.


He says when you work for yourself you've got to take every opportunity you see.

"I don't know if we're all going to go out and do our day to day jobs in the future. But there's a way to put yourself in a better position by taking jobs that come your way. Always ask for feedback, don't be afraid."

Emily Hale


'It's about being agile, adapting and being innovative'

For some people, the pandemic has given them the drive to quit their "9 to 5" job and start a business.

Emily Hale was furloughed from her marketing job in March, which she says gave her the time to build her pilates brand online.

She was already teaching some pilates in her spare time, and just before she was furloughed she was asked to do a live class for Gymshark.

"That really gave me the confidence, that I could succeed as a pilates teacher," the 22-year-old says.


Emily started streaming more classes online after she was furloughed.


Emily had scoliosis and as a result, had back braces fitted, so she found traditional styles of pilates didn't work for her.

She started exploring different techniques that worked for people with back conditions.

"I made myself a website and I started to post more content and videos."


Emily turned a spare room at her mum's into a pilates studio.


In lockdown she redecorated a spare room at her mum's house, and turned it into a studio.

She started streaming more classes and quickly got booked up.

So she quit her marketing job to focus full time on teaching - and now makes more money from her bedroom than she did in her previous role.

If you're thinking of becoming self-employed, Emily says starting an online business is a sensible move.

"Fitness was completely offline until a few years ago, but now there's been an explosion in fitness apps and zoom classes - helped by lockdown.

"It's obviously a big challenge being at the start of a business during this pandemic, but it's really helpful being online - it means you can change your strategy and how you operate with a click of a button."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
French Debt Downgrade Piles Pressure on Macron’s New Prime Minister
US and UK Near Tech, Nuclear and Whisky Deals Ahead of Trump Trip
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
Anesthesiologist Left Operation Mid-Surgery to Have Sex with Nurse
Tens of Thousands of Young Chinese Get Up Every Morning and Go to Work Where They Do Nothing
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
The German Owner of Politico Mathias Döpfner Eyes Further U.S. Media Expansion After Axel Springer Restructuring
Suspect Arrested: Utah Man in Custody for Charlie Kirk’s Fatal Shooting
In a politically motivated trial: Bolsonaro Sentenced to 27 Years for Plotting Coup After 2022 Defeat
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Turkish authorities seize leading broadcaster amid fraud and tax investigation
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
ChatGPT CEO signals policy to alert authorities over suicidal youth after teen’s death
The British legal mafia hit back: Banksy mural of judge beating protester is scrubbed from London court
Surpassing Musk: Larry Ellison becomes the richest man in the world
Embarrassment for Starmer: He fired the ambassador photographed on Epstein’s 'pedophile island'
Manhunt after 'skilled sniper' shot Charlie Kirk. Footage: Suspect running on rooftop during panic
Effective Protest Results: Nepal’s Prime Minister Resigns as Youth-Led Unrest Shakes the Nation
Qatari prime minister says Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages
King Charles and Prince Harry Share First In-Person Moment in 19 Months
Starmer Establishes Economic ‘Budget Board’ to Centralise Policy and Rebuild Business Trust
France Erupts in Mass ‘Block Everything’ Protests on New PM’s First Day
Poland Shoots Down Russian Drones in Airspace Violation During Ukraine Attack
Brazilian police say ex-President Bolsonaro had planned to flee to Argentina seeking asylum
Trinidad Leader Applauds U.S. Naval Strike and Advocates Forceful Action Against Traffickers
Kim Jong Un Oversees Final Test of New High-Thrust Solid-Fuel Rocket Engine
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Macron Appoints Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister Amid Budget Crisis and Political Turmoil
Supreme Court temporarily allows Trump to pause billions in foreign aid
Charlie Sheen says his father, Martin Sheen, turned him in to the police: 'The greatest betrayal possible'
Vatican hosts first Catholic LGBTQ pilgrimage
Apple Unveils iPhone 17 Series, iPhone Air, Apple Watch 11 and More at 'Awe Dropping' Event
Pig Heads Left Outside Multiple Paris Mosques in Outrage-Inducing Acts
Nvidia’s ‘Wow’ Factor Is Fading. The AI chip giant used to beat Wall Street expectations for earnings by a substantial margin. That trajectory is coming down to earth.
France joins Eurozone’s ‘periphery’ as turmoil deepens, say investors
On the Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s Death: Prince Harry Returns to Britain
France Faces New Political Crisis, again, as Prime Minister Bayrou Pushed Out
Murdoch Family Finalises $3.3 Billion Succession Pact, Ensuring Eldest Son’s Leadership
Big Oil Slashes Jobs and Investments Amid Prolonged Low Crude Prices
Court Staff Cover Up Banksy Image of Judge Beating a Protester
Social Media Access Curtailed in Turkey After CHP Calls for Rallies Following Police Blockade of Istanbul Headquarters
Nayib Bukele Points Out Belgian Hypocrisy as Brussels Considers Sending Army into the Streets
Elon Musk Poised to Become First Trillionaire Under Ambitious Tesla Pay Plan
France, at an Impasse, Heads Toward Another Government Collapse
Burning the Minister’s House Helped Protesters to Win Justice: Prabowo Fires Finance Minister in Wake of Indonesia Protests
Brazil Braces for Fallout from Bolsonaro Trial by corrupted judge
The Country That Got Too Rich? Public Spending Dominates Norway Election
Nearly 40 Years Later: Nike Changes the Legendary Slogan Just Do It
×