Anya Ledwith - The Green Goddess
Anya is as much at home on site in a depot, as she is at the board room table. She runs ESHCon, an environmental management consultancy, which advises businesses on how to improve energy efficiency, reduce waste and increase profits. "Having set up the business and seeing it work has made me realise I can do it as well, if not better, than anyone else."
The inspiration
Anya, is an expert in environmental management, and often came across companies that wanted to reduce their environmental impact, but didn’t know where to start. She realised this was a potential business opportunity and decided to start up a consultancy providing advice and practical guidance.
Getting started
"I relished the chance of experiencing the variety and different aspects of running a business,” says Anya. "I knew I needed the right qualifications and personal skills before I launched. Advising companies on what where they need to improve or on legal matters requires authority. I qualified as a Chartered Environmentalist and learned to sound and act more assertively to increase credibility."
And it worked! Anya started ESHCon in 2006 and has built a successful business. "Since creating ESHCon five years ago, I’ve worked with numerous companies of all sizes and in all sectors, helping them achieve real benefits in terms of cost savings and changing attitudes. As my logo says, this is effective environmental management."
Anya's top tips
- Prepare well: Take time to plan your business properly before you press ahead.
- Be confident: Have self-belief. Don’t be afraid of a few setbacks.
- Get a business mentor: They’ll be an invaluable sounding board and source of encouragement.
