I began to work in the bird control industry and saw an opportunity to do it bigger and better. I had no qualifications in business but I did have a lot of drive and determination. I got a lot of things wrong but I always tried my hardest and now 6 years later my company has become successful and is growing rapidly.

Learn a great deal about accounting and finance - this is where I went wrong! Accept any help given to you and be proud of yourself for trying even when success evades you time and time again.

Layla Bennett - Hawksdrift Falconry

I was awarded recognition of Women of Achievement by the Woman of the Year Awards in and appeared on BBC2's Dragons Den in 2010 and secured an investment with Duncan Bannatyne.

The cash flow was a major issue, for the first 3 years I kept part time jobs and juggled it all around to make my business work financially. Sadly, I also learnt it is very difficult to gain respect as a young female in a male dominated industry.

Hawksdrift is growing rapidly, in 5-10 years time I expect to be covering the whole of England and Wales with 20-30 employees.