TGt Meets... Fiona Scott

We spent some time chatting with Fiona Scott, a hugely respected businesswoman specialising in media consultancy. We chatted to her about her business, what advice she'd give to others, and all the benefits of setting up a business in Swindon.

What inspired you to set up your business here in Swindon?
I have lived and worked in and around Swindon for more than 25 years. It’s a fantastic place to do business and to be based as it’s easy to get to anywhere else as the transport links are so good. Though it is often maligned, I love the town and all it has to offer. It’s a great place to do business if you take time to be part of the community.

Describe your business in 3 words…
Stories, people, profits.

What advice would you give anyone looking to do the same?
Do some research, take action and set realistic expectations. Get rid of rose-tinted glasses. Seek help for anything you don’t understand. Don’t expect stuff for free all of the time and recognise and nurture key business relationships. Also understand that nothing is achieved by being alone – all of us need others to grow and develop. No matter how large or small our enterprise is…

What do you think attracts business people to Swindon?
It has a strong industrial heritage, it’s the economic powerhouse of Wiltshire and the manufacturing heart of the South West, it has great rail and road links and it has everything a family needs. It has talent in abundance at sole trader, SME and corporate levels.

How do you like to spend your time off?
With my family. I also love reading, walking and the cinema.

What have been your key challenges and how have you overcome them?
Understanding what it takes to actually run a business. People tend to focus on their service or product – I did – when actually they should focus on the business which needs to run effectively. The service or product should be good enough already. I overcame them by learning very quickly and later outsourcing the stuff I hate.

Your 2pm meeting has been cancelled, meaning you now have a two-hour lunch break. What do you do?
Get on the phone and catch up with people, write an extra story or blog post for my own PR.

Describe Swindon in three words...
Home, Diverse, Vibrant.

What has been your biggest achievement to date?
Personally, having a good marriage and raising four wonderful children between us. Professionally, always doing something I’ve loved and been paid for. Creating my own dream job over the last decade after losing my dream job through redundancy.

What are your plans for the future? More, to just do more. I never get tired of stories and people and sharing news (and yes I do expect to be paid too).