A Shropshire IT expert has swapped his computer for a paintbrush and ladder in a career move which has seen him launch his own business.
David Lloyd, who had worked in Local Government and various IT companies for the past 30 years, started painting and decorating as a hobby for friends and family but word of mouth recommendations saw it turn into a part-time role.
Now just 18 months later the 49-year-old father of three has taken the plunge and has become a full time decorator due to demand. He is already booked up for the next six months and is now talking to customers with regard to their pre-Christmas decorating requirements.
Mr Lloyd, who trades as David Lloyd Painting and Decorating, said the last 12 months had been phenomenal with word of mouth recommendations taking him right across the county and beyond.
Within 15 months he had attained a City and Guilds qualification in painting and decorating and had won recognition from Dulux as an accredited and approved Dulux decorator which recognises him for his standard of workmanship including preparation and finish and the professional way in which he runs the business.
“I never expected the business to grow so rapidly to the point I could give up my IT job. I get some very strange looks when I tell people I was previously in IT as it isn’t a natural progression.
“I find painting so therapeutic and take such pride in my work – if it isn’t perfect it isn’t worth doing or putting my name to it,” Mr Lloyd from Shrewsbury said.
“Every job I have done for someone has led to either a repeat booking for them or a referral to someone else which is unbelievable.
“I had one recommendation through Facebook in Lawley and quoted for three jobs on the same street on the back of it and as I was working at those properties I was stopped to ask to quote for three other jobs whilst I was there. It really has been unbelievable.
“People ringing now understand when I say I am booked up until October and repeat customers are booking my next slots without even deciding which room or job they want doing next!”
He hopes as the business has grown so quickly he will be able to give an opportunity to an apprentice in the next 12 months.
He said he would take great pride in training someone up to his level and ensuring his work ethos and standards were instilled in them from day one.
Mr Lloyd said the decorating allowed him to run his own diary and spend more time with his wife and children.
“Anyone who has met me already knows how important it is to me to do a job 110% but also offer great value for money,” he said.
“People who have previously done their own decorating have realised sometimes it isn’t economical for them to take their time off from their own businesses or use their limited annual leave, whilst others have realised family time is so precious they book me in whilst they take their children on holiday which is great and come back to a newly decorated room or whole house in some cases.”
Mr Lloyd said after spending much of the winter with interior decorating he was looking to the warmer and drier weather where he would start on external jobs including garage doors and external woodwork.