What do you get if you combine dogs, aromatherapy, and a previous career in sales? If you are Elizabeth Newman, 59,  the answer is a new business selling an original line in aromatherapy shampoo for dogs. By combining her two great loves with her work experience, Elizabeth is now running “The Pampered Pooch”, which supplies luxury shampoo - – - read more >

With over 30 years of experience in the construction industry and 15 years service with the same employer, Tony was made redundant in October 2009. Since then, he applied for countless jobs but due to the recession and being over 50, the outcome was fruitless. He still had to maintain all his regular outgoings which - – - read more >

Made redundant at 52, and suffering from Myalgic Encephalopathy (ME), the Job Centre told Tony Palmer that his chances of paid employment were slim. Tony took matters into his own hands and started his own engraving business. Crystal Mountain Glass sells engraved awards, wedding gifts, decanters, bowls, and paperweights, as well as rock tablets with - – - read more >

Angela, 55, is a qualified Bowen massage therapist treating horses, dogs and people to help them with pain relief. She discovered the Bowen Technique as a client, having chronic pain issues herself following a car accident.        “It wasn’t a light bulb moment, more a growing awareness that this was possibly the way - – - read more >

Bob Rawal, 57, contacted PRIME in April 2010 and was sent a free start-up pack. Later that month he went onto apply for a Zopa-PRIME Olderpreneur loan. Bob decided to start up his own business after being made redundant twice in three years. Up until this point he had spent 35 years in the medical - – - read more >

Phil Butler 59, had spent 30 years working for various large companies in senior sales and marketing positions. He’d been responsible for negotiating and looking after major contracts in a long and varied career. He wanted to use his 30 years of experience to do something different but was not sure which direction to go - – - read more >

When PA, Sharon Lawrence, was made redundant at 50, she decided to go it alone and set up her own business as a virtual personal assistant (VPA). Flying Changes PA offers independent secretarial support for £19 – £23 an hour. Sharon says, ‘The more you stick at it, the better it gets. I would never - – - read more >

Olderpreneur Suzy Kilgour, 53 has become a specialist fitness instructor, after seven years in the charity sector. Suzy Kilgour runs Walking Workouts – a fitness business specialising in power walking and low impact body conditioning. Group sessions take place on Clapham Common and cost £14 an hour. Personal training comes in at £40 an hour, - – - read more >

A group of crafty over 50s have proved that four heads are better than one, by setting up creative resource website www.makeitandmendit.com. Clare Flynn, Clare O’Brien, Anne Caborn, and Hillary Bruffell joined forces in January 2009, and have since established a strong following of almost 2,500 people on social networking sites Facebook and Twitter.‘The business - – - read more >

After 30 years in finance and leasing, 58-year-old Robert White has started a new trade as a domestic energy assessor. West Bromwich man Bob spent 30 years in finance and leasing, as sales manager, business development manager, and managing director. With the recession the market declined, and Bob found himself made redundant three times in - – - read more >

Cousins Jackie Hatton, 52 and Denise Lever, 50 have set up a gift shop in Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire. The shop offers affordable country lifestyle gifts, which can be anything from handmade soap to second hand furniture. Taking it in turns to man the counter, Denise and Jackie each enjoy a three-four day week, and split - – - read more >

Fifty six year old Janet Wilks is earning £30,000 a year after starting a business in Belief Therapy. Janet, who lives in Leeds, helps people dismantle conscious and unconscious limiting beliefs, so that they can live a fuller life. Janet specialises in confidence building, personal development, and new businesses. Janet sees seven to ten people - – - read more >