Your Business Magazine 2022 - 48

Alex Sergent, 38, is the founder of
Catch Creative, a London-based
creative fi lm and animation company
Have you always wanted to run
your own business?
I've always had big aspirations, but
having an innate goal is what drives me.
I set up my first business while I was at
university, a charity that helped engage
young people with politics and convey
their views and frustrations. It was
something I felt very passionate about.
What hurdles have you overcome
to get where you are today?
Suffering with
obsessive
compulsive
disorder (OCD)
has been my
most consistent
obstacle. It's
underpinned
most of my adult
life, and at times
it can make
you feel totally
paralysed.
I've tried a bit
of everything
from medication
to a trusted
talking therapist,
who has really
helped. A
disastrous
How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I studied politics at university and while I was finishing my
postgrad in broadcast journalism, I got a job at the BBC working
on 5 Live and big shows like Radio 4's Today programme. It gave
me such good grounding - I was scripting, coming up with stories,
pitching video ideas and more.
It felt like a natural progression to use my experience to turn
the charity, which had been affected by the recession, into a profitmaking
video production company. I was ready to grow my own
business that I hoped would ultimately make me a decent living.
What has been the biggest challenge during the process?
Simply getting the right people on board.
And the biggest surprise?
" My past
experiences
allow me to
overcome
Getting such big clients in the early days - saying we worked
with Diet Coke and Barclays and celebrities such
as Jude Law was a bit of a wow moment! You
then get more complacent as time moves on!
What has been the toughest part of the past year?
Starting back up again after the impact of Covid.
Like many businesses, we were really affected.
There was very little filming and companies
weren't spending, so we bore the brunt.
even the most
diffi cult life
circumstances "
divorce between my parents, eviction
from the family home and my mother's
mental health also stopped me going
to school. But I found it in me to get
the essential qualifications I needed in
the end. These experiences allow me
to overcome even the most difficult
life circumstances I find myself in.
Has anyone in particular inspired you?
Tony Blair - not necessarily for his
political decisions, but for his marketing
achievements, motivational speaking and
charisma. My dad got me interested in
politics in my teens and I was inspired by
the prospect of change and getting people
to think differently. But it was my mum
who gave me such strong self-belief. Her
enthusiasm and positive outlook always
made me feel like I was invincible.
48
And what has been the best part?
Being able to take on interns again and finding new
talent. We've used the Kickstart scheme and it's
great to see what the next generation has to offer.
There are definitely some good ones out there!
What is the best business advice you've been given?
I'm not someone who reads self-help books, but I've
often held in mind the idea that you shouldn't run
before you can walk. And take the time to get to know
and trust the people you're going to work with.
Did you apply for any loans or get help from the government?
I did get a business grant from the University of Hull. I got £1,000
as part of their enterprise scheme.
What's your next goal?
Thanks to my experience in founding an app and fundraising half
a million pounds to help it grow during the pandemic, we now
want Catch Creative to specialise in this field. The next goal for us
is to become the go-to film and animation company for startups
and apps. We know what it takes because we've been there.
Have you managed to achieve a good work-life balance?
Exercise is key - if you can force yourself to take a walk or a run
every morning, your day will be so much better. And I am finally
getting better at finding balance. At weekends, I now put my phone
away - well, most of the time!
For more information, visit catchcreative.co.uk
http://catchcreative.co.uk
Your Business Magazine 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Your Business Magazine 2022
