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Touch Move Inspire Create

Founder

Naila Hussain

Profile

Naila Hussain of Touch Move Inspire Create. I completed my degree in Business Information Technology at the University of Bradford in 2002 and then went on to qualify as a teacher. I have many years experience across the public, private and third sectors; ten years technical experience in the IT Industry and over fifteen years experience in training and education. Before setting up TMIC I worked for a number of public sector organisations including local authorities, universities and colleges, as well as several businesses - the common thread in all of them was the training and development of people to enhance their performance and increase productivity for the organisation.

I set up TMIC in October 2008 to capitalise on my people skills. I also wanted the challenge and fulfilment which comes with being able to work on a wide range of projects in a variety of contexts and to have the flexibility of working for myself.

What does your company do?

Touch, Move, Inspire, Create is a training and development consultancy which focuses on delivering personal and professional effectiveness programmes to the business and education sector. This involves delivering training programmes in areas such as effective communication, motivation, the business case for diversity, building productive relationships, and enterprise training. Each organisation I work with has its own set of distinct characteristics, cultures and priorities and so I design each programme according to the organisation's specific needs and then support them through mentoring and coaching, either in a group or on a one-to-one basis.

Another part of my business is project management where I get to put into practice the skills that I teach on a day to day basis. This not only helps me stay in touch with what is going on out there but also ensures that my training courses stay relevant and up to the minute. Over the past year I have organised events which have enabled universities, businesses and other organisations to raise their profile and engage with their key stakeholders. This has helped these organisations to achieve their targets and reach potential clients and customers.

What has ThinkBusiness@Bradford done to help you develop?

Being in business is often a lonely place so I really valued being able to call on people for honest feedback and advice.

As well as benefiting from first class business coaching, the programme opened doors for me, helped me to think about my services in a corporate context and exposed me to networks and organisations I might not otherwise have known about.

What's been your biggest success?

Naila Hussain of TMIC. Leaving full time employment to start a business can be a daunting prospect for most people. The key success for me has been having continuous work from the moment I set up; all of which has come through recommendations. This means a lot to me because I get to work in a profession which I am passionate about and means that my contribution is valued.

In terms of projects; in 2009 I organised the Faith and the City programme for the University of Bradford which was a series of thought provoking and challenging discussions, performances and exhibitions led by authorities and critiques in the broad field of religion and politics. The University wanted to raise the level of debate among key sections of the communities to encourage them to collectively think about difficult issues around cohesion, faith, politics and values - which could then be shared. In June 2009 I project managed an event on the topic of Human Rights and invited Shami Chakrabarti, Director of Liberty (The National Council for Civil Liberties) to Bradford. The event attracted over 750 people to the University. The feedback was excellent and the event was deemed a huge success.

What's been the hardest thing you've had to cope with?

Trying to be in ten places at once! When you're working on your own the demands on your time are numerous. Sometimes I could do with 10 of me! Being able to communicate effectively and to work efficiently has been pivotal in helping me to priortise multiple complexities.

What advice would you give other new businesses?

Never be afraid to ask for help and advice - just because you run a business doesn't mean you have to know it all.

It's very important to keep learning and developing throughout your business career. It's also critical to stay focused and believe in yourself.

What plans do you have for the future of Touch Move Inspire Create?

Naila Hussain of Touch Move Inspire Create. I'd like to work with international clients.

Whilst I expect to expand my business and employ others to work with me, I think I'll always want to stay working 'at the coal-face'.

What would you like to see from ThinkBusiness@Bradford in the future?

Not everyone wants to run their own business but in today¿s world, everyone needs to be enterprising, so I'd like to see Think Business develop a training and support structure to run throughout the university, which students can access whether or not they want to set up their own business.