FOLLOWING a Budget that experts said provided little additional help for small businesses a Greek woman who has started a firm in Scotland says officials need to make it easier to access the support that is available.

Name:

Dr Katerina Vasilaki.

Age:

37.

What is your business called?

The Mediterranean Dietitian.

Where is it based? It is predominantly an online business but I also offer one-to-one consultations at The Glasgow Medical Rooms on St Vincent Street.

What services does it offer?

Nutritional information and dietetic services based around the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle via a website, blog, recipe collection and individual consultations. In 2018 I hope to release my first online nutrition course for people who want to learn more about healthy eating before deciding if they need one-to-one support. There will be a range of packages offered to make this experience affordable and comprehensive to everyone.

To whom does it sell? The general public. My clients come to me with a motivation to learn how they can change their eating and lifestyle.

What is its turnover?

I’ve spent the last two years designing what I think is a beautiful website and building my social media engagement. Now the fundamentals are in place, my aim is to generate a turnover of £50,000 by the end of 2018.

How many employees?

I am lucky to be my own boss and I’m a jack of all trades in that respect. I subcontract people on a freelance basis for additional support where needed.

When was it formed?

March 2015.

Why did you take the plunge?

I moved to Glasgow from Corfu in 2006 after accepting a PhD scholarship at the University of Glasgow investigating the impact of vitamins on people with critical illnesses. When I moved to the UK I immediately noticed the difference in food and the lifestyle choices that the people living here make. It struck me that this must be one of the reasons why people struggle with obesity and related chronic disease.

I was lucky to be born and bred on the beautiful island of Corfu in the north of Greece where I spent lots of my childhood with my maternal grandmother who had her own vegetable, fruit and animal farm. Cooking, meal times and local and seasonal produce were so key to my upbringing and that is something that is prevalent across so much of the Mediterranean region. I’ve always loved cooking so I decided to combine my scientific knowledge of nutrition and dietetics with the creation of healthy but tasty and easy dishes and make it into a website and blog. I speak to my grandmother regularly. She still grows all her own produce in Corfu - even though she’s in her 80’s!

What were you doing before you took the plunge?

In the final year of my PhD I met my husband, Colin, a surgeon who comes from Glasgow, and decided to stay in the city. Before I set up The Mediterranean Dietitian I was working as a researcher for the University of Glasgow investigating the nutritional needs of patients with pancreatic cancer. I loved supporting my patients but the research post didn’t offer me an outlet for my creativity. I became fascinated with photography and blogging and I started dreaming of creating my own online business. The Mediterranean Dietitian started as a hobby but over the past two years I’ve worked hard to turn it into a business.

How did you raise the start-up funding?

I have kept costs to a minimum by doing much of the work myself.

What was your biggest break?

When the founder of Glasgow Medical Rooms, Dr Sheila O’Neill gave me a nutrition clinic at her private GP practice. I love the place and the people and sharing stories of my Mediterranean upbringing with them.

What was your worst moment?

Falling into a trap of comparing myself and my business with others. It is never helpful - each and every one of us has a different path to walk. It took time for me to get the confidence I needed to do what I do.

What do you most enjoy about running the business?

Learning from different disciplines. The creativity in website design; the psychology of marketing; the art of food photography, and social media engagement. I am mesmerised by it all!

What do you least enjoy?

Times when technology lets me down.

What are your ambitions for the firm?

To turn The Mediterranean Dietitian into a health brand that incorporates a strong website presence, clinics for individualised support and a range of foods and products.

What could the Westminster and/or Scottish governments do that would help?

SMEs make up a large proportion of Scotland’s businesses. While it seems like lots of incentives and other forms of help are available, they are not always straightforward to find and should be better signposted online. I also think there could be more access to grants and funding for small businesses looking to expand.

What was the most valuable lesson that you learned?

It is always about WHY you are doing what you are doing. If the WHY is not strong enough or it is only around a prize, there will be no future of the business. You should have a driving force to keep you inspired through the rough times.

How do you relax?

I can think of nothing better than lying on a sandy beach of Corfu as the sun goes down on a summer day. Living in Glasgow, I try to find little moments of joy in simple things I share with my family and good friends, such as a glass of red wine in front of the fire. I absolutely love to cook and spend time with my nearest and dearest.