A Cheltenham man who struggled to find work after being diagnosed with Tourette’s Syndrome has seen his bedroom start-up achieve a six-figure turnover – and has now opened his first premises.
Luke Manton, founder of virtual PA providers Manton Executives, has opened the business’s first permanent premises on the back of recent growth, and welcomed two permanent team members as part of ongoing expansion.
Luke, who is 30 and grew up in Cheltenham, suffered brain damage and was diagnosed with Adult-Onset Tourette’s Syndrome in 2018. After a year-long job search proved unsuccessful, Luke decided to put his marketing and events experience to use and launched Manton Executives in 2020.
The business provides ad-hoc support with a range of online business tasks, from email and calendar management to video conferencing support and social media brand building, operating as a virtual PA from an hour per day.
Now, two years on from its launch, the business has a three-month waiting list for its services, which Luke and his team provide to businesses of all sizes as well as social media influencers and entrepreneurs.
Luke said: “It’s been a rollercoaster couple of years for the business from the uncertainty of setting up, dealing with lockdown, and then building a client base to now expanding, and having our first premises. It’s another huge milestone for us after achieving six-figure turnover this summer.
“It was a tough time for me before I set up the business. I had faced a lot of rejection and had put that down to my Tourette’s, so setting up on my own and then being successful has been a really positive experience, if challenging at times.
“I used to work on this site, and when I heard there was a unit available here, we reached out on a Wednesday and had signed for it on the Friday. It was a very quick decision, and now it really feels like the beating heart of the business as we continue to grow.”
“We want our office space to feel as much like a home as possible – a place that you look forward to working in and has a relaxed feel to it, as well as being inviting and comfortable for our clients.
“It’s all part of a collaborative, flexible working culture that we are building here and that really feeds into our interactions with our clients whether online or in person.”
Space Business Centres Gloucester and Cheltenham are owned by property development company AC Lloyd and offer flexible, multi-use units ranging from 275 to 775 sq ft.
Lucy Iles, site manager at Space Gloucester and Cheltenham, said: “Luke and his team are a fantastic addition to the Space business community, and a prime example of how our units are a great fit for business owners looking to open their first premises.
“The growth that Luke has overseen over the last couple of years is incredible, and we are thrilled to be playing a part in the next phase of his growth.”
For more information about Manton Executives visit www.mantonexecutives.com
To find out more about AC Lloyd Space Business Centres, visit www.aclloydspacebc.com
Pictured: Katie Dutton, Luke Manton and Jane Gillings of Manton Executives