Pub talk can often lead to many awkward situations, but one such chat for Caryl Thomas led her to starting her own business.
Ms Thomas’ husband Fred and his friend Dave Marsh, Operations Manager Bristol-based company The HR Department, were out for a few drinks last year.
She explained: “Dave’s son and mine go to day care together. The dads were chatting about The HR Department over a few beers one evening and Fred, who also runs his own business, knew I was thinking about leaving corporate life. He thought it sounded ideal for me.
“Having spent my entire career working in corporates, I wasn’t sure that self-employment was for me. But I went over to Bristol for a discovery day and I was sold. A couple of months later, I’m running my own business.
“It’s completely different to the corporate life I had before, but I love it already. Meeting a variety of people, getting out and about and working with different businesses in varying sectors means that no two days are the same.”
Ms Thomas, 38, and originally from Aberdare, has now based her branch of The HR Department, which is stylised as The HR Dept, at Welsh ICE, on Caerphilly Business Park.
Her franchise, which is part of a network of 80 nationwide, will concentrate on the Valleys and the west of Cardiff.