Local Stories: Alis Rowe

Alis Rowe tells us how she set up her social enterprise to help people on the autistic spectrum and the people around them.

How would you describe your business in one sentence?

The organisation supports people on the autism spectrum and the people around them, using a variety of inspiring resources such as online courses and animated films.

When did you launch and who is behind it?

I launched the business in 2014. I'm an autistic author who lives in Richmond upon Thames.

When did your lightbulb moment happen?

After the large sales and very positive feedback about my autobiography, Asperger’s and Me, I felt inspired to write further books and create other educational resources.

What did you do prior to starting your business?

I had just left university with a chemistry degree. While I was considering what to do as a career, I was doing some internet work.

What would you say were the most challenging aspects of setting up the business?

Organising all the knowledge and insights I had about autism into meaningful, structured and helpful products for the public
Due to my autism, I find it very hard whenever I have to interact with people – either verbally or via email
The process of marketing my business effectively has been very tedious

The smartest career decision you made…

To make the business as self-sufficient as possible, for example, through selling products online as opposed to running face to face services.

The most difficult lesson you learnt...

Times change, demand changes. I have to continually adapt and evolve my skills as well as my products and services to keep up with these changes.

The best career advice you received…

It’s important to not feel alone in your business and to seek out people you can talk to about it.

What type of support have you received since starting your business?

I have participated in mentoring programmes through my bank as well as one to one mentoring.

What type of support have you received from the Council in relation to your business?

I have recently signed up to the Enterprise programme and have been working with a mentor.

What do you think residents can do to support their local businesses?

Residents can recommend local businesses to other people. Personal recommendations from the community are really powerful and help people to feel connected locally.

If you had the opportunity to do it all again, what would you do differently?

I would do the same things but in a different way. I learn by experience and through my experiences. I have created a lot of useful workflows to make my processes efficient, not make the same mistake twice, and to think things through extensively before starting a new project!

Top three tips you would give to aspiring entrepreneurs launching a business

Seek out some business mentoring
Find out whether there is a demand for your work. This is very important!
Keep yourself healthy, physically and mentally. Running a business is exhausting and isolating at times

Finish this sentence: I like being based in Richmond because…

I love the amount of green space in the borough. I like the easy transport links. I like the easy to access services, such as good hospitals. I like the development of cycle routes that have been happening over the years and hope for many more because I love riding my bike.