'Getting locked out inspired me to start new app'

Adam Graham wants to inspire other people to start their own businesses

An entrepreneur said getting locked out of his house during the Covid-19 pandemic inspired him to start a business helping people with odd jobs

Adam Graham returned from a dog walk in 2020 to find he could not get into his home in Theydon Bois, Essex.

Unable to find a locksmith, the 46-year-old said his blunder inspired him to find a positive among the "bleakness" of lockdown, and he created an app that matched customers with trade workers in real time.

"I was wondering what to do next with my own life and this gave me a bit of purpose, something to really get my teeth into," he said.

Mr Graham said he wanted to use his story to inspire others to take the plunge and start their own business.

"It was a good stimulus at what was a bleak time for me personally, as I'd been out of work for a while," he added.

"So many business ideas are borne out of personal experience, challenge or opportunities that people face."

'Go down swinging'

Mr Graham, who is now the chief executive of his company JustFix, said perfecting it was his lockdown passion project.

It did not come without bumps in the road for the father of three, however.

He was left in "financial dire straits" after several of his other firms failed and he had a job offer cancelled due to the pandemic.

Mr Graham said he became "obsessed" with the challenge he set himself, and hoped it would inspire others to work towards their own goals.

"I came to the conclusion that starting the business was less risky than hoping someone else would give me a job," he added.

"I took the view I'd rather go down swinging and on my own terms, at least then I'd be in control of the risk."