Plain sailing
"My business is serving people's needs and they respect me for that. Nobody has seen my disability as a barrier, so nor have I."
Bryher is the smallest of all the communities that can be found on the Isles of Scilly. The waters around Bryher are very safe and clear and ideal for diving and snorkelling. Daniel Bennett has turned these favourable waters to his advantage by setting up a business to serve local boat owners and the many tourists on sailing holidays.
When Daniel was 21 he lost the lower half of his right leg in an accident. His family had been connected with boats for many years and Daniel feared that his dream of following in that tradition would not be possible. But less than two years after his accident his business was up and running. Daniel realised that he could still pursue his ambitions, although he did need to accept certain limitations. He says: "Managing a boat hire and repair business can be very physical work. There's no escaping that. I had to accept that some things were not possible for me to do and that I would need the support of others. Thankfully I can now afford to hire seasonal workers for the busy times of the year, so my leg doesn't really affect running my business."
Bennett Boatyard has been trading for five years and a large part of its success comes from the way Daniel manages seasonal fluctuations. Throughout the year he provides a storage service for over 60 boats. During the summer months much of the focus is on the hire side of the business, with Daniel able to offer 14 boats to tourists. The winter months are quieter, which makes it the perfect time to refurbish and repair boats.
"Being part of a close-knit community has perhaps helped because I have received a lot of local support. My business is serving people's needs and they respect me for that. Nobody has seen my disability as a barrier, so nor have I."
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