3302 Starting a business - possible ideas

Just floating this idea out there.....

Anyone have any ideas of a business that could be done either in the UK or Italy with hopefully collaboration between the two countries. For example importing a certain product that one needs in either country. I know this is an ambitious question - it's just that I don't have much imagination but would love to start my own business and have some skills I could utilse.

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Cercasi Lavoro - Employment Questions

[QUOTE=Poverino]I don't have much imagination but would love to start my own business and have some skills I could utilse.[/QUOTE]

It would help if you told everyone what skills and interests you have.

Well I'm a numerate guy with an Engineering degree and 3 years working for a Non-destructive testing engineering company. I develop an electromagnetic non-contacting stress measurement system. I have good writing skills. I have taught English to business students in Italy and have done lots of onsite presentations to oil and gas execs. I can also weld.

So that's for starters. My main passion is trading the stockmarket using futures strategies. This takes up most of my time.

Those are my skills and interests.

Thanks for that Andy. I'm not a chartered engineer unfortunately so that may put a fly in the ointment. Is the EurIng a must or do any engineering companies recognise English qualifications? They certainly should given what I've heard about the Italian university system. I would have thought there would be at least some opportunities for English professional engineers with italian language skills. I applied to Eni but as usual they didn't get back to me.

Sorry to appear to be a bit thick here, but if you are trading futures whay do you need another job?

[QUOTE=Relaxed]Sorry to appear to be a bit thick here, but if you are trading futures whay do you need another job?[/QUOTE]

You took the words right out of my mouth (or away from my fingertips).

If your passion is for trading futures, and you can make a profit trading futures, then all you need is a broadband connection anywhere in the world and you can trade. Why would you want to struggle to find something engineering-related in a country with no shortage of engineers and a big shortage of jobs, or getting paid a pittance as an English teacher. Stick with what you know and enjoy.

I guess you two guys have never tried trading futures then!

It is extremely difficult. My ultimate aim is to do this professionally. But I'm not sure I will ever achieve it. Thanks for the encouragement.

[QUOTE=Poverino]I guess you two guys have never tried trading futures then!

It is extremely difficult. My ultimate aim is to do this professionally. But I'm not sure I will ever achieve it. Thanks for the encouragement.[/QUOTE]

Well you should try to work to your strengths then - outside of your career field, what do you do for fun? Is there anything there that could be developed further into a parallel income stream?

Well I'm a bit of Jack of trade master of none. I see alot of programmes on tv showing people starting businesses that are absolute disasters. I am a realist enough to not want to do this. At the same time I don't have the optimism that my ideas may succeed. We have become quite a polarised nation in England in terms of skills. I used to make electric violins a few years ago, but the commercially it is not very viable with the japanese market now. I could install bespoke satellite systems for expats but that is more suited to Spain I think. In short I really don't know what I could do. My best idea was to buy a language school but it is difficult knowing the intrinsic value in business. I guess I'm just not imaginative.