“Remember why you started… when things get difficult and you want to give up, stop. Take a deep breath and think about why you started this journey in the first place. Hold on to that and keep going. Don’t give up.”
Professor Allison Harrison was appointed as the second Entrepreneur in Residence at The University of Stirling Management School in 2021 to support students, staff and alumni with practical advice and mentorship for their business ambitions. Keep scrolling to read about her incredible entrepreneurial journey:
Following over 15 years in the corporate world, working in sales and business development in the Alcoholic Drinks industry, Allison took on her own business in 2014, growing it steadily until 2017 when she scaled up her business substantially, taking on a beautiful new location and growing her yoga studio into one of the largest yoga businesses in Scotland.
Q. Please tell us about your business (including the business name):
Hot Yoga Edinburgh is a friendly, inclusive yoga studio based in the centre of Edinburgh which runs a wide range of yoga classes as well as teacher training and CPD courses for yoga teachers.
Q. What motivated you to start your own business?
After many years of successfully navigating the corporate world, I felt like there must be more to life than the endless deadlines and targets. I wanted to do something which made a real difference to people’s lives, giving them tools to feel better. I wanted to support my local community and offer something meaningful to people, helping them to live healthier and happier lives.
Q. What has been one of the biggest challenges you have overcome?
Navigating my way through our rapid expansion was a steep learning curve, and it was followed almost immediately by 3 years of extreme challenges caused by the pandemic. Keeping my business afloat, my team in work and keeping my business relevant for our clients through 13 months of closure following by 18 months of ongoing restrictions and challenges was very tough and required a huge amount of resilience. But thanks to my team, our clients, and my incredible support network I was able to make it through and Hot Yoga Edinburgh is emerging stronger than ever.
Q. What has been the most rewarding aspect of your journey?
Seeing the difference we make to people means the world to me. I see people arrive for yoga class looking stressed and tense and see them leave after class looking happy and relaxed and ready to face the day.
Q. Have you been able to take advantage of The Enterprise Programme?
The Enterprise Programme has offered me incredible information and support as well as practical help.
Q. What is one piece of advice you would give to aspiring entrepreneurs?
“Remember why you started… when things get difficult and you want to give up, stop. Take a deep breath and think about why you started this journey in the first place. Hold on to that and keep going. Don’t give up.”