They have known each other through their school and university days. Now an enterprising group of friends have set up their own separate businesses after being unable to find the graduate jobs they were looking for.
Four of the five went to university and returned to Leicestershire hoping to start their careers.
Instead, the former Beauchamp College pupils, all aged 26 and 27, have launched enterprises in a variety of industries, from car servicing and printing to clothing and handbags.
Despite the challenges, all said they were enjoying being their own bosses.
James Kent, who has started up a website business, said: "Four of us have been to university and came back to Leicestershire, tried to find graduate employment and have set up on our own instead.
"We are all very ambitious and hoping to grow and, hopefully, employ staff should things continue the way we are hoping."
James and friend Sean Arnold have developed website mytimingbelt.com that tells users when a vehicle's cam belt or timing belt is due for replacement.
By typing in the make and model of car, the website calculates when its belt needs replacing.
Using manufacturers' guidelines, the pair spent six months building up a database of every car on the road.
They are joining up with smaller garages, which will advertise their services on the site.
James said: "I have had a few nationwide companies that have wanted me to book their service with them, but I've said no so far because I want to build it up in the local area.
"It can cost up to £1,000 to fix a cam belt because of the damage it can cause to the car when it snaps and £300 to change it, so it's a useful service.
"It is popular with car dealers and consumers.
"Since we launched the website in January, we have had on average 200 hits a day but now we have been getting 1,000."
Fais Alwarith used to organise club nights when he was a student at Lincoln University and would have T-shirts printed to advertise the events.
To save on printing costs, he and his friends clubbed together to buy a printing machine and started customising the T-shirts themselves.
Over the next two years, Fais bought other items of machinery and printed T-shirts for family and friends.
After leaving university, he started work in an HSBC call centre but disliked doing a "nine to five corporate job".
So he decided to turn his T-shirt printing hobby into a business and ploughed his savings into his shop Print Wizards, in Welford Road, Leicester, which opened last month.
As well as printing T-shirts, Fais personalises items including flip flops and iPhone cases.
He said: "Business is good, better than I expected.
"I'm enjoying doing things my way.
"I thought 'if I don't do this now and wait five years, I will never do it and then I'll regret it'.
"I thought, 'what's the worst that can happen?"
Fais said when he meets up with his friends, talk usually turns to their businesses.
"We give each other ideas. If you are thinking about setting up a business your idea needs to be realistic. You should share with people."
Michael Karageorge decided not to go to university and is now helping to build his fashion business into a "multi-million-pound" enterprise.
After college, he spent several years working as a manager of a clothes shop in Mansfield, but had a dream to run his own business.
He has gone into partnership with his brother, selling men's designer clothes.
Since Michael came on board, the pair have extended their shop, The Business, in Welford Road, Leicester, and expanded the range of clothes to include younger, more fashionable labels.
Michael said: "The two of us do it all.
"It has been difficult. When we were having the extension built, we got broken into and had stock taken, but it's been worth it.
"I got told at school I wouldn't amount to much and I wanted to make something of myself."
Maz Alwarith said he always had an entrepreneurial streak.
"Even when I was at school I used to bring things in to sell."
Two years ago, Maz set up La Maison de Sacs selling handbags and other accessories online and at his shop in Francis Street, Stoneygate, Leicester.
He decided to take the plunge after some soul searching.
"When I graduated, I was a bit lost," said Maz.
"You think jobs are going to be lined up but it's not like that."
Over the past two years, he and his business partner have built up the business.
They stock brands including Vivienne Westwood, Lulu Guinness and Zatchels.
Maz said: "We've come a long way. We set up during the recession and it took a month to sell our first item.
"We had a small offering at first, but now we are dealing with some big names."
Source: Thisisleicestershire, Tuesday 10th April 2012
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