On reflection, if I were to summarise a year of being a director/entrepreneur/contractor/freelancer into two words it would be - happiness & balance.
I have been quiet on this blog for the past few years because I work in a corporate/commercial/consultancy world at the moment where I am not able to share as much as I used to about what we get up to! I will share stories and accounts here where I can.
Last year
I set up Leven Environmental Ltd on Companies House after changing the name many times in March 2024 as a way for me to work for myself. I had recently read Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout by Cal Newport and I had been speaking to a few friends about how to go out there on my own as a freelancer/contractor. I don't have all the skills for this but I was given an opportunity to become a contractor that would give me the flexibility I was longing for and I am learning along the way. Running two businesses means spinning plates (ALOT of them)—planning, marketing, admin, accounting, and a lot of trial and error. But it also means freedom, fulfilment, and the kind of growth you can’t get from playing it safe!
What does work look like for me?
This is how I summarise my professional marine science life, "An experienced Marine Environmental Manager with a robust Marine Field Scientist, Professional Skipper, and Diver background. I specialise in offshore wind farms, coastal development, noise abatement systems (NAS), fisheries engagement, and subsea cable consents, with a focus on intertidal, inshore, and offshore field science and benthic ecology. Proficient in polar regions, consultancy services, renewable energy projects, oceanography, robotics, sensors, sewage and microplastics research."
I currently work as a contractor through my Ltd business and I am seconded out from a company called Risktec to SSE Renewables. I work as an offshore consents manager on Dogger Bank A, B and C Offshore Wind Farms. Basically, a lawyer for the marine ecosystems right? I do this for 4 days a week from my laptop with the occasional site work. I am responsible for Supporting the Dogger Bank Projects across A, B and C and leading on Fisheries and Noise Abatement Systems work. I do this by providing strategic advice and offshore consents and environmental advisory support to assist in building safe, consented and licensed offshore infrastructure associated with the DBWF. I have also managed to add some science into my job. I am leading on a C-POD study on DBC alongside SMRU Consulting with part funding secured from Defra and The Crown Estate to measure porpoise response to piling to validate prePARED Moray West data - watch this space for the results!
The other side of my working life is as an Open Water Swim Coach. I am an STA Level 2 Open Water Coach based out of Ballachulish in the Scottish Highlands through my Swim With Saz sole trader business. I offer beginner and intermediate swim coaching or swim guidance. My aim is to progress people's swimming whilst making people safer and more confident in an open water environment.
I am absolutely loving being a swim coach. Watching people progress and get closer or to reach their goals is an amazing feeling! Book on through my website if you would like help progressing your open water swimming or want a guide!¬
Being an entrepreneur
I never wanted to be an Entrepreneur or a small business owner but for the past few years, I have felt almost trapped and controlled but not in the way you might think. Being a small business owner has given me flexibility, accountability, and control. For me, it takes the "people don't need to know where I am or why I am doing something" out of it. Honestly, the main thing for me is simple, instead of asking someone for permission to take a day off or a week off I can just do it with no justification needed. I know a weird thing to want to be able to control but it means that I can plan my hobbies, where I work and when I work around the weather, life commitments, meeting up with friends and families and heading off on adventures, travelling, making the best of a good weather day or going on an expedition.
I set up Leven Environmental Ltd as a way for me to work as a contractor. Due to some of the projects I work on, it needs to be a limited business so that I am insured through my liability insurance and I wanted to keep mine and Al's assets out of my work life. I then set up my sole trader swim business as a way to share my love of the marine world. How the wind and tide affect the safety of a swim is not known by many people who swim in open water, so I make that the focus of my teaching whilst also developing technique and efficiency whilst swimming outside.
The biggest thing for me is the classic new millennial thing of having a work/life balance. But seriously, I am loving fitting working life into a 4 day week and then having 3 days to play, catch up on life admin, bake, make sauerkraut, sleep in or read a book. Not having to rush around and see friends/family or cram stuff in has given me so much more capacity in my day-to-day life.
I am finishing with a few photos to remind myself of all the highlights of the year outside of work for when the going gets tough and I think, why did I go freelance....
Getting an underwater camera and enjoying freediving/snorkelling/swimming around Scotland
Mountain biking across Scotland and managing to do Moss Alley in Glencoe
Learning how to make fermented foods
Learning how to ski
Progressing my snowboarding and learning about avalanche terrain
Completing a running and mountaineering challenge - The Swift Half
Having a go at the Sky Cullin
Leading my first winter ice climb
On a weight loss and strength programme
In general, taking a step back from things that don't add to my life
Learning to stand up when surfing (the better photos are of Al...)
Set up the Loch Leven Sea Savers - a citizen science programme and got successful funding from HIE and Surfers Against sewage
Got an insurance share in a plane in Oban
Dan beat me in a sledge race and we almost completed the Ballachulish window light trail..
Cycled the Hebridean Way with my Freediving kit - exploring the land and sea
Completed an expedition around the TDC, love came landslides and high snow - see blog post before this one
Started a Podcast
Welcome to ’The 128 Project,’ where sporadically, we will bring you stories of regular individuals who turn their daily routines into remarkable experiences. What do you get up to in 128 hours away from work? We celebrate the extraordinary found in ordinary or not-so-ordinary adventures. The hours left outside a typical 9–5 job = 168 − 40 = 128 hours per week. That’s how much time you have left for everything else: sleep, hobbies, family, side projects, etc. How do you use those 128 hours? Get inspiration here!
Lastly, if you are thinking about going Freelance, what are you waiting for? :)
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