Mr. Shu Haocheng, an Finance, Accounting and Management graduate of Nottingham University Business School China (NUBS China) shared with us his experience of starting a business with hard working and persistence.
During his time with NUBS China, Haocheng joined the student club SIFE UNNC (now renamed as Enactus) , which brought him valuable friendship and social practice opportunities. “I think my biggest achievement at NUBS China is making lot of good friends. In SIFE, Haocheng proactively developed an idea of setting up a foundation to help poor farmers in Ji’an, Jilin Province. Together with his teammates, they investigated the farmer’s debt, income and the workable land. Then they used their financial knowledge to calculate the annual needs and issue small interest-free loans. Meanwhile, they trained the farmers in marketing skills to help them sell ginseng. When the farmers sell ginseng and earn money, they should pay it back to the Foundation. This Project, together with another project, won the champion of China, then advanced to the world cup, and scooped up to second place in the world cup competition that year in Los Angeles.
After graduation from NUBS China, Haocheng was expected to take over the family business, but he felt he was not ready for managing more than 500 employees well. He started his own baking company named “Doctor” in 2015. He introduced that the meaning of the brand is twofold: a medical Doctor, which implies safety and health; and the Doctor as in the academic degree, which means professionalism and the highest standard. Combining these two meanings is just what Haocheng wants to deliver in his own brand. With the joint efforts of him and his employees, the company currently expanded to nine chain stores and a central kitchen. In running this business, Haocheng said he encountered many problems such as complaints, staff’s bribery, strikes and so on, but gained many experiences and improved his skills in dealing with these problems.
Haocheng will continue to expand his business and he is on the way of building a private enterprise.
As the saying goes, "God helps those who help themselves." Best luck to Shu Haocheng!