NEW YEAR NEW CAREER

Starting a new job is always a challenge, but these women prove it's never too late

- ASHLEIGH PAGE

'I followed my dad's parting advice'

Julie Britton, 50, runs dog grooming business the Mutts Nutts ltd and lives in Newdigate, Surrey, with her partner Jason, 50.

Three years ago my life felt like it was crumbling. I was dealing with the devastating loss of my dad after his battle with dementia, my marriage had fallen apart and my daughter Samantha, 27, had contracted life-threatening meningitis. As a single mum, I felt sad, lonely and scared and all I could do was wish and hope that Samantha would survive.

Thankfully, she did, but coming so close to losing her had shown me how terrifyingly short life can be.

I had been working hard at my gardening business for 20 years and had always enjoyed it, but it never felt like my true calling. 'You should work with dogs, Dad had always said, and those words always stayed with me. I'd always loved helping him with his gang of nine rescue dogs. But it never seemed like the right time to start a new career.

KIND ENCOURAGEMENT

Then in 2019, I met Jason, then 48. My mum's next-door neighbour, he was funny and kind and had helped her fix her car. We fell for each other and it wasn't long before we were serious.

Dad's words still sounded in the back of my mind, though, and when Jason bought me a beautiful cocker spaniel we named Honey, I knew it was time to do something about it. I'll pay for you to do a dog grooming course, Jason grinned.

Spurred on, I signed up to a course at Bone Idol Grooming Academy for April 2019. But as the starting date neared, I began to feel really nervous. Was 48 too old to be going back to school?

Waking up full of nerves on my first day on the course, I nearly convinced myself out of going along. But gritting my teeth, I plucked up the courage and headed to class. And I'm so glad I did.