We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Margaret Roy a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Margaret thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory of how you established your own practice.

After completing a training-course which lasted two and a half years, I gained my qualification as a Foot-care practitioner and made plans to set up my own private practice. I knew that I needed some finance behind me so that I could start a small business and be self-employed. A key challenge is that it takes time to build up a business and to get income from it.

I managed to acquire a small amount of funding, through a local government scheme to help new businesses, so that I could buy podiatry instruments and equipment. To earn some money, I also began some sessional work as a Support Worker with Alzheimer Scotland, to give one on one support to people with Dementia in their homes. I already had experience of this type of work from a previous employment. It was a challenge to work out time management so that I would be able to devote my main energies to getting my Footcare practice established and growing.

At the start of my self-employment, I sought out contacts amongst my friends and church members, and soon built up a small client base. This has continued to grow and develop over the past 26 years.
My advice to those considering setting up a practice is to get qualifications, work at making contacts and ensure you have some finance to support you as your practice grows.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I have always enjoyed writing, both at High School and at University. It was usually written pieces to do with my school or university work so it was mainly factual material and non-fiction. I always enjoyed compiling project books about different topics which I added my own artwork or pictures cut out of magazines and brochures.

My first degree at university was in Zoology where I specialised in studying pests and parasites of animals and agricultural plants. In the final year, we had to carry out our own research project and then write up the dissertation. Unfortunately I awash unable to find employment relating to my Zoology degree, so I went on to do a Masters research degree in Science Education at the same university. My research focussed on children’s concepts of living things and how they perceive the natural world around them. I gained my Masters research degree but had developed a chronic illness which put an end to career plans and prospects for many years.
However, having somewhat regained my health, I trained as a Foot-Care Practitioner about 26 years ago and set up my own private practice which I work at to this day. I am very pleased that I did this and that I had the flexibility to try working in a new environment and to become self-employed.

I never thought I would see anything which I had written in print in a book. However, my husband, Archie, encouraged me to write a section for his new book about King Solomon a few years ago because I happened to tell him how much Solomon’s writings in the Bible had meant to me over the years. So I did! I wrote a Section which looked at parts of Scripture from the books of Ecclesiastes, Proverbs and The Song of Solomon. It wasn’t a Bible study per se, but an examination of the meanings behind Solomon’s teachings and how these are still relevant for our lives today.

I hope to write more in the future and I am currently researching and gathering information to do with cults and churches which are like cults, with a view to writing a book

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Whilst studying for a Master of Science research degree in Science Education, I became ill with a chronic illness and had to cease from my studies and from all activities for a period of time. I was diagnosed with ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) a complex type of chronic fatigue. I expected to recover within a year, but this did not happen. The university gave me extra time to write up my dissertation and I succeeded in gaining my Masters degree. I bounced back!

However, the illness remained and I was unable to work for many years. At one point, I felt much better and took an admin job at a community project. I felt so good being back at work. I had bounced back yet again! Unfortunately, however, the ME would not let go and I became ill again and had to stop working. However, 27 years ago, I was well enough to train to become a Foot-care practitioner and to set up my own private practice where I work up to the present day. I bounced back for real and I love it!

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

My first degree was in Agricultural Zoology. I could not find a job with my degree so I pivoted into studying for a Master of Science research degree in Science Education, where I studied children’s concepts and views of living things and the natural world. After finishing my degree, I was unable to work for many years due to chronic illness. However, 27 years ago, I regained my health sufficiently to undertake a training-course. I pivoted into the field of Footcare and Podiatry which was new to me.
After completing the training, I set up my own private practice where I still work up to the present day.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Margie YoungRoy
• Facebook: Margaret Young

Image Credits

Sarah Santos Jewell