Isobel Hamid has had almost 50 years of experience of setting up, owning and running successful businesses. All of these ventures are still operating, in various formats, in world-wide locations, although Isobel has only advisory links with them now.

Her personally owned businesses have all been in the area of education and training, specialising in the secretarial, clerical, administrative, computing and teacher training fields. She has worked as a consultant to large organisations, mounting courses, seminars and summer schools and specialising in staff development programmes.

In addition, she has worked for renowned major organisations - Heinemann Educational Books (three years as their National Organiser for Teeline Shorthand), the Pitman Organisation at their flagship college in London where she ran a teacher training contract for the Nigerian Government for four years, and International House where she set up and, for five years, ran an autonomous training unit at the International Language Institute in Sahafayeen, Cairo, Egypt. She currently works as a part-time tutor in the Management School of Lancaster University, where - in the business development unit - she teaches Entrepreneurship and Small Business to undergraduates, demonstrating that she practises what she preaches.

After gaining a Master’s Degree in Education, followed by two years as a lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire (then known as the Lancashire Polytechnic), Isobel opened a prestige college in Lancaster, embracing all the latest computer technology and mounting state-sponsored programmes, as well as providing customised courses for private companies.

In September 1995, selling the college to another training provider, she decided to ‘retire’. This was exceedingly short-lived! Curious circumstances pulled her towards healing, massage and remedial treatments and the millennium year saw the launch of Healing Hands, with a ‘bank’ of dedicated professionals wishing to be associated with the project. Highly trained and experienced in her second career, Isobel is now on the government's register of Skilled Practitioners.

This is a woman of drive and determination with the power to inspire other people to share her vision. Her track record of proven successes spread over 50 years makes interesting reading.

Retire? Never!