From Renewable Energy Engineering Student to Business Owner: Greg Horsley Living Recovery Guidecards Journey

Briefly describe your business

Living Recovery Guidecards is a supportive self-help card deck designed to help people in actively reclaiming their lives from chronic stress-related conditions. These include Long Covid, ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, non-structural chronic pain and more.

What inspired you to start your business, and what problem does it solve?

I have navigated intense physical and mental fatigue as a result of long Covid for the past five years. Over the past two years, I have been learning about a new science-backed approach to recovery for my condition and other similar conditions. In those moments when my symptoms would flare, what I craved was a one-sentence reminder of what I could do to help myself. I was learning these amazing brain retraining tools, but remembering them when it counts is a different matter. A physical card deck seemed the perfect medium; low-tech, accessible, yet still portable.

Tell us about your journey so far, we would love to hear of any key successes or challenges you have overcome.

I have worked on the guide cards since January 2026 after a group business project which I started during my Self-Employed Placement year failed. I initially developed written content for 15 cards, which I distributed to 12 test customers as a pilot trial. I received feedback on these, which was overwhelmingly positive. Following the pilot trial, I expanded the deck to include 28 cards and had a prototype deck printed to test colours and visual layout. In September 2026, I ordered my first production run of 50 decks and began selling online and in person. I have made around 15 sales so far. The main challenges I have navigated are pursuing this project alongside navigating my health condition. Because I use the tools and practices presented in the card content every day myself, the content and wording came fairly easily. Creating a customer advisory group consisting of around ten members of my target market has been invaluable to help guide my project, suggest improvements to the content and flesh out ideas.

How has the Student StartUp team/University supported you?

I am so grateful to the Self-Employed Placement (SEP) Year opportunity, Innovation Connect and the Student StartUp team. Through networking events, I have met many interesting and supportive people who have informally helped me out on this project. My SEP business advisor, Lynda Povey in particular, has helped and guided me at every stage of this process; answering many questions, pointing me towards other people who have experience in this field and generally being a really warm and encouraging presence which I could rely on.

What skills have you developed through running the business?

Business decision-making, chunking of vision into achievable goals, cash flow forecasting, improved communication and confidence to try out an idea.

What's next for your business?

I have now sold 30 decks to buyers in the UK, Australia and Europe, and have had an offer for the card pack to be translated into German. After graduating, I intend to use the feedback I receive from the first edition to further expand, develop and improve the card deck before arranging a larger second production run. I have many ideas where the cards could go including: distribution through mind body Neuroplastic coaches and organisations, creating specific card decks for different conditions eg ME/CFS, non-structural chronic pain, fibromyalgia, depression, ADHD, and potentially getting them into schools or healthcare systems such as the NHS.

What's your top tip for other student entrepreneurs?

Have an ambitious vision, but set really small, achievable goals for yourself. If you set one big ambitious goal, it's likely your motivation will falter. If instead you set 'pathetically small' goals that you could easily achieve tomorrow, this will help you stay motivated and boost your confidence because you feel like you are achieving things.

Also: Keep an open mind - you can’t predict what you’re going to get out of the year.

How has doing a Self-employed placement year help get you to where you are now?

I never planned to start my own business or do anything related to it. I'm so glad I took the self-employed placement year opportunity when it arose as I have gained so much knowledge about what it takes to start a business and the different facets, but probably more importantly I have learnt so much through actual real-life practical experience of trying, failing, trying again and again. I'm really excited to see where I can take my venture in the future, and the SEP year has given me the confidence to try out another venture if the opportunity arises.