Self Employed Placement: My Streets - Fiona McLay

Briefly describe your business.

My Streets is an educational youth-safety business that creates interactive resources to help young people explore important real-world issues and make safer, more informed choices. Its first product, My Streets Conversation Cards, supports guided discussions around topics including knife crime prevention, online safety, personal safety and safeguarding. Designed for use in schools, youth settings and families, My Streets aims to make safety education engaging, accessible and conversation-led.

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

My Streets was inspired by my experience of working with young people in education, alongside my own perspective as a parent and growing concerns around the challenges young people face today. I wanted to create a resource that could open up honest conversations about difficult but important topics, rather than simply telling young people what they should or shouldn’t do.

My Streets helps address the need for engaging, accessible youth-safety education by giving young people a safe and structured way to discuss real-life situations, ask questions and think about the choices they might make. Through topics such as knife crime prevention, online safety, personal safety and safeguarding, the aim is to encourage early conversations that build awareness, confidence and better decision-making.

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

The journey so far has been both amazing and challenging. I’ve had so many great opportunities and experiences along the way, and I’ve learnt a huge amount – not only about developing a product and starting a business, but also about problem-solving, adapting and trusting the decisions I make. One of the biggest learning curves has been accepting that things don’t always go to plan. I’ve had to think outside the box and pivot at times, learn from mistakes and find solutions to challenges as they arise. Juggling everything has probably been one of the hardest parts – managing my time effectively while navigating the unknowns of starting a business alongside everyday life.

My Streets originally started as a board game, but I found that manufacturing, publishing and distributing it on a tight budget was becoming increasingly difficult. Rather than giving up on the idea, I decided to take the questions I had developed for the game and turn them into conversation cards instead. This allowed me to keep costs down while having much more input into the design, manufacturing and distribution process. It was a big change, but ultimately one that has made the product more practical and achievable. Some of the biggest successes have been the conversations, exchanges and input I’ve had from young people and professionals throughout the journey. Their feedback has shown me how much people care about the issues My Streets addresses and how important it is to create opportunities for young people to talk about them.

And, of course, receiving my first 100 decks ready for launch was a huge milestone. After all the research, conversations, problem-solving and changes along the way, seeing My Streets as a finished product made everything feel very real and made all the hard work worthwhile.

How has the Student StartUp team/University supported you?

The Student StartUp team have always been incredibly warm, welcoming and supportive. From the very beginning, I felt comfortable approaching them with questions, asking for advice or simply talking through an idea. Their encouragement and genuine interest in both me and my project have meant a lot throughout the journey. Starting a business can sometimes feel overwhelming, particularly when you are learning as you go, but having such approachable and knowledgeable people to turn to has made the experience feel much less daunting. I’m incredibly grateful for the time, guidance and encouragement they have given me along the way.

The Student StartUp team and the University have been a crucial part of my journey. From the Enterprise Programme, which taught me fundamental business skills, to events that introduced me to professionals and opened the door to new opportunities, their support has been invaluable. The workshops gave me practical, hands-on advice across so many areas of starting a business, including the opportunity to receive advice from a solicitor and learn about areas of business that were completely new to me. This gave me confidence, direction and a much better understanding of what it takes to turn an idea into something viable.

The team has also provided opportunities to make connections, develop my ideas and continue learning as My Streets has evolved. Having people to ask questions, seek advice from and share progress with has made a real difference, particularly when navigating the challenges of starting something for the first time. My course lecturers were also a significant part of this process. Their guidance, knowledge and encouragement were greatly appreciated and played an important part in my development, making my creative learning journey at the University one I will never forget.

Most importantly, I was successful in securing funding after pitching My Streets through a University initiative in partnership with Santander. That funding enabled me to take the project from an idea into development and was a huge step towards bringing My Streets to life. The Student StartUp team has supported me throughout that journey, and I genuinely don’t think My Streets would be where it is today without them.

What skills have you developed through running the business?

Running My Streets has helped me develop a wide range of skills, both professionally and personally. I’ve learnt a huge amount about the practical side of running a business, including product development, researching suppliers, manufacturing, budgeting, marketing, e-commerce and understanding my target audience.

I’ve also developed my communication and networking skills through speaking with young people, educators, professionals and organisations, learning how to listen to feedback and use it constructively to improve the product and my approach.

Some of the most valuable skills I’ve developed have come from the challenges along the way. I’ve become much better at problem-solving, adapting when something isn’t working and making decisions with the information and resources I have available. Moving My Streets from a board game to conversation cards is probably one of the best examples of this.

I’ve also learnt a lot about resilience, time management and having confidence in my own ideas and decisions. Starting a business means wearing lots of different hats and constantly learning new things, and I think one of the biggest skills I’ve developed is being willing to ask questions, seek advice and keep learning as I go.

What's next for your business?

Now that My Streets has launched, the next step is to build awareness and get the conversation cards into the hands of more young people, schools, youth organisations, professionals and families. I want to continue building relationships, creating opportunities to showcase the resource and, most importantly, listening to feedback from the people using it.

Looking ahead, I’d love to develop workshops and additional educational resources to complement the cards, allowing My Streets to grow beyond the physical product into a wider youth safety education resource. For now, my focus is on building momentum, learning as I go and seeing where the next stage of the journey takes My Streets.

What's your top tip for other student entrepreneurs?

Take risks. If you truly believe in your idea or product, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and take opportunities, even when they feel outside your comfort zone. Not everything will go to plan, and you won’t always have all the answers, but that’s part of the journey. Some of my biggest learning experiences and opportunities have come from taking a chance, asking the question and simply giving things a go. Believe in what you’re creating, be open to learning and don’t let the fear of getting it wrong stop you from moving forward.