A local man who quit his job as a high-flying lawyer to launch a local lawn care business says his new career is a “childhood dream come true”.
Tim McNamara spent nearly 25 years in the legal sector, working initially with City firm Herbert Smith in London before returning north to work in Manchester with Addleshaw Goddard, NatWest, Shoosmiths and CMS.
But with his wife, Kate, also working full time as a consultant anaesthetist at Manchester Children’s Hospital, the couple realised that managing both their careers and two young children was becoming increasingly challenging.
Things came to a head in 2019 whilst on a much-needed family break in Anglesey.
“We felt we were juggling too much and not enjoying what we had worked very hard to achieve. Whilst everyone needs money, we found we wanted more time instead.”
So when they returned from holiday, Tim began to map out how he could make a career change work.
“From an early age, I always wanted to work outdoors and be a farmer or a gardener - but when you are offered the chance to get a law degree and to train with an amazing firm like Herbert Smith, it’s very hard to turn down! I’ve had a fantastic legal career, worked with some incredible people and enjoyed experiences I never dreamed of.
“But now was the time to step off, win some time back for the family and to enjoy building a business doing something that my heart is genuinely in.”
And so The Lawn Business was born.
“I started doing friends’ lawns at weekends and on days off. I bought a van and professional-grade machines, got the qualifications, experimented with various products and learned the trade, often from my mistakes!
“I worked unpaid with a lawn company in Cardiff for a while to get valuable hands-on technical and operational experience. I became a member of the UK Lawn Care Association whilst still a lawyer - the other members were and still are incredibly helpful and share a lot of insight and support. I devoured anything to do with lawns, and I loved it. I still do!”
Based out of Sale, The Lawn Business covers the whole of the Altrincham area and already has a good list of local customers.
“The Lawn Business is a lawn specialist. We focus on creating lush grassy lawns and maintaining them thereafter. We are not generalist ‘gardeners’ and as such we don’t do regular mowing.”
The Lawn Business’s core services include lawn renovations, scarification, aeration, moss and weed control, turfing and seeding, as well as a programme of regular lawn treatments to keep lawns green and healthy all year round.
“We do lay turf but my preference is always to re-seed where possible - we just find that we get a better result in the medium and long term. It’s a lot cheaper too! People are amazed at what we can do to their lawn,” said Tim.
“To a lot of people lawns and grass is really boring, but I absolutely love it. It sounds sad but it makes me genuinely happy when a customer loves their lawn.”
A core value of the business is environmental responsibility - only approved herbicides are used and in strict accordance with the applicable regulations and best practice. Tim has also chosen to use non-coated, organic-based fertilisers and electric machinery as much as possible.
“I think ‘professionalism’ and ‘results’ all the time.” added Tim. “My focus is to get the result my customer wants - a lovely green, grassy lawn.”
He is hoping now to capitalise on his second lease of life career-wise, and keep growing The Lawn Business customer list within the Altrincham area.
“The Lawn Business is a small, local business and I want it to stay like that. It needs to grow, yes, but not to the detriment of my customer relationships. No call centres here! I can't believe I'm doing it,” he said. “It's my dream come true.”
For more information about The Lawn Business, visit thelawnbusiness.co.uk or email info@thelawnbusiness.co.uk or call/text Tim on 07974 201098.
