On World Entrepreneur’s Day, we hear from entrepreneur and sustainability expert Nikki Buckley. When she appeared on Dragon’s Den, four dragons wanted to invest in her eco-friendly business. But behind the television success lay years of failed ventures, financial uncertainty and learning to trust God through every setback.

Dragon's Den dressing room (1)

Nikki Buckley in the Dragon’s Den dressing room

I vividly remember standing in the lift, waiting to meet the dragons. It’s pretty bizarre that the lift doesn’t move but instead acts like a holding pen as the nerves and tension build. My husband, Joel, and I could hear the dragons discussing us, but we had no idea what was about to unfold.That was December 2022. An epic moment in our entrepreneurial journey, pitching our business idea – a biodegradable, compostable and recyclable paint tray – on Dragon’s Den.

After two hours of intense questioning, fast thinking and bright lights, we couldn’t believe it when four of the dragons announced their offers. It was such a relief – we’d spent hours meticulously preparing.

We laugh when we look back at the highlights film and the moment when the longest-serving dragon, Peter Jones, revoked his offer. Despite wanting the business, Peter generously suggested we accept sustainability expert Deborah Meaden’s offer.

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It was a magical moment; we’d never seen them be so kind to each other. We came away feeling amazed that we’d helped bring out the goodness in the dragons. Winning offers from four dragons was a pivotal moment in our journey, but it’s not the whole story.

We always wanted our lives to be an adventure and to live on the edge.

We always wanted our lives to be an adventure and to live on the edge. But as an entrepreneur, you often sit in a place of chaos. You don’t have all the answers, and that can lead to a lot of self-doubt. But what I don’t know, God will provide. Our journey hasn’t been an easy one. We’ve lost businesses to people we trusted. We’ve had business ideas fail, and we’ve had seasons of wondering how we’d financially make it through.

In 2012, a huge decision took us to New Zealand, where we settled in Whangaparāoa on the North Island, a beautiful area an hour north of Auckland. Over five years, we experienced incredible highs and incredible lows. One early business decision backfired when we invested our savings in a marquee business that never properly took off, leaving us with no cash flow.

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But throughout the whole journey, our focus has been on giving God whatever we have in our hands and trusting him to guide us. In 2019, we left New Zealand and settled in Exeter. We had plans to develop a sustainable, eco-friendly business, but Covid took the wind out of our sails and left the business reeling. We needed a new direction.

The moment Joel said he wanted to pitch our paint trays on Dragon’s Den, I couldn’t think of anything worse. I didn’t want to be on TV. But the alternative was for Joel to go ahead without me, and I wasn’t going to let that happen. So, in one big, scary moment, I decided not to be afraid and just step out. It couldn’t have been a better decision.

Shortly after the programme aired, we received a business offer from our paint customer, Lick Paint, leaving us with a huge decision to make. After the failed business in New Zealand and the difficult financial period during Covid, we now had two incredible business offers. Finally, there was light at the end of the tunnel. In the end, we chose Lick. They were in the same marketplace as us, so it felt like a perfect match. As part of the deal, I was able to stay on for two years as Head of Sustainability, giving me the chance to ensure all their products were compliant.

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As I came to the end of my time with Lick Paint, I completed a diploma in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG). With hindsight, I can see how choosing to work with Lick opened doors to my current role as Head of Sustainability Engagement at the University of Exeter, as well as becoming a trustee at the Christian charity, YMCA Exeter.

I love that I’m able to bring my experience in environmental, social and governance to YMCA Exeter, in an environment that puts God at the centre, providing supported housing and wellbeing support for young people. So much about sustainability connects with social justice, making it a perfect fit.

If you’re reading this and wondering how to take the first step as an entrepreneur, here are my top tips:

  • Starting out is not about knowing everything; sometimes it’s just about booking a first meeting or making a phone call.

  • It will always cost you more, and it will always take you longer.

  • What you don’t know, you just have to learn.

  • Don’t be afraid of partnering with others.

  • Don’t let business plans that have gone wrong in the past hold you back.

Nikki Buckley is the Head of Sustainability Engagement at the University of Exeter. She's a mum to four, co-owner and director of three care homes across Devon, overseeing strategy, governance and sustainable development and a trustee at YMCA Exeter.View full Profile

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