AFTER more than 18 years spent working in the fast-food industry, Mick Mushen decided to embark on a new career and become his own boss.

Mr Mushen, from Sunderland, now runs MSM Decorators, which has been in business for ten months and is already looking to expand after a series of significant contract wins.

The business has beaten initial forecasts and has won deals to redecorate six flats and a 40-room student accommodation building in Newcastle.

After initially training as a decorator 20 years ago, gaining a City and Guilds qualification after leaving school, Mr Mushen made the decision to move into the fast-food sector, working as general manager in the Sunderland branch of McDonald's and then as operations manager for the city's Subway outlet.

But in December last year, he made the decision to use the management skills he had gained through his career to fulfil his dream of becoming his own boss.

"I learned so much throughout my time in McDonalds, and then at Subway, so I feel I have a really good grounding of how to run my business and how best to manage staff," he said.

"Ever since I trained as a decorator 19 years ago, I've always kept on with it and have done work for friends and family when they needed it throughout the years.

"Most people hate it, but I like feeling the satisfaction of finishing a job and knowing that it looks great."

Mr Mushen received help from Social Enterprise Sunderland (SES) in setting up his business, which provides a range of services including plastering, papering and flooring.

Beverley Ward, Mr Mushen's business start-up advisor at SES, said; "Mick had many credentials and a sound business idea when he first came to meet SES. With help from the team here he collected information and fully researched his idea and I'm delighted that his first few months have gone so well, long may it continue."