'I'm running a successful business from Australia - but I miss Doncaster chips and curry sauce'
Doncaster may have its own airport – but businessman Dan Welch has left the borough to run his own aviation-related business from the other side of the world.
Dan is this week celebrating after his North Lincolnshire-based firm, Valour Consultancy, was awarded the Queen’s Award for International Trade.
But he is toasting success some 10,000 miles away after leaving to set up home in Melbourne, Austalia.
It means he now runs the firm, along with two pals who still live in England, from a distance – but admits there are things back in Doncaster his really misses.
He attended McAuley School between 1997 and 2004, but moved with his Australian wife in 2014.
He said: “I co-founded Valour Consultancy with two of my good friends, both UK, a market research company that serves the aviation and maritime sector.
“The business is now eight years old and we have been rewarded for our hard work by winning the Queens Award for International Trade.
“My wife, Laura, was born here. After meeting in London in 2012, we spent two years together in the UK and subsequently made the tough decision to move back to Australia in December 2014 so Laura could be closer to her family. I have lived here since.
“I have an office in Melbourne, which is handy to look after the west coast of the US and Asia. A large number of our clients are based in the US, so it is nice to be able to give 24 hour coverage from the UK and Australia. I have also grown used to doing calls at ridiculous hours, which helps.
The 34-year-old was brought up in Edlington, before moving to Westwoodside, and admits he has yet to visit the Melbourne suburb called Doncaster.
But he also admits he misses his family and friends – plus some important parts of the Yorkshire-Doncaster’s culinary culture.
He said: “One of the sacrifices I have had to face up to moving out here is missing out on the people that matter to me growing up, having families etcetera. I also really miss the chips and curry sauce. I head to Whitby’s chippy whenever I am home.”