Clare Dutton, the innovative and energetic Director of Duttons Divers, has been voted as one of the ‘top 100 female entrepreneurs to watch‘ in the UK – a huge achievement, emphasising her dedication and commitment to the dive industry and growth of the business.
Clare Dutton started to dive at the age of 18, and once qualified as an instructor, decided to start her own business. Having no funds to do so, she took out a business loan to purchase three sets of equipment and a trailer to travel the UK and teach. With a garden shed as a storage unit and bathroom as a drying room, Duttons Divers was born!
Since then, Clare became the youngest PADI Course Director at the time, and has developed the business into a well-established and renowned UK dive chain.
With two dive centres – Vivian Quarry, Llanberis and Hafan Marina, Pwllheli – and two dive boats, Little Viv and Sea Quest, the business offers high-quality equipment and facilities to offer bespoke training and guided dives.
Clare Dutton has now been flagged in ‘The Commended’ ranks of the 100 Female Entrepreneurs to Watch list, collated by Telegraph Media Group and NatWest.
Clare Dutton says: “I am extremely honoured to be selected as one of 100 top female entrepreneurs in the UK. I have devoted a lot of time to develop the business since starting, and have always striven to ensure that it is at the highest level it can be, whether that be acquiring top quality equipment, having our own facilities or to just showcase North Wales and the amazing diving that we have here. It’s great for this to be recognised and fuel the passion to develop this even further.”
“Its definitely not been easy, and I am sure it never will be because, as I will always want it to develop and not just settle. The ridiculously late finishing, finding out who your ‘friends’ are, working out accounts, marketing, and every other element of a business is massively stressful at times… but then stepping back and seeing what it has all achieved makes it worthwhile, and I am very excited for the future of the business and where it is headed.”
To read the full article and view the other 100 entrepreneurs to watch, click here.