Working

Bernard Onghena, 44

Bernard, originally from Belgium, had been working as an architect for the firm BST Arquitectos in Barcelona until two years ago. However the company suffered financially and Bernard was let go. “The biggest projects we were working on were never built due to the crisis,” explained Bernard. “I wanted a change but I would have stayed on longer to finish projects.” Bernard then tried to get work in industrial design but was unable to find any companies that were willing to take new people on. Keen to stay living in Barcelona, he found himself at a crossroads. It was a stroke of pure luck that gave him the new direction and the change he was looking for. He was contacted by a Belgian company, Vesparoute who wanted to set up a company operating tours of Barcelona using Vespa mopeds. It was then that Via-Vespa (www.via-vespa.com) was born. “The crisis forced me, or I might say, helped me make the change I needed in my professional life and although it didn’t go in the direction I thought it would, I can say that it has had a positive effect on my life...But maybe I should answer this in a few years!”

Patricia Zeigers, 43

Patricia moved to Barcelona four years ago after working in human resources for Nike in Holland. “I wanted a change of environment, change of lifestyle, a new challenge and an adventure.” Once here Patricia started teaching business English to professionals in multinational companies and through her contacts was soon in a position to take over the running of LANGAGE Advance Training, a business language school in the city. The recession however had an instant impact on business. “We immediately felt the effects. With no firm commitments from any clients continuing their language training the following year we decided to close the company in July 2009.” Not wanting to walk away defeated, Zeigers had the idea of using the space, created by the closure of the school, to set up Basecamp (www.biz-basecamp.com). The idea behind her new business was to connect the self-employed and small businesses in Barcelona and create a network of trusted professionals. “I combine people, ideas, businesses, space, systems and resources. I bring them together in unconventional and original ways.” Zeigers has seen numerous people come through the doors affected by the crisis, many of whom had to rethink the way they work. She says some people become “frozen” and are unable to move forward whilst others profit from the downturn by changing their business plans. She also notes that there are some have a plan and are sticking to it, with the confidence that the good times will return. For Zeigers, the economic downturn has been a wholly positive experience: “I enjoy being challenged. Also I have found something I truly love doing, where I can use all my skills and creativity. I’ve never been happier in my life.”