MY big idea, which eventually became the YouGen website, didn't arrive as a 'light bulb' moment. I just noticed a gap in the market when my husband and I were renovating our house.

I discovered that it's easy to find information about renewable-energy technologies, but very difficult to find advice at the point of purchase to help choose between products and suppliers.

The thought stayed in the back of my mind for a couple of years until, rather dissatisfied with the marketing consultancy I was doing.

I like a challenge; I want to do something I feel passionate about, and starting a website that made it easy for people to find out whether renewable energy was for them offered a good use of my skills. The only potential downside I could see was the isolation of working from home, at least in the early days.

I've dealt with that by choosing my suppliers carefully. I wanted to find people that understood what I was trying to achieve and who would help me to create the best possible product.

Having a 'team' I can just pick up the phone to is one way of combating the isolation, and also of getting better thinking than I can do alone.

I've also taken advantage of all opportunities of help. Business Link has been great for that. And local networking groups such as Business Support SW, Cosmic's Lively Leadership and the Survive and Thrive network events have all been good places both to learn and to meet people. This year I've been lucky enough to get a place on the first intake of students at the Devon School for Social Entrepreneurs.

All these things, plus designating clear office hours, and closing the door of the office at the end of them, help make me less isolated and manage working from home. Of course I still wake up in the middle of the night with a burning idea — but that would happen if I worked in an office too.