On Friday 12th July Abdul Sattar, Managing Director of Comfort Care Services in Slough, addressed 160 Year 10 students from Slough & Eton School, his former school, which he attended 37 years ago.

Comfort Care Services is a specialist care organisation providing supported housing for vulnerable adults with mental health needs, challenging behaviour, learning disabilities and individuals recovering from substance/alcohol misuse and other complex needs.

This was Abdul’s first trip back to Slough & Eton in almost 40 years and he shared his experiences as part of his inspirational presentation. An average student himself, Abdul told the students how he always remembers how his Head teacher told the students all those years ago that only a handful of them would earn £50K a year or more. Abdul decided that he was going to be one of those earners and always had the desire to do well personally and also to do something positive for others.

Abdul added: “My father wanted me to be an engineer, after leaving school I completed my engineering course, but this was for not for me. I started to work for a business finance company in London and was further inspired, starting my career in the healthcare sector working in South west London, now managing services in Surrey, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire for vulnerable people, giving them hope, support and guidance to build confidence and gains skills to live independent lives.

After 28 years of hard work and with the support of my team, we now have 230 residents and 210 staff across 50 homes.”

But Abdul was keen to make the students very aware that success doesn’t just happen, adding: “You need knowledge, good intentions, hard work and commitment to be a success in life and there are three ingredients for earning £50K +: Positive attitude, presentation and good common sense!”

Abdul was personally inspired by Team Silver Tie who won this year’s Apax-Mosaic Enterprise Challenge. In fact he has been so inspired; he has pledged to support the team’s business idea, an idea for a mobile phone app that keeps parents informed about their child’s school-related business, by providing financial and technical support. Abdul commented: “Team Silver Tie reminds me of myself when I was at school.”

After the presentation Abdul was given a tour of the school where he re-familiarised himself with his old classrooms and saw how much things have changed over the years. After the tour, he gave certificates to 30 of the students who had taken part in the Mosaic Group Mentoring Programme, congratulating them on their achievements.

Find out more about the plans for Enterprise Challenge 2013/2014