Wigan man who suffered brain injury after industrial accident turns his life around

A former Wigan labourer has spoken about turning his life around after he suffered serious injuries when a brick wall fell on him.
Adrian LittleAdrian Little
Adrian Little

Adrian Little, from Higher Ince, was demolishing an internal wall when the structure collapsed onto him.

He was left with a brain injury from the incident in 2009 and Adrian ended up losing everything including his career and friends.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The 50-year-old said he was surviving on two loaves of bread and two tins of beans a week after losing his income.

He tried other temporary jobs but because of his pain and physical health issues he wasn’t kept on.

He felt like self-employment was his only option and decided to use his skills and passion for photography to start a digital photography business called AML 360 Images.

His focus is producing photographs for estate agents within the North West, while Adrian also specialises in taking 360 degrees images of historical buildings, and he has shot St George’s Hall in Liverpool, Wigan Town Hall and Croxteth Hall.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Everything was going so well for Adrian but by late March this year, he was contemplating having to shut down the business due to the lockdown.

However since lockdown was lifted he has doubled his business by focusing on high-end property, as well as seeking the support of EnterprisingYou, delivered by training provider PeoplePlus which has a base in Manchester.

Greater Manchester was chosen to pilot the programme, which launched in February 2020 to support self-employed and gig economy workers through the coronavirus crisis. And Adrian has said the support and advice he has received from the programme has helped him to turn around his business.

He also manages to get around okay, although the brain injury has limited movement in his right arm and can affect his memory.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said: “I lost everything after the accident, including my career and my friends as my injuries made it impossible to carry on.

“But I used my skills and passion for photography to start the digital photography business. Everything was going so well but then during the first six to seven weeks of lockdown everything stopped and I was contemplating having to shut the business.

“But now the property market is stronger than before lockdown.

“People’s Plus’s programme has helped me get back on my feet.”

He went on to thank People Plus for their support.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said: “I’ve been at rock bottom at times and it was difficult at the start of lockdown but they’ve really been there to help me get back on my feet.

“I really can’t thank them enough for their support.”

Related topics: