How I Got Here: Eddie Sloane

Following my passion

As a teenager all I wanted was to ride my motorbike. Finding myself in a one bedroom flat at 15 with no support or mentor, I had to work hard to follow that passion. I found role models to aspire to become and acquired skills and knowledge such as roofing and insulating lofts to acquire skills to fund my passion. In 2000 I reached a turning point and the opportunity to realise a dream. I secured a lease for contaminated land from Preston City Council alongside the River Ribble close to Preston Docks and Trax MX was born. As Trax MX evolved into a nationally recognised facility, I turned my attention to establishing alternative education and vocational training facility Trax Academy for vulnerable and hard-to-reach looked-after children. I knew first-hand the difficulties faced by young people without support from family or a mentor.