Video transcript

Hello, I’m Brandon Hulcoop, founder of All Things Dotty, and welcome to NatWest Thrive. Tell me a little bit about your business - what’s the goal and the ambition? What makes you excited to keep going? And are you ready for my final question - what’s your duvet flip?

All Things Dotty was born through my own frustration. I couldn’t read birthday cards. I couldn’t read menus. There was very little available for visually impaired people. It goes back to a can-do attitude - that get up and go mindset. I’m 24 years old, I’ve got my whole life ahead of me, and I’m going to live it. The progression of the business excites me. I don’t know what we’re going to think of next.

Welcome to My Duvet Flip with NatWest Thrive. How are you today? I’m really excited to hear about your journey - where it started and where you are now. But let’s begin with this: what motivates you to get out of bed in the morning?

What motivates me most is knowing that I’m changing lives. I set up the business to improve the lives of visually impaired people because there is so much in the world that simply isn’t accessible. Every day I discover something new to work on - another organisation requesting braille menus or accessible materials - and that tells me people want to make a difference. Since leaving my job at the Job Centre nearly six months ago, I don’t just get up - I leap out of bed because I’m excited for the day ahead.

Six months ago you were working at the Job Centre. Tell me about your journey and how you got to where you are today.

I studied at the Royal National College for the Blind in Hereford and left in 2022. I then worked part-time through the Kickstart scheme with the Department for Work and Pensions, which gave me valuable workplace experience. After that, I joined a mental health charity, but I left after four months because they weren’t supportive of my visual impairment. They purchased screen reader software but didn’t understand its limitations, which made the role extremely challenging.

I later worked on a short-term contract with RNIB at their transcription centre in Ivybridge, converting books and learning materials into braille and large print. That experience showed me what was possible and made me realise more needed to be done. When that contract ended and I found myself unemployed again, I decided to act. I couldn’t read my own birthday cards or restaurant menus. That had to change.

I contacted The King’s Trust and enrolled in their Enterprise programme. It taught me how to build a business plan, manage finances and assess viability. I was paired with a mentor, Mike, who has been instrumental in my journey. Without him, the business wouldn’t exist.

Who inspires you?

When I was at school, I had a Qualified Teacher of the Visually Impaired called Sarah Easley. She ensured I had the equipment and support I needed to succeed. That made me question why everyone in the visually impaired community didn’t have access to the same level of support. I’ve also always been raised with a strong sense of independence - nothing is handed to you, and I wouldn’t want it to be.

You’ve spoken about facing rejection. How did you maintain your confidence?

Over the course of a year, I applied for around a thousand jobs. Many didn’t respond. Some told me I lacked experience. Others directly stated they didn’t believe I could perform the role because of my visual impairment. In one interview for a data administrator position, I explained in detail how I would use spreadsheets and presentations with screen reader technology. The following day, I received an email saying they didn’t think I could do the job. I hold Microsoft Level 3 certifications - I knew I was capable.

What kept me going was understanding that I had skills, even if I lacked formal experience. My parents supported me, and their encouragement made a difference. My advice to anyone in a similar situation is to believe in your abilities. A disability does not determine your potential.

Tell me about The King’s Trust and how it changed your trajectory.

While speaking with my work coach, I mentioned that I only needed one piece of equipment to start my own business. Shortly after, The King’s Trust contacted me and placed me on their Enterprise course. The programme covered business fundamentals, tax, financial planning and sustainability. Importantly, they ensured all materials were fully accessible to me.

After meeting my mentor, momentum built quickly. ITV filmed the business early on. Later, I won The King’s Trust National Enterprise Award. I attended the regional ceremony in Manchester and subsequently appeared on Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast, where I learned I had won at national level. I later travelled to London, met The King at Buckingham Palace, and attended the awards ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall. The opportunities have been extraordinary.

Tell us about All Things Dotty today.

We began by providing braille menus to restaurants in Plymouth and have since expanded across the UK. Today, we produce braille and large print greetings cards, tactile “touch-to-see” books, braille board games including Monopoly, tactile photographs, braille fairy tales and accessible reading materials. We also deliver braille tuition and visual impairment awareness training to organisations nationwide.

One key insight from launching the business was how limited awareness of visual impairment remains. That’s why training and advocacy form a major part of our work. We are also developing accessible signage initiatives and audio menus accessed via QR codes. Innovation and accessibility go hand in hand.

You’ve also launched the UK Sight Loss Collective. Tell me about that.

The UK Sight Loss Collective brings together charities, organisations and individuals to campaign with one unified voice. While disability campaigns more broadly are progressing, visual impairment is often overlooked. By working collaboratively, we can strengthen advocacy efforts and drive meaningful change. We already have 20 members and are preparing to campaign nationally.

The business has grown rapidly - from your dining room table to your own offices. What excites you most about the future?

The progression excites me. Two years ago, I was working from my family dining table. Now we operate from dedicated office space and produce professionally bound materials and innovative accessible products. The opportunity to continue innovating - whether through audio production or new tactile formats - is what drives me forward.

Finally, what’s your duvet flip? What gets you out of bed each morning?

Knowing that I’m making a difference. Knowing that I genuinely love what I do. And believing that the business will continue to grow and create lasting impact for the visually impaired community. That’s what gets me out of bed every day.

Thank you for sharing your story and for the work you do.

Thank you very much for having me.