By EWN

Copyright euroweeklynews

Women in Business

It is now 30 years ago that Helle decided on October 1, 1995, to open Marbella Design Academy. Dane Helle Byrn has a background as an Interior Architect from Denmark School of Design in Copenhagen.

It has been a very long journey from the start in a rented office in Marbella. From the very beginning, Helle had the goal of creating a big international design school.

In 1998 Helle wanted State Recognition of her design school. It took a huge number of meetings in the Ministry of Education – Junta de Andalucia in Sevilla, and in Malaga. Finally, the Ministry of Education – Junta de Andalucia agreed that Helle could obtain State Recognition of her design school, but she would have to build a huge purpose-built building on a 10.000m2 plot.

First Helle found this near impossible, but as the strong Viking women she is, she found her way.

A 10.000m2 rustic piece of land was found in Monda and a request for building a big international design school on it was, after several battles, finally granted a green light for the project using a special permission for a project that was beneficial for Monda. So far so good.

The next steps were Projecto Basico and Projecto Execution. Helle designed the entire building herself following all the demands given by the Ministry of Education. Helle is old school, so she was drawing the entire building on huge pieces of paper stuck down to the floor, using her pencil and rulers. The drawing was drawn to scale 1:50. When done and fulfilling all the demands given, then Helle needed a house building architect to fulfil all the architect drawings needed.

There was still a long way to go and a lot of permissions to obtain.

Finally, in spring 2005 Helle had all the permissions and the project ready to go! But still no bank loan from a bank. Helle went to 20 banks with all her hard-to-obtain permissions and project. They all said no! Helle was devastated. How could that be, she had everything required?

In June 2005 Helle found out why. The assessor fiscal, whom Helle had paid monthly and yearly for handing in the accounting to Registry Mercantile, had done nothing. He had just filed the nicely done receipts Helle had put in order and received payment for work he had not done. Helle was so angry.

Of course, all the banks said NO to a project where the accounting was not handed in to the Registro Mercantil. This could have been the end of a beautiful project. Helle’s ‘never give up’ mentality was now tested to the extreme. She went to the office of the Assessor, who was not there. All her nicely done files with invoices were standing on his shelf behind the reception desk. Helle was so angry that she could hardly speak. She went behind the desk with a big plastic bag and took all her files, with the receptionist complaining. Helle did not care but just took her files and left.

So, what now? Helle needed a new and 100% correct assessor. She asked around and found Juan Alarcon in Fuengirola. Helle went to Juan Alarcon with the entire bag containing 10 years of invoices. Juan said he would do the work for the last 5 years as the law dictate. He would call when done. It could take 1,5 years and he recommended Helle to forget all about her project to then. Juan would call when all was ready. Helle concentrated her mind around her students.

Next problem – Helle had obtained a building permission at the Town Hall in Monda. She had to start building before April 10, 2007. April 10, 2007 came closer. Helle still had not received the green light from her new assessor and did not have a bank loan.

After a sleepless night with a lot of thinking, Helle concluded, that in reality she could start digging her new Academy building using a teaspoon, but that was not so convincing.

So Helle hired a bulldozer for an hour. The bulldozer came. Helle put a sign in the window which said: “Today 9th April, 2007, Marbella Design Academy has started building its new Academy building.” The bulldozer created a huge hole. Helle took a photo and ran to the town hall.

“Here’s the proof we have started building for the new building today the 9th of April 2007,” she said. She was greeted with a laughter at the Town Hall, but it was accepted.

In June 2007 Helle got a call from the new assessor: “Now all your paperwork is perfect and handed in to Registro Mercantil and I think I have a bank that will give you the loan,” he told her. It was Barclays bank in Fuengirola. Helle finally got the bank loan; the bank manager who was born in Capileira had never mounted nearby Mulhacen 3.419,64M, Helle had, so the bank manager was impressed.

The next step was for Helle to get the builder to accept that the remaining €250.000 to be paid for the building project, could be paid as a private loan to be paid back with 6% in interest over 6 years. The builder accepted. The project was now 100% secured.

On August 1, 2007, the builder started building the Academy following a very much cared for contract, where nothing could go wrong. Helle had checked everything several times. The builder had to be finished by August 1, 2008, to avoid any daily fines. On that day, the building was finished, and on September 16, the opening licence was given, and the day after the students could start their education.

Later, Helle wanted to offer international Bachelor of Arts validated programmes – another long process whereby the programmes of the Academy could be quality assured and accredited by an English University.

For the first many years, the creation of Marbella Design Academy was a one woman show; Helle was a single mum with 3 kids, so it was hard work. With passion, dedication and with a talent for being organised and for solving problem, Helle managed it all.

Helle’s good advice to all single Mums: “You are so strong, follow your goals. Be organised. You can do it, and never give up. Do not listen to all those who want to pull you down. Be focused and go for it! It is hard work, yes, but so rewarding when you fulfil your goals!

I did not have enough time, but a simple calculation showed me that if I did things just 30% more speedy then I gained three more working hours a day – an easy way to manage it all!

I was not very social during those years. There was simply no time for that. Only time for a couple of good friends, which still is enough for me. I am now 72 years old, feeling good, and still bubbling with ideas. Still working at the Academy mostly online from home with just an occasional visit to the Academy.”

Today the daily running of the Academy is in the hands of an excellent team of 22 staff members. The Academy has come far, and are proud of a very high academic level that beats the academic level at most universities. Marbella Design Academy offers several programmes, of those 3 BA Validated and 1 Master Validated programme. After graduation from Marbella Design Academy, the students are awarded official BA or Master degree from the UK partner University.

Marbella Design Academy is a very special academy. The building and the surroundings are beautiful. The students live in nearby Monda, which has become a university town full of students from all over the world.

More information

For more information about Marbella Design Academy and its programmes, we recommend you to visit the very informative website of the Academy: www.designschool.com