Syreeta McQueen at Fashion Enter

Syreeta McQueen, 29, is the manager of the Fashion Enter boutique in Vicarage Field shopping centre and also runs her own model agency

In 2008 I was made redundant when a financial company who I spent eight years working for closed.

I was always into fashion and had the opportunity to be a part of Fashion Capital which is one of the largest, if not the largest, fashion house companies in the industry.

Jenny Holloway, the director, decided to open a boutique in Vicarage Field shopping centre, Barking, where I’m now based.

We established ourselves and built up our loyal customer database since opening a few years ago.

Our main role in Barking is to support all up-and-coming designers and provide the opportunity for local designers to have their clothes shown to Asos, Debenhams, Harvey Nichols, Top Shop and Brand Alley to name a few.

We also provide a made-to-measure service and alterations and offer discounts to all Barking and Dagenham residents, but our doors are open to all if you simply want to shop or browse among our many designer pieces at affordable prices.

We currently run short courses and offer work experience opportunities. Our annual model show has led to the winner flying to New York to hit the runway brushing shoulders and taking pictures with Victoria Beckham.

We also offer a summer training programme which is always successful on a yearly basis in the six-week holiday. It is for young people aged from 10 through to adults and we hope to continue it in July.

I run a model agency, boutique, training programmes, events and sample sales, which can be challenging at times due to the amount of hours in a day. But I have a wonderful team around me which always helps.

In the future, I would like to expand in the borough and basically mirror what we have achieved in Haringey, and offer apprenticeships and a training centre which will create many job placements and support into the fashion world.

I believe we are an asset to Barking and bring something totally different to the shopping experience.