West Midlands Paramedic Finds Sweet Relief in £60k Ice Cream Venture
James Shemmeld, a dedicated paramedic serving the West Midlands since 2013, has discovered an unexpected path to mental wellness through a lucrative ice cream side business. His venture, which now boasts four vans and an annual turnover of approximately £60,000, began as a personal escape from the intense pressures of emergency medical response.
From Pandemic Project to Profitable Pursuit
The 46-year-old father of four initiated this sweet enterprise during the Covid-19 pandemic, investing £13,000 in a second-hand van that he meticulously renovated. Shemmeld explains that witnessing numerous patient deaths while working on Covid contracts severely impacted his mental health, prompting his wife to note concerning changes in his demeanor. "It was really difficult, because that was everyday you were doing that, and it got to the point where I realised that my mental health was being affected quite severely," he recalls.
What started as a therapeutic distraction quickly evolved into a flourishing business. By 2021, demand necessitated expanding his fleet to multiple vans. Shemmeld emphasizes that financial gain was never the primary motivation; rather, he sought emotional balance. "I don't want to charge too much for my ice creams. It wasn't about the money, it was about improving my mental health," he states, noting his affordable £1 pricing makes him among Britain's most economical ice cream vendors.
Blending Medical Expertise with Frozen Treats
Interestingly, Shemmeld's dual professions occasionally intersect during his three to four weekly ice cream shifts. Customers aware of his medical background sometimes request consultations while ordering their treats. "I had one woman come up to me and say I've got this rash and she lifted her top up for me to take a look," he shares. Prepared for emergencies, he keeps a defibrillator in his van and has even paused sales to assist people in medical distress.
Despite the success of his ice cream operation, Shemmeld maintains his £200,000 private ambulance and paramedic service based in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire. However, he acknowledges the frozen treat business is gradually taking precedence. "The ice cream van is the main work now for me, it's taken over - I do the medical as and when," he reveals, focusing more on international rescue operations and event medical services.
Childhood Inspiration Fuels Adult Passion
Shemmeld's affection for ice cream vans traces back to his youth, when local vendor Paulo became a father figure after showing interest in his single mother. "Paulo was my father figure, he taught me and brought me up and installed morals," he remembers fondly. In a touching full-circle moment, Paulo later gifted him the very van he operated as a teenager, reinforcing Shemmeld's connection to this nostalgic trade.
Reflecting on the contrasting nature of his dual careers, Shemmeld observes: "They both involve a van with people running towards it, but they're polar opposites and I love that." While his paramedic work involves life-and-death situations, the ice cream van offers peaceful, stress-free interactions. "With the ice cream van I get in it and drive it and I'm away with the fairies. None of the stresses of the medical side exist," he concludes, affirming that this unique combination has brought him both professional satisfaction and personal peace.
