Vouch founder Simon Tillyer shares how advice from the Sheffield Eagles and a supportive business community helped him set up the ‘fresh, agile and different’ Vouch – which delivers a referencing solution ‘designed and built by letting
agents for letting agents’
I was inspired to start my business by…
We couldn’t find a service that worked! As a letting agent for years, we discovered a need for a better product … and Vouch was born.
My favourite thing about running my business is…
Finding and developing the next idea – it’s important to not get bogged down in the day-to-day and keep looking for new opportunities.
The three words that best describe my business are…
Fresh, agile and different.
Sheffield City Region is a great place to start a business because…
It’s great! Lots of other good companies – and, more importantly, people – to work with to help you get your idea off the ground.
Sheffield City Region is a great place to grow a business because…
The people are great! Every part of Vouch has been designed built and managed by Sheffield people. Even down to our supplies, we keep everything in Sheffield wherever we can.
The best advice I ever got was…
It was in massive letters on the wall of the Sheffield Eagles office when I used to play there. ‘Solutions NOT excuses!’
There is no point bringing someone a problem, good people offer a solution.
The worst advice I ever got was…
Before Vouch, we tried to start a different business. We teamed up with the wrong development team and it was a very expensive mistake.
Instead of ‘worst advice’, I would say pick the people you want to work with very carefully, you are going to be spending a lot of time together!
The organisations that have supported me and my business include…
There have been loads, I will name a few of the Sheffield-based ones we still work with:
Flinch Design.
Helen Turner Bookkeeping.
SMH Accountants.
Lucky Fox for Friday team lunch!
The main challenges facing my industry/sector are…
Regulation – the goal posts are constantly moving with snap decisions made by people who don’t understand the impact. At least it keeps things fun!
In 5 years’ time I expect my business…
To be the biggest supplier in our industry. We have already grown from zero to third biggest, overtaking some established brands along the way. Only a couple more places and a few thousand clients to go.
