I was inspired to start my business by …
The inspiration for Sport:80 came from my background working in the sports industry. The reality was that just beneath the glossy veneer of sport was operational chaos. The organisations that governed and organised sport used traditional methods of working, including paper-heavy processes which led to widespread inefficiencies. This side of the industry was also being under-serviced by technology – there weren’t really any solutions in the market that solved the problems I experienced day-in day-out. I saw an opportunity to fill this significant technology gap.
My favourite thing about running my business is …
It’s definitely the people I work with. We are very fortunate to have a team like ours and I know it sounds clichéd, but we are more of a family than colleagues. They are big part of why I enjoy coming to work every day.
The three words that best describe my business are …
Innovative, knowledgeable and bold.
Innovation is at the heart of everything we do, and it drives us forward. Through our work we also soak up a lot of knowledge and pass this on to our clients as added-value. We are also bold when it comes to decision-making, it is a characteristic that has fuelled the success of the business to date.
Sheffield City Region is a great place to start a business because …
I think one of Sheffield’s greatest assets is the sense of community among businesses, and the willingness to help one another. We are based in Kelham Island where we are surrounded by plenty of innovative and up-and-coming businesses. Wherever possible we look to work with the businesses on our doorstep; whether that’s buying a coffee over the road at Gaard, knocking on Timm Cleasby’s door to get professional headshots for the team (the image used in this piece is his handy work), or working with 93ft to deliver website projects for our clients.
Sheffield City Region is a great place to grow a business because …
I was recently told Sheffield has been recognised as the third best place in the world to start a digital business, and it’s no surprise. The city is always really well connected; we’re in touching distance of Manchester and Leeds, and London is only a couple of hours away on the train. The ease of which you can get to other major cities from Sheffield makes it a prime location to capitalise on opportunities all over the country, and beyond.
The best advice I ever got was …
Unfortunately, he is no longer with us, but my Chairman at Brentford Football Club and close friend Ron Noades gave me some of the best advice. Something that will always stay with me is, “Trust everyone for the first £50 and after that its everyone for themselves”. What he meant by this was not to let other people persuade you down a path you’re not comfortable with, and that you should always trust your instincts.
The worst advice I ever got was …
That one of the best ways to raise capital as a growing business is to take a company public early on in its life. If you’re good at what you do, there are always other opportunities for funding which may better suit your business and its growth.
The organisations that have supported me and my business include …
The early-adopters of our technology who all took a leap of faith. We owe a lot to the likes of British Fencing, Archery GB and BISFed who all saw the potential of Sport:80 and placed their trust in us.
The main challenges facing my industry/sector are …
We service an industry that is going through a transitional period, particularly when it comes to the use of technology. Solutions like ours inevitably lead to change for the organisations that adopt it, and dealing with the fear of change, or behavioural change, is undoubtedly the biggest hurdle for these organisations.
In 5 years’ time I expect my business to …
We want to be recognised as the global leader in our field.
