There are so many truly fantastic small and medium entrepreneurs out there, you can’t fail to be impressed by the leaps they made as individuals, the opportunities they create, the risks they take. Tonights overall winner was Highland Wi-Fi, a really interesting business, which delivers Wi-Fi access to many remote villages and other destinations – such as caravan parks – for a really affordable price.
Spotting a gap in the market – and acting upon it – they were deserving winners. Chatting with their incredibly nice MD – Calum – later in the evening (who had incidentally travelled all the way down to London from the Isle of Skye), I took away a steely determination to be successful, driven by his entrepreneurial father, who sadly has now passed away. It was obvious that this was a very proud moment for him and I’m pretty sure there was a proud Dad looking down on his son who has made such a success of the business. Well done Calum and the team at Highland Wi-Fi.
During the evening I also spent time with the MD of this business, Sport Stars, who provide outsourced lessons to schools. I met their MD – James Taylor – a few years back at a business awards and the business has gone from strength to strength subsequently, it’s so rewarding to see these young entrepreneurs really making a go of their businesses.
Talking of which, I also spent time with the two founders of asuitthatfits.com, an on-line tailoring business, I’ve used them to make some made to measure suits and shirts in the past. Again, their business is going from strength to strength, how these two guys have grown since I’ve seen them last, more mature, more world wise and with a real sense of clarity about where they want to take the business. Awesome.
Running a big and established business, it’s really inspirational to see how younger businesses are starting and growing, we rely on them to be successful, for our succcess, it’s not rocket science. The key lesson I took away is that they are all still keen to learn, to search for that next breakthrough, to learn from experience, from others around them.
It always gives me a huge burst of energy when I get to meet them and hear from them, it’s lovely to pass on knowledge, to debate, to listen and to share success. Everyone in the room was a winner last night, so a big hurrah from me to everyone in the Smarta 100. A particular well done to Shaa Wasmund and her editorial team for putting it all together.
