http://www.businessconnectionslive.com - From Business Start-up to a Multimillion pound company - Who should you be talking to? - Business Connections Live Programme 9. How do you kick start your business? What are the important things you need to know and do to survive and see your company grow? We talk to Tom Higgins CEO of Gold-i http://www.gold-i.com and Mark Pearson Chief Executive Surrey Connects http://www.surreyconnects.com. We discuss: - How Entrepreneurs can grow a successful business by introducing products for which there is a genuine need in the market and backing these up by exemplary service - How Working in partnership with Surrey University has brought new and valuable skills to the business - Why Winning local, national and international awards has provided strong external endorsement and been a catalyst for growth - The importance of providing share options to all employees and why it is key for motivating staff and encouraging them to take an interest in all aspects of the business - And that every organisation should form close relationships with clients which is key to understanding market requirements Tom Higgins, Gold-i's CEO, had a very simple vision from the outset -- innovative high quality products which address a need in the market, backed up by excellent customer service. The culture of innovation runs throughout the company. In addition to developers being encouraged to spend 10-20% of their time on developing their own ideas that may or may not lead to new products, Gold-i also works closely with clients and partners to develop customised products to help them to address specific needs. All 14 employees are based at Surrey Technology Centre in Guildford. Global Distribution is serviced by representatives in Australia, Singapore, Japan and Denmark and wholesalers in London, Hong Kong and Copenhagen. With no external funding and a strong financial mode, Gold-i has been profitable from the outset, with revenue growth of almost 80% year on year and profits almost doubling each year. Gold-i's growth has resulted in employment opportunities, strong links with Surrey University's software engineering department (sponsored project, internships and career opportunities) and charitable support for local community initiatives. Surrey Connects is an independent, business led economic development company working in partnership to stimulate enterprise growth across Surrey. They are champions of Smart Economic Growth and their aim is to increase the value of the economy and promote Surrey as a world-class economy. Working together with business they share a vision of Surrey as a county where knowledge, creativity and innovation drive economic growth to improve prosperity and quality of life for all. Surrey Connects Chief Executive Mark Pearson has a background spanning both public and private sectors, and has been involved in economic development at delivery and strategic levels for 18 years, working in the North West, and South East of England. Mark has worked for Sub- Regional Economic Partnerships for over eight years, and was previously the Chief Executive of Surrey Economic Partnership Ltd. Its because of his understanding and in depth knowledge of business and what new and existing companies need to support growth that allows Surrey Connects to be integral in the development of new businesses Tom Higgins, CEO of Gold-i. Gold-i is a specialist financial trading technology company, helping retail brokers to trade more effectively. In less than 5 years and with no external funding, Gold-i has grown from Surrey-based start-up to global market leader. Gold-i's clients include some of the leading retail brokers in Europe, Asia, Middle East, Australasia and America. Based at the Surrey Technology Centre, Gold-i develops and owns the IP for a range of products which give retail brokers the same tools as institutional brokers, at a fraction of the cost. Gold-i owns the IP for its products, all developed in-house, and supported with 24x7 service. Gold-i has been profitable from its first year of trading, gaining a reputation as a global market innovator, creating 'industry first' products to improve the capabilities of retail brokers already in the FX market and enabling many regulated companies to enter the FX and CFD market for the first time. The key to success is to have a robust support network that you can turn to, to develop and grow ideas. If you have the ambition and the drive then you too could succeed and go from Business Start-up to a Multimillion pound company. So - who should you be talking to?

• published: 14 Nov 2013
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