They’ve done it...
Matthew Riley
Having grown up here I really wanted the local area to be part of the success and share in the triumphs the company has had over the years.
Matthew Riley left a job in a German telecoms company to set up his own business communications venture. Nelson-based Dasiy Communications Ltd provides a range of services to more than 17,000 small-medium customers across the UK.
Why did you want to start your own business?
I always wanted to have my own business. I was motivated by the fact I would be working for myself and would have the freedom to build something that would be my own.
I had an ambition to invest in and have the company operating in Nelson. Having grown up here I really wanted the local area to be part of the success and share in the triumphs the company has had over the years. I think we've achieved that.
What was the deciding factor for you?
Unfortunately, working for a corporate as I did, I found the larger the company the greater the politics. Those politics often got in the way of the job and I wanted to escape that.
How did you get the business off the ground?
I sat myself down in a dark room and wrote down on a piece of paper the pros and cons of going for it and not going for it - the first list turned out to be bigger than the second. So I handed in my resignation. I worked the three months notice period I had to work in my job and after that I was ready to go.
Best bits about working for yourself?
There are lots of things that make it great, but more than anything it's the feeling of pride when you see something successful happen.
What have been the biggest challenges so far?
Obtaining authorisation to collect direct debits from customers. At the stage I was applying to the bank, to be a direct debit originator you had to have had a proven business track record. As a start-up business, this was something I didn't have. I managed to overcome this by writing a very comprehensive and extensive business plan for the next three years. It was that document that swung it for me with the bank!
What would you have done differently if you could go back?
I would have probably borrowed more money and made the company bigger quicker.
How does it feel to be your own boss?
I love it when it's going well, but it can be very lonely when it's not.
Finally, a piece of advice for those thinking about starting up?
Like I did, I'd recommend you lock yourself in a room and go over the pros and cons.
