OurPeople is a UK-based team communication and engagement platform for deskless and remote workers. Since being founded in 2015, we’ve grown the company and aim to transform how businesses communicate and engage with their teams. We have offices in Bristol, UK and Portland, US and last year managed to raise $2m as part of our series A funding.
How did you come up with the idea for the company?
After my previous business, Cap2 Solutions, was acquired I really started to notice how most organisations which had a deskless and/or remote workforce were really struggling with communication. Whether it’s gym workers, healthcare teams in the field, or theme park employees, it seemed odd to me that these people, who are usually the voice of a business, were often the last to know about vital business updates.
I decided it was a problem that needed tackling and so started OurPeople from my kitchen. It’s always tricky to try and take a product/solution from being just an idea and turning it into a successful and profitable business however, we managed it.
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What advice would you give to other aspiring entrepreneurs?
The best piece of advice I can give to aspiring entrepreneurs is that it’s all about the people. We spend a huge amount of our working lives with colleagues and customers and while building relationships with them is key for both social sanity, it also helps create a great organisation. Make sure to surround yourself with people who compliment your knowledge gaps or weaknesses – it makes great businesses sense.
I would also say, if you’re selling your product through partners and resellers, you should be aware of two things. Firstly, treat them as a customer – listen to their feedback and communicate with them proactively. Secondly, never assume they can sell your product better than you can internally, because this is rarely ever the case.
What can we hope to see from OurPeople in the future?
In 2021, we will be looking to both undertake a funding round and also expand our product offering. The COVID-19 pandemic has actually resulted in a surge in demand for our services, and we saw a 150% increase in Q2 compared to Q1, so we’re keen to continue riding that wave.
For more information visit: https://www.ourpeople.com/en-gb/
