COVER STORY – ENTREPRENEURS IN SCOTLAND
Meet Nick Cohen I’ve been in business since I was 13. My first business was a computer repair service which I managed to grow to 2 shops and a team of around 10. I sold this when I was 22 to focus on pcr, which is the business I’m still running today. Behind the Company My company is pcr. We are an innovative provider of IT services for the SME sector. Historically, we’ve provided outsourced IT support to business across Scotland. As of the 7th of October, we’ve launched a
unique new service, bizanywhere, designed to simplify IT for the SME, utilising the latest technology in the cloud, bundling this into a simple cost per employee model.
Behind the Entrepreneur When did you realise you wanted to start a business?
The past few decades have seen exponential growth in tech advances which ultimately has a massive effect on the growth of the This has been in my veins since I was a child. At school, was never worldwide economy. There are some exciting ideas on the tables content with ‘going with the flow’ and always liked to do things and the Internet of Things (IoT, principle of a connected world where differently (often my way!). This was first seen as a problem (i.e. I everything is on the Internet) really excites me. Who knows where never liked to follow or take instruction), but in my teenage years we’ll be in another decade? this evolved into creative passion for starting enterprise. What things can Scotland do to encourage more My first proper business (PC Repair Glasgow) was entrepreneurs? started as a means to keep me occupied and make money. It wasn’t until I left school that I I think Scotland I think Scotland is doing a lot of the right realised this could become more than just a things. There are no ‘one size fits all’ is doing a lot of the right hobby. answers and we have an incredible What came first - the idea or the motivation to start your company?
Definitely the motivation, mostly from my mother. When I was 12, I delivered cream and dairy products door to door. When I gave this up (due to the long hours and terrible pay!) my Mum suggested that I put my interest and passion for PCs to good use and earn some money. My parents also didn’t believe in giving myself or my brother huge ‘pocket money’. If we wanted something, we had to earn it. This was a valuable lesson.
things. There are no ‘one size fits all’ answers and we have an incredible ecosystem (mixture of third sector and public sector) working with people of all ages (specifically young) to encourage entrepreneurship
What advice would you offer someone who is considering starting their business? Simple… Go for it! Get the right people around you, take some risks, calculate those risks but don’t overwork it. The tip with getting the right people is to look at your own skills in action, work out what you enjoy/don’t enjoy, work out what you’re good/bad at and go hunting for people that enjoy and are good at the things you are not good at. Why do you consider digital + technology an important sector? In this day and age even the simplest of tasks require technology.
www.wearepcr.com www.facebook.com/ wearepcr
Business Scotland
52
ecosystem (mixture of third sector and public sector) working with people of all ages (specifically young) to encourage entrepreneurship, enterprise thinking and using this to not only help put jobs into our economy but drive real social change.
I think all we could do more of is exactly what we’ve done over the past few decades. What was the biggest hurdle you have faced in business?
Growing. In most companies, growth often means a period of increased work load, smaller bottom line and less available cash. Every growth spurt has taught myself and my team how to drive through this differently. The growth we are currently embarking on is the culmination of lots of lessons learnt so hopefully we get good success from this. Your favourite motivational/inspiring quote? I remind myself of this often! A mistake is only a mistake if you do the same thing twice, how can you expect to get it right if you’ve never been in this situation before?
www.bizanywhere.co.uk www.facebook.com/ bizanywhere
@nickcohen6 @werpcr @bizpcr