The Soft Center Diaries

The experiences of Andy Syme and Louise Smith throughout the
first six months in the life of Perth's hi-tech incubation facility.

In the beginning…

May 2002

Andy…

It's just a couple of weeks before I leave Norwich Union on an early retirement deal. A long standing colleague, Alan Logan, asks me what I intend to do. When I tell him that I'm going to try and set up on my own, he mentions Soft Center Perth and gives me some papers about it. He offers to arrange for me to meet Ian Williams, President of the Chamber of Commerce and one of the driving forces behind Soft Center.

The papers show that it is a great concept and one that should be really important to the local economy. Having worked at General Accident, then CGU and finally Norwich Union for 17 years, I am all too aware of the outflow of good quality jobs from Perth in the past few years. I'm pleased to take Alan up on his offer to meet Ian.

I have a number of family matters to deal with during May and it is towards the end of the month that I go and see Ian in his office in Atholl Crescent. His absolute commitment to making Soft Center work is evident – I'm happy to give some time to it as it is such a worthy venture and, of course, it might provide useful contacts if I am to get some work as an independent consultant.

June 2002

I meet with Vikki Rawnsley who is the Project Manager for Soft Center. We talk about marketing, processes, criteria for entry and exit and so on. Later on in the month we have a long meeting with Mike Simm of Perth College to try and build a marketing plan. By the end of the month another opportunity I have been pursuing bears fruit and I have a longish term contract to work 3 days a week. I assume that I may still do a little work for Soft Center, but that Vikki and others will be driving it forward.

July 2002

Before I have even started work on my other contract, Vikki lets me know she has decided Soft Center is not for her. I meet with Ian again who asks if I want a more substantial role with Soft Center. We agree that I will do 2 days a week, although commitments mean I can't start until mid-August. Suddenly I'm working 5 days a week again – not sure if that's what I intended but the variety is stimulating and Soft Center is such a fantastic challenge.

August 2002… and Louise also joins the team…

Andy

I start with Soft Center Perth. As always in these situations you suddenly realise what you don't know. Vikki had done a good job of documenting progress, but somehow the best documentation is never s good as being able to discuss things with somebody. Later in the month Louise Smith, who will be working full time, joins. It's a tough job for her – I had some contact with Vikki before she moved on, but Louise is completely new to it and will be on her own for much of the time. Fortunately she seems to be a very positive person and with skills that are pretty much complementary to mine.

Our first board meeting is at the end of the month. There are a couple of prospects, one more or less a dead certainty, the other less likely. By the time of the meeting Louise and I have met another, referred by the Small Business Gateway. He's an extraordinary professor doing amazing sounding things. He seems really impressed with Soft Center. It suddenly seems easy.

Louise

I have heard about what seems to be, a not to miss opportunity with a company called Soft Center Perth. They're looking for a Project Manager to "get things off the ground". This sounds like the ultimate challenge for me. To move from one of the largest private companies in the world to a new Public/Private venture.

I felt as though I had reached my limit with Mars UK. The next step for me was to move down South and at this point in my life I wasn't willing to move from what I regard as one of the most flexible and accommodating places, to the constant hustle and bustle of a World famous City. To move from Perthshire to London didn't seem to be the right move for someone who enjoys the feeling of lots and lots of space.

After meeting with two of my would be directors and a visit to Soft Center office at Perth Airport I was intrigued and wanted to learn more about the project. It sounds to me like a fantastic opportunity, not only for me and my career, but also for individuals out there who are considering starting their own business.

The day after this meeting I was down South visiting family. I am delighted and excited to find out from John Fry that they are offering me the position. Ironically I was in London at the time of the phone call having lunch in sight of Tower Bridge. I start next Monday.

Arrived at Soft Center to be greeted by John Fry and my new and only colleague Andy Syme. He seems nice. I'll be working with Andy two days a week, he's ex General Accident, he took an early retirement package. We talk over things and I'm given a brief history of how Soft Center came about, who's involved and what we want to achieve. This sounds really superb.

I met with Paul Kyle from Economic Development at Perth & Kinross Council, he seems very supportive and keen to help me with the various network of contacts and has good ideas. I leave his office armed with large amounts of documents, brochures and information that "might be handy". My night-time reading for a while is organised. The support is great.

Our first board meeting is scheduled for end of August. I'll get the chance to meet the rest of the Directors. They all arrive and we briefly introduce ourselves and get down to business. I like the way these guys are working, passionate about what they are doing and all this in their time as they hold down full-time jobs. Personalities begin to come out at the meeting and also the amount of knowledge and experience/expertise these people have. This is quite a daunting experience for me. Regardless of their status they're willing to give me the time, this is a little weird for me. In my previous job everyone talked about and promised support, it never actually materialised, this is great and I'm learning so much, although with so much still to learn. It makes such a refreshing difference when you have some help. August was a busy month.