Martin Robinson is the founder owner of Adoptive Technologies and is in a shared office at Fareham Innovation Centre. He explains why he moved in.
As university goes, this one wasn’t on the academic cards – becoming a dad at 20.
Martin Robinson turned his back on a business studies degree to focus on surprise fatherhood, with an initial role at an IT managed service provider which paid the bills and forged his professional destiny. His teenage children, as they do, quickly became independent and Martin came to the dawning realisation that “you regret the things you don’t do more than the things you do”.
During lunchbreaks at work Martin started to scratch the itch that was having your own business, listening to podcasts and taking pertinent notes about how adoptive technologies could be applied to help other businesses.
“I had been in a position where the only people above me were the owners and directors, but I knew I could run the distance on my own because I was already doing that for others.”
On one particular day, his mind fizzing with excitement for his blueprint business, Martin knew with lynchpin clarity he had to make the daunting leap from employee to start-up. He wasn’t put off by the fact that the majority of early ventures fail within the first 36 months in the UK.
“I went to my wife and I said, ‘you know, I’ve got this crazy idea. You might want to sit down. I’m going to start my own business and, yeah, I’m going to go for it. And I want to know, do you back me?’
“She just smiled and said ‘I think it’s a great idea – you’re not going to be happy doing what you’re doing for the next 20 or 25 years, whenever you get to retire. And I really believe in you’.”
Three years ago to September, Adoptive Technologies was born, providing technology, network, security and AI needs to a range of businesses, with more than 20 on recurring revenues. But, as many people will attest, working from home can be isolating.
“Don’t get me wrong, I work well in peace and quiet. I’m quite happy doing that. But, especially over the winter, you don’t really leave the house and you don’t really see anyone.
“When you’re begun a business, you need to be out and about talking to people in person to make connections and introductions.
“I was fortunate to go on to share workspace with a friend of mine in the telecoms sector but the Portsmouth location was just too far from my house, whilst Fareham Innovation Centre is nearby.
“I didn’t want to commit, as a one-person business, to a leased office – the costs would have swallowed up income.
“An internet search came up about hotdesking at Fareham Innovation Centre and this immediately appealed because, from a financial point of view, it made complete sense and meant I could see a people from the many difference businesses on site.”
Six months ago, Martin moved into a shared office at the centre.
As well as the affordable monthly fee and networking opportunities, Martin regained a work-life balance.
“Working at home, I was always checking the laptop during dinner or, you know, jumping on for an hour or so in the evening. There was no demarcation; working from home, I was always ‘on’, not switching off.
“I landed my first recurring revenue customer here, having first met in person at the centre. That wouldn’t have happened working from home.”
Another benefit is the complimentary business support which occupiers receive from the centre’s in-house Innovation Director, Anna Bravington.
“Anna advised me to focus on the benefits for customers and what keeps them up at night, such as cyberattacks, rather than gobbledegook tech talk because business owners don’t want to know about all that.
“Understandably, they just want things working well, with firewall protections and prompt restart if the IT system wobbles, along with advice on how to implement AI to improve back-office efficiencies.
“What I found is if you talk to business owners about their problems, then all you do is you come up with the solution, just like a doctor would with a diagnosis.
“Anna is really good with mentorship – she knows the pitfalls facing start-ups.”
Another advantage of being at the centre is having deliveries signed and collected by reception.
Martin said: “At home, my son, 18 at the time, had to be around to sign for laptops, which is far from ideal. I’ve lost count of the days I waited for a delivery but had to go out for a customer.
“For me, moving into the centre was the best commercial decision. Stephen Brownlie, the Centre Director, showed me around on a Thursday, I signed on the Friday and moved in the following week – that fast.”
Adoptive Technologies has already linked up with a number of occupiers at Fareham Innovation Centre, home to 60 innovation companies and in its 11th year as a purpose-built hub for businesses, with offices, workshops, meeting rooms and a conference/events suite. As well as meeting decision makers in person, Martin is also increasing brand visibility through webinars, with follow-up contact.
Martin added: “There’s a good feeling here at the centre. I also enjoy the fact that if I get stuck, there will be a business here somewhere that can help me out and I can learn from them.”
He hopes to emulate the on-site office growth by Rachel Reade of Solent Architecture, one of the businesses which was in the shared workspace with Adoptive Technologies.
“I said to Rachel, ‘I’m happy for you because you’ve been going all these years and you have this opportunity to make that jump up to your own larger office’.”
Martin finished: “I want to do the same here at the centre in the future – grow the business under one roof shared by dozens of entrepreneurs and innovators. That’s the dream.”
Martin Robinson – founder owner of Adoptive Technologies
