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TELECOMS BOSS AND IMPS FAN PAUL TALKS A GOOD GAME ; Paul Reames chats about his business success with Dawn Hinsley over lunch at Lincoln's DoubleTree... [Lincolnshire Echo (England)](Lincolnshire Echo (England) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) TELECOMS BOSS AND IMPS FAN PAUL TALKS A GOOD GAME ; Paul Reames chats about his business success with Dawn Hinsley over lunch at Lincoln's DoubleTree by Hilton Paul Reames, 42, founder of Bluecube Telecommunications in Lincoln, describes his father John as a hard act to follow as a successful businessman. Retiring in his 40s, Lincoln-born John switched his focus to Lincoln City FC, where he became its longest- serving chairman and enabled the club to purchase and redevelop Sincil Bank. He also served as manager at the club and held important roles with the FA and the Football League. But when tragedy struck with his father's death, it became a turning point for Paul, who was able to realise a long-held vision. After years working in the telecommunications business, including long spells at Vodafone UK and then T-Mobile UK, Paul wanted to set up his own business. "My friend James Hawker owns Bluecube Technology Solutions Ltd in Milton Keynes and I knew I wanted to start a telecommunications company. "James said why not call it Bluecube as well and we can share clients. He offers IT support while we are telecommunications. It works really well, although we also collaborate with Avalon IT in Lincoln for many local projects." Bluecube Telecommunications is an independent provider of mobile, landline, broadband and business communications services. "I'd worked for a company in Newark called Project Telecom, and a lot of the inspiration for Bluecube comes from my experiences working for them. Vodafone bought the company out because it was particularly good at looking after business customers. So when Vodafone bought them they bought up the entire operation rather than just the customer base. "At Bluecube I was keen to offer customers something better, something I had experienced in those days at Project Telecom and the way they looked after clients. 'We are a relatively small team at Bluecube and customers get to know us personally very quickly. We are a company people can talk directly to really easily. "And regardless of who ultimately supplies their telecommunications products, whether that's BT, Vodafone or Virgin for example, it's always Bluecube the customer talks to and the bills come from us, too. "Our typical customer would have between 25 and 100 employees within a company who need to use telecommunications whether that be internet, landline, mobiles or all three. "Customers come to us wanting communication solutions and usually they are asking to save money as well. Often we can do that anyway because we get good wholesale rates from the network providers and pass those down." Paul says the industry is constantly evolving, which is one of the reason he loves it so much. "Telecommunications is a technology that's always changing. You can think you know everything, then in six months if you haven't kept up to speed you know nothing at all really because it changes so quickly. You are constantly learning and picking up new skills. "For example, at the moment we are moving more and more into IP (internet) based systems. "A lot of companies are using old technology and they don't need to be. Sometimes it's just a case of what they've known for a long time and feeling safe. But new technologies can improve the way they do business. They can save money and transform the way they work with customers and staff at the same time. "I love the telecommunications industry. I like getting up in the morning and going to work dealing with all sorts of businesses - one day it's a print services and office supply company, the next day it will be a PR company. It's always different and I love meeting new people constantly. I am really enjoying what I do and have lots of energy to put into the business. "We have customers all around the country but we want to do more and more in Lincolnshire. It's still a bit of a challenge around the county with slow internet being a problem, so the first thing we look to do is to improve their internet service; nine times out of ten we can. "The more I become involved with the local business community I see how many forward-thinking, innovative businesses are doing so well in the county." Paul's father John has always been an inspiration in his son's life. "My father died of cancer in 2008 and I had been thinking about going self-employed for a few years. But then something like that happens and you realise you never know what is around the corner. Life is so short. "My father was a great businessman and chairman of Lincoln City FC for 15 years. "He started his own business and ended up selling it to an American company and retiring in his late 40s. He became involved with the football club and that became his job for those 15 years. He achieved a lot in that time. "He was a hard act to follow. I thought I couldn't live up to him but then I realised it wasn't a competition. I started by renovating some units at the back of a shop the family owns on the High Street and started from there with my wife and one other person working for me when we launched Bluecube in 2008." Bluecube is now run from offices in the Think Tank on Ruston Way. "It was the best decision I've ever made to go self-employed although I didn't think that for the first two and a half years - it was a long and hard road. "At the moment I would still describe us as a small business but we are getting to a point where it is going to really expand but I am conscious that we don't grow at a rate where the customer pays the price." Paul and his father have Lincoln City FC in common as well, as Paul has been a lifelong fan. Bluecube has also started helping with sponsorship for the club. "I was six when my dad started taking me to see Lincoln City. "When I was a young kid we would stand on the terraces but when he became a director and then chairman we would watch from the directors box. "Even when I lived in London for a spell I used to drive to home and away games." So as a football fan what is Paul's punt on this summer's World Cup? "I think Brazil will win and England will lose in the quarter finals." You heard it here first. 'We are a relatively small team at Bluecube and customers get to know us personally very quickly. We are a company people can talk directly to really easily' 'You can think you know everything, then in six months if you haven't kept up to speed you know nothing at all' 'I like getting up in the morning and going to work dealing with all sorts of businesses. It's always different and I love meeting new people constantly' 'I am really enjoying what I do and have lots of energy to put into the business'' (c) 2014 ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved. |