Coventry IT business celebrates first year in business

An experienced IT consultant who launched his own business in Coventry received an unexpected surprise on its 12-month anniversary.  

René Wheeler, who has 30 years’ experience in the IT and Telecoms sector, set-up SolaaS (Solutions As A Service) from an office at the Coventry Transport Museum in the city centre to provide customers with flexible monthly contracts instead of fixed three-to-five-year deals for telephones, retail security and connectivity services, and has grown to achieve a turnover that has surpassed expectations.

Within 12 months, the business has secured over 30 clients throughout the UK including school and college academies, a leisure and tourism organisation, and commercial and industrial businesses as well as becoming partners with global, award-winning cloud telecoms company Wildix.

René’s wife, Michaela, who is also Operations Manager, threw a surprise birthday party to mark SolaaS’ achievements which has also included the business being voted Start-up Business of the Year for the West Midlands at The FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) Celebrating Small Business Awards.

René said: “The first day I sat in the office I thought to myself ‘so where do my customers come from? How am I going to pay the bills?’ But everything has fallen into place.

“I’ve just been super lucky with recruitment. Every position we’ve recruited we’ve just got the best people.

“We wouldn’t have achieved what we have had it not been for the people we have. It’s been fundamental."

SolaaS now employs six people including two apprentices and more recruitment is on the horizon.

“We’ve laid the foundations for many more years in business,” said René. “We’re twice the size of what I expected so goal-setting for next year, we’ve got to think much bigger."

René has received mentoring and guidance from Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub’s Jim Vithanage.

“Jim has encouraged me to attend networking events and I’ve joined CW Champions which I’ve found really helpful. I always come away feeling inspired after hearing the speakers – and Jim has encouraged me to set aside time to work on the business rather than in the business.”

Jim Vithanage, Account Manager at the Coventry and Warwickshire Growth Hub, said the success of SolaaS emphasised the importance of start-ups seeking expert support.

“Grant funding is not always necessary because knowledge and mentoring are equally important, if not more so,” he said. “The Growth Hub provides this through our experienced account managers.

“René has been so open to developing, expanding and stepping out of his comfort zone and he wants a business that fits his standards.

“He also attended Made Smarter West Midlands’ Amazon workshop last year where he has gone on to be mentored by themselves separately as well so he is continually learning.

“Michaela and the team decided to organise a surprise party to mark SolaaS’s achievements over the last 12 months because René is really humble, works very hard and they wanted to show how much they appreciate him.”