Swindon Business Lives: James Phipps
TGtS chatted with Excalibur's James Phipps about setting up business in Swindon, his most famous business contact and a hidden talent for Moulin Rouge. Believe us, you definitely won't want to miss it!
Where is home and why?
Oakhurst in Swindon – it was around some schools we were looking at our children attending.
What inspired you to set up your business here?
Selfishly because I live here and probably always will and I believe it is better to have a local team so they aren't travelling far, Swindon and the surrounding area has a great talent pool.
What advice would you give anyone looking to do the same?
Take premises that are flexible, we doubled in less than a year and if we were not in offices with spare space (why we picked it) we would have had issues.
What do you think attracts business people to Swindon?
Good transport links, low rents and staffing costs and not that far from London still.
How do you like to spend your time off?
With my three gorgeous girls! Plus watching a bit of football and speedway. I’m now at an age where I can sometimes combine both!
Your phone book must be full of business contacts, but who is the most famous person in there?
Vodafone UK CEO Guy Lawrence.
Your 2pm meeting has been cancelled, meaning you now have a two-hour lunch break. What do you do?
Work!!!
Describe Swindon in three words.....
Undervalued. Surprising. Dynamic.
What has been your biggest achievement to date?
Winning Wiltshire Business Person of the Year last year.
You've got 20 words to surprise us with. Go.....
I once performed on the Moulin Rouge stage.
