Interview with Windsor Telecom's Founders

Windsor Telecom’s journey has seen the company grow from humble beginnings to one that has grown exponentially every year since it was founded in 1999. While Windsor Telecom may have originated thanks in part to a chance meeting in Guernsey, the passionate work ethic, family feel and team spirit that flows throughout is anything but chance.

To celebrate 20 years of Windsor Telecom, we wanted to let our founders do the talking and allow them to tell the tale of Windsor Telecom in their own words. Here are Directors David Bennett, Neil Burrows and Neil Sherring with the Windsor Telecom story:

Why did you start or join Windsor Telecom?

David Bennett:

Neil and I both had separate businesses where we were agents for a bigger ‘service provider’ which contracted with the customers we introduced so we relied on that passive income to pay the bills. Neil’s business was Future Numbers and mine was Number Solutions. Anyway, in January 1999, we learnt that that service provider had sold their business.

So, now knowing each other (after a chance meeting in Guernsey) we gave it some thought about how we were going to deal with it. We decided we could do it bigger and better and that’s how Windsor Telecom was formed.

Neil Burrows:

I joined when we had about 5 staff, I had previously worked with Dave and he pestered me (and I mean pestered) for about two years to come and join and help build a team as I had experience of managing sales teams. The first thing I did was get on the phone and sell as many numbers as possible, I then slowly started building the team, we started with about 5 and it all snowballed from there really.

What’s your earliest memory?

David Bennett:

I remember when we got to £10k’s worth of service charges, you start to think you’re getting somewhere. We just gained confidence as we went and watched it build and build and build.

Neil Sherring:

Sitting in my office in Sir Peter Thompson House in Poole. Sending out faxes during the time and then taking calls, selling the benefits and typing credit card numbers into my PDQ machine!

Neil Burrows:

August 2002, I had just joined and everyone immediately went on holiday. I had no alternative but to learn about numbers and products myself, so I got my face into the website and started learning.

What’s you favourite thing about Windsor Telecom?

David Bennett:

I think my favourite thing about Windsor Telecom is our family feel.

Neil Sherring:

The ethos that we have a business with a family feel. The fact that we have always attempted to offer first class service and provide leading-edge products and services.

Neil Burrows:

I’m so proud of Windsor and the amazing team spirit we have. We’ve always called it a family company and it still has that feel today.

If you could speak to your younger self, just starting out, what advice would you give him?

David Bennett:

If I could speak to my younger self, I think I would say that anything is possible, having said that my younger self was a determined, driven individual who never accepted failure as an option. Now you know why I am like I am!! I like to feel that my experience in business makes me well equipped to advise others (although it comes across the wrong way sometimes – sorry!!!)

Neil Sherring:

Be first to market, be disruptive in the marketplace, think about the lifetime value of a customer, look to add services that ensure customers will stick with you for a long time. Provide the framework and build in incentives to ensure that key members of staff stay with you.

Neil Burrows:

Work your butt off and believe in yourself. I was that nervous salesperson once, you just have to set your sights high and NEVER give up.

How would you describe Windsor Telecom’s journey so far?

David Bennett:

I would say our journey so far has been good – smooth going with a few hitches and challenges, but always we have had an amazing product or service which has separated us from the rest of the marketplace. A real USP. And always growing.

Neil Sherring:

A mostly highly pleasurable experience, with a few mini hiccups along the way.

Neil Burrows:

Hard but brilliant fun.

What’s your dream for Windsor Telecom?

Neil Sherring:

For it to remain a profitable, market-leading communications provider, offering tailored solutions that really benefit customers… and ideally run by a team of our people that have come up through the ranks.

David Bennett:

My dream would be for us to have a world-beating cloud phone system which combines inbound (landline and mobile converged) and put us at the top of the industry-wide sales leader board. We’ve always innovated and we need to continue to do this. That is what has always set us apart.

Neil Burrows:

The next goal is to be double our size, we’ve had 20 years of unbroken growth and I don’t intend for that to stop anytime soon.

To find out more about how Windsor Telecom can assist with your business telephony needs, leave us your details and we’ll get back to you.