How Safe365 planned its UK move and signed Heathrow Airport during a pandemic
Safe365 had chosen the UK as its next market. Then the pandemic stopped its founders from travelling. Here is how we helped it prepare for the UK from New Zealand.
Expanding into the UK without being able to get there
Safe365 launched in New Zealand in 2016 with app-based health and safety software. It became the leading provider in New Zealand and built a strong position in Australia. Its edge is benchmarking, built on the data it gathers, which helps clients see where to improve.
In 2018, Safe365 signed significant clients and started getting sign-ups from overseas. Co-founders Nathan Hight and Mark Kidd weighed up the UK, Australia and Singapore. After validating the UK market extensively, they chose the UK.
Then the pandemic hit, and the founders could not travel to see the market for themselves. "That's been the big challenge," said Nathan. Setting up from a distance raised hard questions about hiring, the right legal entity and banking, which Nathan called one of the hardest things. "It's fine in NZ, but it's a lot more challenging in a place like the UK."
Before
The UK chosen as the next market, but no way to travel there and no UK entity, bank account or staff.
After
Clear advice on entity, banking and hiring, and Heathrow Airport signed as a UK client.
An adviser who saw the obstacles coming
With the founders stuck in New Zealand, Safe365 needed someone in London who understood the problem and could see the obstacles before they hit. We covered the three questions Nathan was most worried about.
- 12018
UK chosen
Safe365 validated the UK market and picked it as its next step.
- 2Structure
The right legal entity
We advised on which UK entity to set up and how to establish it. Our guide to branch vs subsidiary vs representative office covers the options.
- 3Banking
Banking arranged
We helped set up Safe365's UK banking arrangements, one of the hardest parts of the move.
- 4People
Ready to hire
We advised on hiring employees in the UK, so the team knew how to employ people from day one.
A blue-chip UK client, even during a pandemic
Even with its founders unable to travel, Safe365 brought Heathrow Airport on board as a client. It proved the app could win large corporate clients outside New Zealand.
For Nathan, trust in his advisers mattered most, especially with "vital things like law, finance and accounting." The UK remains Safe365's key market.
"It's always a good sign when the adviser understands the problem you're trying to solve."
Expanding into the UK from New Zealand?
Paul Beare helps New Zealand companies set up in the UK, from choosing the right entity to banking and hiring your first UK employees. Talk to our team about your plans.
