Member Article

CEO of breatheHR, Jonathan Richards on why the South East trumps the City every time

For Jonathan Richards, founder and CEO of breatheHR, there’s nowhere quite like the South East for technology and innovation.

Founded three years ago by Jonathan and business partner Gareth Burrows, the HR software firm now services around 1,000 businesses across the UK and overseas.

The Horsham-based company helps SMEs save time and resource with regards to HR. The entirely online-offering is key to his company’s success, Jonathan told Bdaily: “We’ve been in the HR software space for around 15 years. Three years ago we launched breathe as a specific product to support small businesses, before that we were dealing with companies with between 500-1,000 employees putting in heavily-bespoke systems for them.

“With breatheHR we wanted a simple-to-implement, simple-to-use system that gave small businesses what they need to cut out an awful lot of their HR admin.

“We’ve now got 1,000 companies using breathe, primarily across the UK with some clients abroad. The most important factor for us is that our product is entirely online.”

Jonathan has adapted the streamline approach to business that his product promotes, operating with just 10 staff, breatheHR has automated many of its internal systems: “The beauty of the business model is that we can operate as a software service company with a relatively low number of staff, automating as much as we can. All of our systems are integrated - sales, finance, account management; saving a huge amount of time and money.

Like many businesses I have spoken to recently, breatheHR has benefitted greatly from the vibrant range creative and tech communities in and around Brighton, he explained: “For us, the proximity to Brighton is key. We benefit from being just outside of Brighton - it’s such a tech hub and the digital and creative community in Brighton is a big draw for us.

“In the early days, we received a lot of help and support from The Sussex Innovation Centre too. We currently work closely with a Brighton-based business coach, who is part of the tech scene down there - another great reason to stay in the region.

“For me, the South East is where the vibrancy around technology companies is.”

For Jonathan, the difference between London and the South East is more than just a geographical one - he has found there to be a significant shift in attitudes: “We think of ourselves as a national business rather than a regional one. Remaining outside of the capital means we have a greater reach as we are not anchored to the city.

“We also benefit from not being subjected to the high property prices in the City.”

“In addition, the individuals we attract as a business are either those who have ‘been there, seen it and done it’ in London, and no longer want to be part of the rat race, like myself, or those who are not interested in that sort of work environment.

“I always like to recruit for fit, attitude and culture. We then support these people in developing key skills for their roles.

“When it comes to the particular skills we need, be it sales, marketing or technical skills, I’d much rather train those into a person - the person with the right attitude. We have a great track record of achieving this and, as a result, it has enabled us to build such a close company.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .