Simon Honeywood - Owner, Readysalted
What first got you into digital and technology?
Without sounding like Moss from The IT Crowd, I was always interested in technology, although I originally came from a creative background. I’m from Suffolk, so I suppose I was looking for the polar opposite of nature and countryside life. The real catalyst was a digital-focused degree course at Northumbria University, which really opened my eyes. It was the early days of the internet, fast moving and full of energy. Great fun.
You’ve hit 20 years in business, what’s changed and what’s stayed the same?
For me, it’s the amount of technology you need to stay on top of now. Just when you think you’ve got a handle on things, something else important lands. It never stands still. There’s so much more to keep up with than when I first started. I can’t even imagine how students feel trying to take it all in. Also, every business is a tech business today.
What hasn’t changed is people. Old school values still matter. A face-to-face meeting and a good chat go a long way.
What makes Readysalted different?
We’re good listeners. We take the time to properly understand our clients, their users, and how their business works. Then we build websites and software that make life easier. I’m not sure if that counts as a USP, but we’re good at it.
What sectors are you seeing real momentum in?
There’s real momentum in offshore wind and renewable energy at the moment, especially here in the North East. It’s great to see the region becoming such an important part of the UK’s transition to net zero. There’s also growing interest in carbon capture, which feels like the next big area to watch.
What kind of work gets you excited?
I enjoy working with different types of businesses and getting to know the people behind them. The part that really gets me going is joining up all the digital dots and finding smart, simple ways to make things work better. It’s like a puzzle. Every company is different and at a different point in their journey. With larger organisations, the stakes are often higher and the pressure’s on, but I enjoy the challenge. You might not know exactly what the end result will look like at the start, but you trust the process and get there together. With smaller businesses, it’s often more consultative. You can bring your experience to the table and make a real difference. Both ends of the scale are great fun in their own way.
What are your long-term plans for the business?
This might sound a bit generic, but steady growth is key. I’ve no plans to become the next Google. What matters more to me is attracting the right people and keeping our core values in place. That’s really why I started all this.
We’ve got our roots in the North East. Newcastle is where I studied and later set up Readysalted, but we’re continuing to build work in and around London too. It’s a natural progression for us, and we’re getting more and more opportunities there.
There’s also real momentum in the renewable energy supply chain, which we’re already involved in.
What advice would you give someone starting a digital business?
It’s easy to build a lovely digital shop front and think the job’s done. But it’s just the start. You’ve still got to get out there, talk to people, and build trust. At the end of the day, people buy from people.
When you’re not working, how do you unwind?
I’m not great at switching off, to be honest. But when I do step away, you’ll usually find me out by the coast or in the gym. It helps balance out all the time sat at a desk. That, and a decent cup of coffee of course.
www.readysalted.co.uk