A Year Since Lockdown - Scott Gulliver

Today we're talking to Scott Gulliver, CEO of Fluff Digital a Swindon-based company which creates engaging and innovative software solutions for learning providers, to help them boost engagement and improve the experience for their learners.

March 23 marks a year since lockdown began and the reality of the pandemic hit the UK. What are your memories of that day? 
 
We had only been in business for a few months by that point and naturally were fairly worried about the uncertain landscape in front of us. Following the announcement, there was so much speculation around that it made it a very difficult time to make clear decisions.
 
It was a pretty chaotic and unhappy day, as we had to navigate through the potential impact to the business, along with trying to investigate everything in our personal lives, including the basics such as shopping and childcare.

Thinking back, how did you anticipate the way forward for your business over those first few days?
 
I think that initially, we, like many, we were hopeful that things might start getting back to normal after lockdown. The one thing that we quickly shifted our focus to was the opportunity for technology to become a focus for many, which was an area we are well placed to help in. 

In many ways, because we were small at this stage, we were able to be a lot more nimble than some other companies.
 
What actions did you take to save/change/pivot/support your business? 
 
Whilst we weren’t making much use of networking before the lockdown came, making the decision to start spending some time in the various online events was an invaluable source of ongoing support. 

We met a lot of great people when people were looking for conversation more than ever. Leaning on our personal networks even more was also an important step, as we looked to help those who needed our support.
 
Name up to three positive outcomes of the last year for your business? 
 
1. We’ve been lucky to have started in the right place at the right time. The past year has left many companies needing help with innovation and delivering digital solutions, and we’ve been able to use our expertise to help them out.

2. After a turbulent year for all, along with being our first year, we’re now starting to settle into things. We’ve been working on a good foundation that we can begin to really build on over the coming years.

3. With regard to online networking, I believe that we’ve met many more people than we would have before. Being able to join several events a week, and meet people from all over the country has been fantastic.
 
Name up to three positive outcomes for you personally over the last year?
 
1. Being able to spend more time with my children than I normally would have done has been the most positive outcome. With having the four of us stuck inside for most of the year, we’ve been able to get some real quality time together that’s normally so easy to take for granted.

2. A sense of doing less has been good, and it’s certainly been nice to wake up at weekends and not worry that we don’t have a busy schedule planned. I think going forward that I’ll be able to enjoy the time without worrying about feeling the need to be “out and about”.

Diving fully into running our own business has been great. This year was when we took the plunge after planning to for a long time. To anyone thinking about it, I can recommend the ride, even if it’s often a rollercoaster!
 
What do you most look forward to doing IN BUSINESS as we slowly move out of lockdown? 
 
It will be nice to finally meet some of the peers that we’ve been speaking to over the past year! Getting to know people remotely has opened lots of doors for us, and I’m looking forward to continuing to build relationships face-to-face.

I’m also looking forward to events getting back to “normal”. I think that a lot of people like myself are feeling some fatigue from the online events now, and it’ll be great to see some of the conferences and other events begin to get back to venues.
 
What do you most look forward to doing IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE as we slowly move out of lockdown.
 
Our second child was born during the first lockdown, and we’re keen to have our friends and family spend more quality time with him. It’ll also be novel to actually get him seeing the world a little more!

I’m a keen private pilot in my spare time, and I’m looking forward to getting back into the skies and exploring the country again.
 
What are your predictions for business generally in late 2021 into 2022? 
 
I think that we’ll continue to see a huge amount of innovation over this year. Whilst 2020 forced many companies to rethink their approach to online services and experiences, the economic uncertainty put a lot of pressure on taking risks. 

Since the start of 2021, we’re starting to see companies invest in their future by thinking about how best to reach their current audience and open doors to new customers.
 
Generally, I also think that there will be a more conscious focus on building resilience in companies. The effects of the pandemic have been a wake-up call for many to always be looking for ways to weather changes, rather than just march on with “business as usual”.
 
Name one person who has been a lockdown hero for you over the last year?
 
Lucy Paine from Tech Swindon has been a fantastic source of positivity and support over the past year. In a year that has put so much strain on local companies, her focus on bringing together the strength of the tech ecosystem in Swindon and Wiltshire has been more important than ever. Lucy has also been a huge source of support and inspiration.
 
Name one business which has been heroic for you or your community over the last year? 
 
The Business Exchange has been such an invaluable resource over the past year. Anita and her team always put a lot of hard work into the work that they do, and over the past year, it has been really encouraging to hear all the stories from the local business community. The events that they hosted were also great, including the virtual Swindon Founders & The Techies Mashup event in July, which even came with a beer delivered!
 
And finally: 

We wish all of the wider community much health and happiness over the rest of the year.

For more information visit https://www.fluffdigital.com.