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Ex-serviceman and founder of Countrywide Telecoms, PJ Farr, on army values and business success

Since launching Countrywide Telecoms in 2013 with just £1,100 investment, Guildford entrepreneur and army veteran PJ Farr has witnessed remarkable success and has announced plans to expand throughout 2015.

PJ Farr told Bdaily: ’While I was in the British Army, I was often posted to remote locations and, in an age where the internet is so fundamental to day-to-day life, it got me thinking about how businesses survive in areas where broadband is not available. “

When he left the army, PJ started Office in a Box - a super-fast broadband service targeting the construction industry. He said: “Now they can have an office set up virtually immediately – essential for ordering supplies and liaising with all their agents, suppliers, architects, planners.”

Through Office in a Box, Countrywide Telecoms has harnessed the powers of 3G, 4G and Wi-Fi technologies, and provides invaluable back up support when established communications fail.

PJ received guidance from X Forces, an organisation that supports ex-servicemen set up a new business, and an investment of just £1,100.

Countrywide Telecoms currently employs five members of staff but PJ has plans to increase this to 10 by the end of next year.

PJ said: “Determination and the ability to pick yourself up when you’re having a bad day. I have also found that we have broken the mould when dealing with customers.

“We are a small team of just six and I think this brings great benefits: teamwork, excellent communication and loyalty.

“We don’t believe in B2B but ‘human to human’ (H2H) personal contact and believe this has helped contribute to the high number of word-of-mouth recommendations and rapid growth.”

“As well as this we follow a strict set of core values that were imprinted on me when I was in the Army: Courage, discipline, respect, integrity, loyalty and selfless commitment”

PJ is hoping to reach out to other ex-servicemen who want to start businesses, he said: “In terms of the company I want us to continue to grow to become the number one telecoms provider in the construction industry. On a more personal and ethical level, I want to continue to help ex-forces personnel to get into work and continue to promote the idea of ex-military staff becoming entrepreneurs.

“Last year I was recruited by the Department of Business and Innovation to talk at a series of events aimed at helping mainstream businesses recruit ex-servicemen and women.

“ In 2015 I want to continue to drive this message through as many channels as possible. “

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