Tech firm gets smart to double its money
A SMART home technology company that is set to double its turnover has praised the business opportunities that Rochdale provides.
A spike in demand for the technology, including interest from Premier League footballers, means Paul Simkiss’ company is set to increase turnover to £14m.
The founder of Simkiss Control Systems and Simkiss Home Automation spotted a gap in the market when he installed smart tech in his own farmhouse.
The company is based at Bentley Avenue, which is part of Stakehill Industrial Estate, and employs 68 people.
“Rochdale is a great location for business, with brilliant access to the motorway network,” said Paul.
“There’s a good base of technical people in Rochdale, while the manufacturing sector is very strong.
“There’s space to grow and the council is very supportive.”
The 48-year-old was born and bred in the town and admitted his education was overshadowed by undiagnosed dyslexia.
“I didn’t excel on the English side but I was good at maths and science and making things work,” he said. “I didn’t find out I had dyslexia until after I left school. These days I do presentations and I speak in front of hundreds of people and I’m fine but if someone asked me to read a book in front of an audience I’d struggle.”
He left school with a B in O level engineering and had a six-month stint with his family’s garage recovery business before starting a YTS with the Rochdale Training Association.
He then got an apprenticeship with Extrusion Press Services in Littleborough, where he stayed for 10 years before going to work for Manchester-based Varcol Electrical Services.
In 1999 he decided to launch his own business after being convinced by his then wife to take the plunge. He launched a second business - Simkiss Home Automation which he predicts will reach £4m -£5m turnover by 2020 and £8m in 2021, swelling the company’s overall turnover to £14m.
As well as being able to control all aspects of his home’s technology through a display panel, he can check everything remotely via a mobile phone app, including monitoring his CCTV to controlling the lighting, blinds, TV, music system and several other features.