Getting to Know Laurence Grant and Rob O’Sullivan

For this segment of ‘Getting to Know’, I interviewed two young businessmen, who were crowned winners of Croydon’s Young Start-up Talent last month with their business, Shaking Hands Interactive Partnership (SHIP).

Names: Laurence Grant and Rob O’Sullivan

Ages: Both 23

Live in: South Croydon (Laurence) & Sutton (Rob)

Occupation: Co-directors of Shaking Hands

Q: How did the idea of Shaking Hands come about?

A: During a business and management degree, Rob was musing over the issues facing small medium businesses in Brighton, and decided that a platform promoting communication and collaboration among local business owners would be invaluable.  Presenting this idea to Laurence, it was clear that we wanted to start a project, which serves a purpose, and solves a problem – the problem being a lack of connectedness among Croydon's small medium business owners, at a time where the commercial landscape of the area is rapidly changing.

Q: What makes Shaking Hands special?

A: There is nothing like it. Shaking Hands is a new, niche concept which borrows its energy and format from the best bits of networking circles, local newspapers, regular events, a variety of venues, and mixes them all together with the technological advances of the 21st century.

Q: How did it feel to be named winners of this year's Young Start Up Talent?

A: Among some fierce competition, we were over the moon to be recognised for having produced the best start-up business in Croydon for our age bracket. It certainly gave us the resources, contacts, and building blocks to continue progressing toward our original aim of bringing Croydon's small medium businesses to the forefront of the UK stage.

Q: What is your favourite thing about Croydon?

A: Perhaps, in a sentence, our favourite thing about Croydon is the fact it is a mini-universe in its own right. It has stood up on its own two feet, battling against the stigmas placed upon it, and has embraced the underdog mentality that has taken it from strength to strength.

Q: What do you think could be improved about Croydon?

A: There should be a greater focus on education in Croydon, from colleges pushing internships and apprenticeships to business having simple, affordable access to extra-curricular staff training.

Q: What is your go-to place in Croydon?

A: There's far too many to mention... but we'll try:

Matthew's Yard; Smoothbean; Crushed Bean; The Lost Format Society Rooftop Cinema; Project B; Wandle Park (or any of the 127 parks we have in Croydon).

Q: What events in Croydon would you recommend?

A: We've got a great deal of festivals arriving in Croydon, including Ambition Festival, Pearl Izumi, and The Big Shake, but there are also a number of regular events which every social Croydonite should check out, such as Hoodoos Open Mic Night, to Smoothbean's Friday Jazz nights and a load of professional networking events that you can find on the Shaking Hands Calendar – shameless plug! 

Q: Describe Croydon in 3 words.

A: Progressive. Collaborative. Underdog.

Q: Who would you recommend for a Just Croydon interview? A: Francois Mazoudier (Founder of Tech Hub), Mike Herd (Sussex Innovation), Rhianna Grazier (NCS The Challenge), Stella Fasusi (Croydon Commitment)

(Just some of their recommendations)