1 – Tell us a bit about yourself
My name is Brent Oldfield, and I co-founded Voltric Mobility Technologies back in 2019 with my business partner Julian Mensah. Voltric offers an all-inclusive subscription service, which allows our subscribers to have their own road ready electric vehicle for one price per month, including insurance, charging, maintenance, etc. Besides running a business, I have just graduated from the University of the West of England with a degree in business (team entrepreneurship). As a hobby I race motocross and I believe it is the activity that keeps me sane, allowing myself a break from the day to day stresses of running a business.
2 – How and when did you get started?
My parents have been entrepreneurs all their lives, and being from Guernsey (Channel Islands), I took their drive for business and moved to Bristol to find my own path. I guess there was a sense of expectation for me to deliver. I started with my first startup called LampCo, turning alcohol bottles into lamps and furthering into bespoke wedding champagne bottles as feature pieces. This worked well as a University project but I realised I wanted to have a greater impact on sustainability and knew there was far more I could be doing.
3 – What has been your most satisfying moment so far?
Easy! It has to be the first ever customer review we received. I was expecting a quick one liner about how they liked our service, but no. I must have read their email about five times before it set in and I realised that what we were doing at Voltric was really fulfilling a need and having a greater sustainable impact. There is nothing more I could love more as a business owner than a customer’s positive feedback and how you have changed their lives.
4 – What motivates/drives you?
For me, it definitely has to be my family. Seeing the success AND failures that we have all been through, makes me want to strive for the best outcome for them all. The balance to this is ensuring that this drive doesn’t turn into unneeded or negative pressure.
5 – What advice would you give yourself at the start of your career?
I would have told myself to not only surround yourself with the right people but ensure that they are constantly challenging and motivating you. Having a great network is good but making the most of that network is great!
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