Welcome to our series, ‘Meet the Entrepreneur’, where we meet entrepreneurs and start-ups from the Channel Islands to find out what they are doing and what makes them tick.
Today, we meet Daniel Liot, the founder of Zia IT Support Services, as he celebrates his first three years running his own business on Jersey.
Can you tell us about your background and previous experience?
My extensive experience in Information Technology (IT) spans over 25 years within the financial sector in Jersey. I have comprehensive knowledge and expertise in diverse technologies and my particular expertise is in IT service desk operations, systems and management – the first line of support and back bone to any business.
I was born and educated here on Jersey so have lots of connections around the island, which has been invaluable to get me going as a start-up with Zia IT.
What led to your decision to start your own business?
During the Covid period when lots of staff were working from home, I was visiting them to sort out problems with their IT setups to keep them operating remotely. I enjoyed this connection with people and could see there was a real market for a holistic IT support provider for home, small businesses and corporate service desk consultancy. I had always helped friends and family out with adhoc IT issues and thought ‘Lets do it’ and I started conceptualising Zia IT Support Services
Armed with my idea and a credit card, a new-found confidence and shear determination, I made the decision to set up Zia IT Support Services to provide a holistic IT Support business and to work alongside in-house IT teams reducing the stresses and strains of busy IT departments.
What makes you stand out from the others?
Have you seen my fantastic branded van? It’s has my distinctive pink colour so we really stand out in a crowd! Thank you to Jo Ferbrache and the team at AI Studio for the new design and website and ABC Signs for wrapping the van.
Seriously, my business is all about helping people and my community ethos runs through everything I do here at Zia IT. From individuals to corporates I take pride in being able work things out to help all my clients to have a positive experience.
My business is all about helping people and my community ethos runs through everything I do here at Zia.
As a member of the Service Desk Institute (the global leaders of best practice in this field) my clients can be confident I keep my skills and knowledge up to date as a qualified Service Desk Manager. Zia IT has the support and confidence from the IT support sector and this helps me forge strong partnerships built on trust.
If you need assistance with Service Desk SLA’s, XLA’s and KPI’s, help with staff development or analysis of weekly/monthly reporting give me a call at Zia IT. My aim is to make sure your business goals are aligned to continual service improvements.
What is the most interesting thing about your work?
For me the most interesting thing about my work is the people I can help, yes it is definitely all about the people. Particularly happy people once I have sorted out their IT issues.
What do the next few years look like for your business?
I have been on an amazing journey building relationships with Zia IT over the last three years. I now have an assistant who handles all my bookings and admin which means I can completely focus on getting out and helping my clients.
My aims now are to continue developing further contracts with corporate businesses to review, respond and resolve their Service Desk challenges. This could be due to a time of transition for your organisation or maybe you need an extra pair of hands for a specific project. Contact Zia IT to discuss your requirements.
What advice would you give to someone looking to set up their own business?
Go for it and keep going for it! Keep true to your principles, use all the knowledge and experience you have gathered along the way and, most importantly, do not be afraid to ask for help from others who have already taken the leap.
I am lucky to be so well supported by my family, friends and clients. A special thank you must go to Tech Supplies in Sand Street, St Helier who have really helped me out with equipment purchases, advice and service plus promoting Zia IT to their customers.
At the same time, always remember to give a bit back. I am motivated by helping others so support local initiatives and charities if I can. These are quite diverse from sponsoring local horse show-jumping event and the fabulous HSBA Garden Railway also giving my time to JEDS (Jersey Eating Disorders Support for those affected by eating disorders) to help keep them supported with all their IT requirements.
What do you do with your free time?
Outside of work I am very active with the Sober Movement and community in Jersey taking part in mindful meet-ups walk and talks and helping organise sober events across the island.
Plus I work alongside my brother John Liot on the I’m Glad You Exist (IGYE) positive mental health message. For this year’s IGYE walk on the 15th of February, I am raising money for Mind Jersey.
Both of these initiatives keep me busy and are so important to me and my continued success with Zia IT.
Daniel is the founder of Zia IT Support Services. For more information contact him at [email protected] or www.zia.je.
Are you a Channel Islands entrepreneur/startup who would like to be featured in Channel Eye? If so, please drop us an email to [email protected]