As I look forward to the global restructuring referred to in yesterday's blog, it is perhaps time to reflect on where this all started.
I established HB Internet in London, back in May 1996. It was based in a converted garage in a cobbled street in Paddington. It was the ultimate start-up.
Over the next few years, we moved around various London addresses including Kew, West Hampstead and Kings Cross before finally settling into Russell Square. At our height in 2001, we employed 25 full-time designers, developers, sales and admin staff and worked with major corporates including BT, the UN, Canon Europe, the UK DTI and the UK NHS.
By 2002, we had opened HBI Software in Bangalore and had started to outsource development work there. The development team in London shrunk in size, so by mid-2003, it was possible for Jacqui and myself to consider the move to New Zealand.
Today, HB Internet still has a virtual office in Cannon Street. It continues to project manage long-term maintenance contracts for the United Nations as well as project manage other legacy accounts.
We still catch up with members of the old HB team when we visit the UK. HB Internet was for many, their first taste of web technology and development, and it is great to see how many are now recognised leaders in their respective fields. It's strange to think now that it all started in that converted garage in Paddington. Nostalgic indeed.
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