How to Fast Track your business: Clive Nation, Cennox

Clive Nation, 60, a former Travelex director, spotted an opportunity to start an ATM cleaning service in 2006. He has since expanded Cennox to provide ATM parts, security, signage and branding. Having secured £5m in two rounds of growth capital from BGF, the company ranked at No 59 on the 2015 Sunday Times Fast Track 100.

What inspired you to start your business?

The desire to improve the service culture in the ATM market. Having been a client of these services I was well placed to experience the shortcomings that exist.

What has been your biggest challenge?

Leveraging sufficient capital to be able to expand and acquire the businesses that Cennox wanted to purchase in order to grow.

What has been your best business decision?

Employing sales and marketing director Nick Cockett and chief financial officer Roy Dodd, and also acquiring Sterling Bank Services in the US, which has been transformational.

What has been your worst business decision?

Not starting the business sooner!

Which business leader would you most like to share a meal with and why?

Richard Branson, because he is single-minded, focused and not afraid of what people think of him.

Which company do you most admire and why?

Apple, because of the way that it rose from such a low place to become surely the most highly-respected and successful company. And I am amazed by Tesla Motors’ ability to transform an under-developed technology into a market-leading one, whilst in the shadow of major car manufacturers.

BGF is a sponsor of Fast Track 100 and Tech Track 100