Imran Savas is the CEO of Tape . He founded the company which specialises in accounting, marketing, and IT Services in 2019. He was recently nominated for ‘Role Model of the year’ at The National Diversity Awards and ‘Most Influential Businessperson of the year’ at The MBCC Awards.
- Tell us about your background
Mauritian heritage, cockney accent and peripatetic
- Who/ what inspired you in life
Death is my biggest inspiration as time is so precious, we all must try our upmost not to waste a second and most importantly to not have any regrets in life.
- How did you come to found Tape?
I wanted to help small businesses as behind every small business was a person who had a dream but not necessarily the support.
- Describe the work you do helping businesses
Tape is an innovative business which provides Accounting, Marketing, and IT services to help support entrepreneurs across the United Kingdom. Clients can pick and choose which services that they require, and our team will provide an experienced and professional service to help them thrive.
- What do you think Chester does well at?
Combined with its rich history and heritage, Chester has a range of amazing independent businesses and a wonderful community spirit. Cool cafes, fine dining restaurants and quirky boutiques to go with the constant moaning about new hotels and student accommodation. What a city to live in!
- And what could it improve on
I feel that Chester still lacks much diversity; it would be great to see more women, people of colour and people with disabilities in business.
Parking charges must become more competitive to combat the lack of consistent footfall for all our high street businesses alongside more affordable rents and rates.
- How have you coped with the pandemic /lockdowns
The pandemic forced us to reinforce our working structure, it also allowed us to expand our clientele and network much further than we could have imagined due to remote working.
On a personal level, it gave me an opportunity to reflect and appreciate what I have in my life.
- Do you feel the rise of social media has benefited society ?
Like most things, there are pros and cons, and it is ultimately down to opinion.
I am a huge fan of social media and do believe that it has benefitted society. It has allowed me to connect with so many extraordinary people around the world, gain quick access to information and research as well content discovery.
Sadly, there is an ugly side to social media too. While bullying is not a new concept, social media has brought bullying to a new level. It becomes a more constant, ever-present threat and social media platforms have so much more to do.
- What advice would you give your younger self?
In life there is always going to be ups and downs, but the key is to find solutions.
- If you could time travel, where/when would you go
I would go back to the ‘Swinging Sixties’ which was a cultural youth-driven revolution that emphasised modernity with London as its epicentre. Young people were finally given a voice and freedom to do what they wanted. It also saw a flourish in art, music, fashion, and cultural icons.
- Which person living or dead would you take for an independent coffee or drink?
Arsene Wenger; the man taught me about class, values and to give people an opportunity.
- What do you do to relax
I don’t but God willing I will learn to…one day.
- Favourite film of all time and why
I am a fan of Quentin Tarantino and Martin Scorsese films but ultimately my favourite of all time must be Planes, Trains and Automobiles. I mean, what a classic!
- What are your favourite places in Chester ?
Where to start!? 9 Elephants, Chalk Coffee, Jaunty Goat, The Guild, Bar Lounge, Red Door, Opera Grill – and so much more!
- What song would you sing on karaoke night ?
Neil Diamond – Sweet Caroline or Gala – Freed from Desire
- Name a famous person you have met
Nusret (Salt Bae) who claimed that he knew who I was? Ha!
- What makes you happy
Seeing others happy! The satisfaction from seeing family, friends, staff, clients, and good people in the community winning in life.
- What makes you sad
Seeing people in poverty and starvation across the world and being unable to fix it. Nothing worse than feeling helpless.
- What are you most proud of in your career?
I am proud to have been able to help people from all walks of life and to have built a successful first business which stemmed from an idea which had no blueprint to follow.
As a by-product of Tape’s success, I have been invited to universities, schools, and national businesses to talk about leadership, the importance of community and diversity in business and have since been recognised by being nominated for acclaimed awards.
- How do you feel about the future ?
I have no idea as I live my life one day at a time. We cannot predict the future but if I have a roof over my head, food on the table and my health then I am a rich person.
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