From start-up to sell-out: Geoff’s journey and why he’s back to help yours
- What really happens after you sell the business you built from scratch?
- Geoff Hill shares the unexpected reality of retirement – including the surprising jobs he considered next
- Now back at the BIC, he’s tapping back into the entrepreneurial energy he loves by helping founders navigate growth, exit and mindset
“None of the money, but all of the buzz.” That’s how Geoff Hill describes his role today as a BIC Ambassador.
After selling his successful training business and stepping into retirement, Geoff found himself missing the adrenaline, the challenge – and the people.
Now he’s back at the BIC, not to run a company, but to help others build theirs.
But let’s rewind…
Retirement: The reality check
When Geoff sold iqms at 58, he thought he was ready for retirement. “I always had 62 in my head,” he says, “but the opportunity to sell was right, and I took it.”
What followed was a whirlwind of holidays, fitness classes, cycling adventures, and even project managing a house extension. But the quiet moments crept in. “You wake up and think, what am I going to do today?” he admits.
“One minute it’s full on, next minute it’s nothing.”
He missed the buzz of business – the travel, the client relationships, the sense of purpose.
“I used to fly out, deliver training in mainland Europe, the Middle East, Far East, Africa and the Americas, meet amazing people and find surprises and challenges around every corner,” he says.
He tried recreating some of these moments in retirement – dipping into some consulting work and exploring numerous business investment opportunities.
He even imagined a couple of post-retirement jobs: a valet parker at the Monte Carlo casino or a bus driver at Disneyland. “Happy people every day the bus doors open,” he laughs.
The journey that got him there
Geoff’s business journey began in 1992 and moved to the BIC in 1995. He knew from day one he was building a business he could one day sell. “I didn’t have anyone in the family who’d want to take it on,” he says. “So, I knew I needed an exit strategy.”
That foresight shaped every decision. iqms began as a consultancy helping businesses achieve quality certification, but quickly pivoted to training – a move that proved transformational.
Within just six months of embracing emerging online marketing techniques, Geoff’s team was running courses out of six centres across the UK.
The company expanded internationally, partnering with organisations in 13 countries and delivering accredited training in sectors like oil and gas, banking, insurance, food and drink, service, and manufacturing.
“We worked with some amazing clients,” Geoff says. “I never thought Coca-Cola would come to us – but they did.”
The exit strategy: easier said than done
Geoff spent two years preparing iqms for sale – removing himself from daily operations, empowering staff, and ensuring the business could run without him.
But none of that planning could have prepared him for the emotional toll.
“I didn’t realise how taxing it would be.”
“Legally you can’t tell your staff, and I hated keeping it from them,” he admits. “You’re trying to let go, but you’re still the person everyone turns to.”
The first sale fell through at the eleventh hour. Geoff had just finished what he thought would be his final training course in Monaco when he got a call from the buyer who was pulling out.
“I had to go back to the office the next day like nothing had happened,” he says. “Nobody knew. I couldn’t tell them. That was awful.”
Eventually, the right buyer came along – SAI Global, a billion-dollar Australian company expanding into Europe. Geoff’s pitch was simple: “You can start from scratch, or you can buy us and hit the ground running.”
In a satisfying full circle move, the company – now known as iqms Learning – has returned to the BIC following a management buyout.
Back at the BIC: this time to give back
Today, Geoff is back at the BIC – not as a founder, but as a mentor to those starting up or running an existing business. As a BIC Ambassador, he volunteers his time to support tenants with honest advice, strategic insight, and a listening ear.
“I’ve helped businesses with just a few hours of advice that have made a real, lasting difference,” he says. “It’s not about doing the work for them – it’s about pointing them in the right direction.”
His experience means he understands the emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship. From sleepless nights to sliding door decisions, he’s been there. And he’s passionate about helping others navigate it with one key lesson:
“You can’t control everything. But if you can keep a positive mental attitude, it fundamentally changes how you handle things.”
Want to work with Geoff?
If you’re running a business at the BIC and want to benefit from the BIC Ambassador scheme, reach out to our Tenant Adviser Debbie Simpson.