From Solo Founder to CEO - Oliver Alcock on Building, Selling and Buying A Business

In this Ribble Valley Business Awards Special, I’m joined by Oliver Alcock, CEO and owner of The Printed Cup Company, for a brilliant, honest conversation about business growth, reinvention, and keeping your local roots no matter how far your work travels.

Oliver takes us back to the beginning, when he launched Oliver Alcock Computers in Clitheroe as a one-man band, simply aiming to replace his salary and take control of his own future. He shares why he rebranded to Bowland IT, how that change helped the business scale, and why he believes failure is part of the process, because it is how you find your niche and move forward stronger.

We hear how Bowland IT grew far beyond what most people would imagine, supporting multi-site organisations and even high-profile, high-security environments, while still keeping a friendly, “local IT company” feel that clients valued. Oliver also shares the emotional decision to sell Bowland IT after receiving an offer he could not refuse, and how quickly the next chapter arrived.

That next chapter is The Printed Cup Company, where Oliver did not just buy a business, he bought a culture. He talks about the joy of working with customers who are excited about their brands, from independent coffee vans to larger chains, and how he is bringing his tech background into manufacturing by improving systems and exploring automation. 

Finally, Oliver explains why The Printed Cup Company is proud to be the headline sponsor of the Ribble Valley Business Awards, championing the local business community that shaped his own journey.

https://www.printedcupcompany.com

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Kath Lord-Green - Your Fairy Podmother