Edinburgh Business Lessons: Richard O’Donnell, founder and chief executive of the Property Repair Group

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Edinburgh entrepreneur, Richard O’Donnell, started his business in 2003 and today runs six specialist companies in the insurance reinstatement and property-maintenance fields – Insurepair, Property Repair, Emergency Repair, VeriClaim, ClaimDry and Scottish Roofing, all within the Property Repair Group.

As well as his Edinburgh headquarters, Richard has set up offices in Glasgow and Spain, with 42 staff across the three locations and around 30 subcontractors.

Here, Richard shares with us some of the lessons he’s learned about both running a business and doing business in Edinburgh, as a member of the capital’s thriving entrepreneurial community. 

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from running a business in Edinburgh?

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that reputation is everything. Edinburgh is a relatively small city in business terms despite its international profile. Relationships, reliability and word-of-mouth recommendations still carry enormous weight. Over the years, we’ve learned that consistently delivering on promises is far more valuable than any marketing campaign.

What would you like to see more of or improved in Edinburgh, that could help your business?

Continued investment in infrastructure, transport and support for local businesses would be welcome. Edinburgh is growing rapidly, and ensuring that tradespeople, suppliers and customers can move efficiently around the city will become increasingly important. A thriving city centre and strong local business community benefits everyone.

How has the city helped your business grow?

Edinburgh has played a major role in our growth. The city’s property market, historic housing stock and concentration of professional services created opportunities that allowed us to expand from a local property repair company into a group of specialist businesses

What began in Edinburgh has since grown into a business operating throughout the UK and internationally.

What challenges are unique to doing business in Edinburgh?

One of the biggest challenges is balancing growth with the high expectations that come from operating in a city known for quality and professionalism. Edinburgh clients rightly expect excellent service, strong communication and attention to detail. Maintaining those standards while continuing to grow requires constant focus.

What strengths do Edinburgh businesses have?

Edinburgh businesses tend to be resilient, innovative and relationship-driven. There is a strong entrepreneurial culture within the city, but also a willingness to collaborate and support one another. The mix of established businesses, family-run companies and ambitious start-ups creates a very healthy business environment.

Why do you choose to do business here?

Because Edinburgh is home.

www.propertyrepairuk.com