Inspired by the UK's can-do attitude to starting up a business, a Frenchman established his own entente cordiale with an Englishman to create technology consultancy business, Liemur. Interviews by Amy Duff

Sylvain Liège
I'd always wanted to create my own business. I left France to work in the UK for IT consultants Valtech and met Cliff. When people were made redundant I said to Cliff, "how about we do something different?" We had ideas about how we could do things better. I liked the guy and trusted him. We worked on a business plan. When we were made redundant, I thought, "here's the road, let's start".

I have a PhD. Usually, I read books, do all the training. For the first time in my life, I had no knowledge of how to create a company. It was craziness and not how I usually am. I jumped into the water because in the UK, it's possible to say "let's do it". In France, it's more difficult. It's not about doing-it's about paperwork.

To start Liemur from scratch was a challenge. Technically, we were very competent. But things like marketing, finding a lawyer, sales-if I had known all that I wouldn't have started. We needed one big customer to get us off the ground and we got HSBC.

I like a challenge. I learn things that are really difficult, and possibly useless to me, to do something with my brain. I like that about running a business-the new stuff.

Cliff is a man who writes down a plan; I dream it. We have different but complimentary personalities. He has his feet on the ground; my head is in the sky. When we make decisions, he's the English, "let's do it, nothing is impossible" and I'm the French, "let's think about it".

I play on my nationality. If I'm doing something unusual I say, "forgive me, I'm French". Some people think it's a strange partnership but mystery is good.

Many of the good decisions we've made have been because there was an obligation to agree. I think we've avoided a couple of mistakes by always discussing things. We may disagree on the how, but not on the where we go.

I'm amazed by Cliff's patience and his attention to detail. If I have no idea what to do, I'll call Cliff and within 45 minutes I'll have a solution. He's very flexible and adroit. Of course, he's an Englishman-he doesn't talk very much. Sometimes he makes me nervous because I don't know what he's thinking.

Now that I know the challenges of a business start-up I'm even more motivated. I'd rather die of stress than die of boredom.

Cliff Murphy
Starting a business is risky, but we had a clear idea of what we wanted to achieve. We had lots of experience-which money can't buy-and were at a prime age to put that into practice. There's only one play button, you've got to have the courage to go for it.

Conveniently, we were made redundant. With the small payout, we set up Liemur. We built a small team and started generating revenue from the outset. We've never had to borrow.

I'd been in management positions and had worked as a contractor, so knew about employment law; I understood the tax system. With hindsight, I would have developed a marketing strategy a lot earlier and learned the difference between sales and marketing.

Sylvain and I are of a similar age, with a similar family set-up. He's French, so you have to learn that there are cultural differences. In the British market there's an implied trust, a gentleman's handshake-you don't necessarily need everything in writing. In France, nothing counts unless it's written down. It can stop an idea from moving on.

Sylvain is very gregarious. He'll also analyse and talk around things. I'll come up with an idea, which is a done deal as far as I'm concerned. He'll say, "I'm going to play devil's advocate".

I tend to work on the operational side, and Sylvain is increasingly more towards the sales side. There's a big common area in the middle. Co-founders can often make mountains out of molehills, but we've never had a show-stopping disagreement. When the email rate goes into overdrive, you know Sylvain wants to "unload his chest". Sometimes we say things that may cause upset, but 20 minutes later it's clear it wasn't a big issue.
Sylvain is driven and focused. His thoroughness is admirable. He devours documents and research papers in English, but it's not his first language. He doesn't give himself credit that he knows so much.

A few of our objectives have changed-making X amount of cash is not so important. I'm motivated by doing things that are out of the ordinary and we want to build our presence in Europe.