From selling payment services to building a business of his own, Nicholas’ journey has been shaped by relationships, resilience and an entrepreneurial mindset.

The payments industry has changed significantly over the last decade.

The technology is different. Businesses expect more from their providers. And payments have become increasingly connected to the wider operation of a business.

But some things haven’t changed.

Relationships still matter.

Understanding the customer still matters.

And building a successful business still requires the willingness to keep going when things don’t go to plan.

Those ideas have been at the centre of Nicholas Gould’s journey.

It started with a simple job

When Nicholas joined PaymentSense in 2013, he describes the role as simple.

You sold something and you got paid.

But over time, the opportunity became something much bigger.

Nicholas moved from simply selling payments to building a business of his own.

Today, that business turns over well over half a million pounds a year.

More importantly, it has created an opportunity to build something for his family and future generations.

The role changed.

Nicholas became an entrepreneur.

Keep getting back up

One of the strongest themes that comes through when people talk about Nicholas is resilience.

One colleague recalled how Nicholas experienced setbacks early in his journey, got back up, signed customers, then continued to pursue increasingly larger opportunities.

That is a much more familiar version of entrepreneurship than the overnight-success story.

Things don’t always go according to plan.

Deals fall through. Opportunities disappear. You have to start again.

What matters is what happens next.

Nicholas’ career has been defined by continuing to move forward.

Think bigger

Another theme comes through repeatedly in the messages from his colleagues.

Nicholas doesn’t seem particularly interested in putting a ceiling on what is possible.

There is a willingness to pursue bigger businesses, build new relationships and keep looking for the next opportunity.

That mindset has stayed with him throughout his time in payments.

It is also one of the reasons relationships have played such an important role in his career.

You can have the right technology, the right proposition and the right business model.

But ultimately, business is still built between people.

Building something for the next generation

Nicholas’ story is also a family story.

His family talk about his work ethic, his achievements and the example that has created for them.

There is a different motivation when you are building something that can extend beyond yourself.

Something your children can learn from.

Something your grandchildren can benefit from.

That sense of legacy is a recurring theme in the story behind the Lifetime Achievement Founders Award.

The next chapter

Nicholas was recently recognised with Dojo’s Lifetime Achievement Founders Award.

It is a significant milestone after years spent building businesses, relationships and opportunities within the payments industry.

But perhaps the most telling part of the story came from one of the people congratulating him on the award.

After reflecting on everything Nicholas has achieved, they finished with a simple message:

The story has not ended yet.

That is probably the best way to look at entrepreneurship.

There is always another customer to meet.

Another problem to solve.

Another opportunity to pursue.

And another chapter to build.

For Nicholas, that chapter is now continuing through omnigo.