MEA UAE Business Awards 2017

48 MEA MARKETS / UAE BUSINESS AWARDS 2017 , Drawing on almost 15 years’ experience working across theMiddle East, Links Group is an innovative corporate consultancy services firmdedicated to helping individuals and organisations either expand into the region, launch a company, or restructure an existing business. We spoke to Founder and CEO JohnMartin St.Valery to learnmore about the secrets behind the firm’s success. Best for Foreign Business Safeguarding Services - Middle East Established in 2002, Links Group pioneered the corporate nominee model, supporting clients to establish businesses in the Middle East by working as a trusted partner to overcome the regulation surrounding equity participation of foreign businesses in the region, which is often the biggest barrier to entry for many companies. The first company of its kind to be endorsed by the Government of Dubai through a strategic alliance with the Foreign Investment Office (FDI) of the Dubai Economic Department, Links Group has an untarnished track record with over 400 clients, and is also recognised as both a Dubai SME Top 100 company and an Arabian 500 company. John explains in more detail how the firm came to create an innovative space in the market when the firm first began. “At Links Group we have always been pioneers right from the very beginning, when we created the corporate nominee model to in line with legislation in Dubai which prohibits foreign firms from moving into the mainland without a local partner, who must hold majority equity in the company. This can cause issues later in the company’s lifecycle if it gets bigger or the local partner dies, and as such we created a model, which was entirely unique at the time, offering services where we combine business acumen with robust legal counsel to ensure that our clients are protected at all times, and that they can build a business, of which they enjoy 100% beneficial ownership and control. “Since inception this model has taken off, and now the Links Group Model is an industry standard, and we have grown to a team of just under 50 staff working, at any one time, with over 400 clients in Dubai, Qatar and the wider market.” Having started this trend, the group saw the phenomenon take off over the years, and now many firms offer similar services. In response to this, Links Group have grown to provide a wider range of services, as well as ensuring that they offer the very highest standards of service and support to their clients, as John discusses. “When we originally entered the market we were the only firm offering this service, however since then many competitors have joined us, providing similar offerings. As such, we have diversified into offering additional value added services, such as legal translation, which is crucial in our region. We also expanded geographically, and now have offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Qatar, supporting clients across the region. We will shortly be present in the Sultanate of Oman, again due to client demand. “Another key differentiator for Links Group is our commitment to client service. As a service provider, we understand that it is not just about the solutions you offer; you have to provide the very best service possible. As such we are always working collaboratively with our clients to ensure that they receive the services they need and are fully supported at all times.” To ensure that this high level of service is provided, staff are of vital importance, and John and his senior management team have never lost sight of this from the beginning, as he is eager to highlight. “Supporting our staff and creating a supportive and client focused employee culture has been our focus right from the start, and as such we have always had the HR policies in place to ensure that staff feel supported and safe in their work environment. This has paid great dividends, as we have an extremely low employee turnover and many of our staff have been with us since the beginning, a feat which we are incredibly proud of.” UA170086 Recently the group became part of Equiom Group, the globally renowned trust and corporate services provider, allowing it to branch out into more services such as offshore support and the further protection of company assets. As such the future looks bright for the company as it seeks to grow and evolve, buoyed by this latest transaction, as John is proud to conclude. “To capitalise on our current success and our recent takeover by the Equiom Group, Links Group has a twin track strategy. Firstly, we intend to continue to grow organically and build upon our service offering, using the specialities of our new partner, as well as expanding both regionally and internationally. “Alongside this, we are keen to acquire firms with complementary service offerings so that we can provide our clients with additional services which they have been asking for over the years. These developments will provide us with many great opportunities for growth and further success, which we look forward to taking advantage of.”