Bernd Petak – Establishing a thriving global Technology business in the Isle of Man

Bernd Petak’s former Deloitte career took him around the world, but nothing compared to the Isle of Man, where he now runs a thriving technology advisory a stone’s throw from his favourite hiking trails.

The draw to the Island

I first discovered the Isle of Man on a weekend trip during a stint working with Deloitte Consulting in London during the mid-1990’s. I've lost count of the places I've lived in my life, but the Isle of Man has a character like no other – it’s a truly remarkable place.

Decades later, when it was time for my partner Aurelia and I to consider a significant geographical change, the Island called us. We wanted a less hectic lifestyle outside of a city, whilst having good amenities and being well connected to Europe – the Isle of Man offered it all!

What’s more, the proximity to the British Isles enabled Aurelia to access a world-class opportunity to complete a specialist Masters degree at an institution that was within easy travel distance of the Island.

A thriving business environment

Entrepreneurship has always played a big role in my life, and I have been delighted with the ease in which I was able to set up Make IT Global - the Isle of Man-based sister company to Make IT.

After the Department for Enterprise helped us understand the Business Migrant route as the most appropriate avenue to support our relocation, I wasted no time in getting the business going. Establishing our company on the Isle of Man was not nearly as complex or time consuming as we might have expected. We were seamlessly able to identify and build relationships with capable and helpful professional service providers, who have gone out of their way to provide assistance.

As a knowledge worker, I can conduct business from any location. From our base on the Isle of Man I have an international, exciting and dynamic career, while also being able to take advantage of the close links to the UK and Europe. We see significant opportunities to expand the business further in the London market, so being able to make short trips to build relationships in the city has been highly valuable.

Make IT Global was also able to attract well-qualified candidates to work for the company on the Island, and we have benefited greatly from the Digital Isle of Man’s support programs.

From desk to nature

As anyone that has visited the Isle of Man knows, there is no shortage of things to do.

The abundance of nature and coastal paths has been a particular pleasure for us as avid hikers. I spend a good deal of my free time in the Castletown area, hiking on the Raad ny Foillan, a long-distance footpath that extends around the full length of the Island’s coastline, offering hiking enthusiasts the opportunity to walk around a whole nation!

Home is where the heart is

Relocation is always a risky step to take in business and in life, but the fundamentally welcoming nature of the Manx people has made it a resounding success – there has not been a single moment when we have not felt welcome.

Learning about Manx culture has been highly rewarding, and in our minds, our greatest success has been the degree to which we have been able to integrate into the local community, both professionally and socially. It’s been a privilege to take a seat on the Board of Directors of Digital Isle of Man, which has been invaluable in creating numerous opportunities to interact with and support digital industry participants on the Island.

It’s hard to imagine a more open and welcoming community to become part of, and we look forward to making the Isle of Man our permanent home.