Building a Bridge of Opportunity Between the UK and South Africa

When Shaun Smith speaks about his journey, it’s clear that Outsource-SA and Blossom Technology are more than businesses. They bridge two hemispheres and one belief: when given real opportunity, people rise.

“We created this outsourcing model to promote South Africa and give back to our people,” says Shaun, CEO and founder of both entities. “Our same team that works in Outsource-SA in South Africa is Blossom in the UK. It’s one ecosystem.”

A Partnership Forged in Grit

Shaun Smith and Ben Goodwin first worked together in the UK, where their professional fit was immediate. Shaun later brought Ben to South Africa in 2015. That venture didn’t work out, but it clarified what they wanted to build.

Back in the UK, they restarted from zero. Shaun consulted during the day; Ben recruited while working night shifts at Tesco. As Shaun puts it, it was “blood, sweat, and tears,” but it laid the foundation for what would become Blossom Tech and Outsource-SA (OSA). The early years brought financial pressure, failed partnerships, and hard lessons. But those challenges shaped the businesses they would become – resilient, values-driven, and intentional.

“We’ve burnt our fingers along the way,” Shaun says. “But every mistake taught us something.”

Today, Ben leads OSA as Managing Director, drawing on a decade of shared effort and a partnership built on perseverance, not shortcuts.

Creating Entrepreneurs, Not Employees

Empowerment is core to OSA’s model. Shaun and Ben believe in creating internal entrepreneurs rather than simply hiring staff. “We build opportunities and new ‘brands’ inside the business so our people can grow and lead,” says Ben.

This approach has produced real success stories:

• Geralyn, formerly from Aspen Pharma, now runs her own Pharma and Life Sciences business.
• Dylan, Group HR Manager, launched Elevate, an HR outsourcing brand serving UK and South African clients.
• Mojo, an early team member, built Mobile Mojo, a mobile development brand contributing significantly to the group.

This model has become a key engine for growth, retention, and long-term impact.

Empowering the Next Generation

Youth development is embedded in both companies. Their work with the YES Programme gives young Saffas practical experience and access to full-time roles.

One example is Nothando, an HR graduate who joined on a one-year placement and, through training and support, secured a permanent role.

“About 70 to 80 percent of our business is youth-related,” Shaun says. “We’re building the next generation of leaders.”

Values Before Profit

Shaun’s years at Accenture, AP Møller-Maersk, and the BBC shaped his leadership style. Delivering global SAP projects and managing offshoring showed him the potential for outsourcing to South Africa.

“Accenture and Maersk taught me about high standards and core values,” Shaun says. “Our business is built on trust, partnerships, and ethical ways of working. Most of our work comes through referrals.”

The approach is yielding results. OSA was recently named a top-three finalist for BEPESA’s Impact Sourcing Award and is pursuing ISO certification and global training accreditation.

Driving Business Through Sport and Community

As a former professional footballer, Shaun sees strong overlap between sport and business: teamwork, integrity, and purpose. His long-term support includes:

• The Magic Foundation, empowering women in Cape Town through football,
• The Catch Trust and the Gary Kirsten Foundation, both using sport for development.
• The Western Province Deaf Cricket Team, which OSA recently sponsored with equipment and financial support.

For Shaun, these partnerships aren’t PR exercises – they’re personal commitments to dignity, opportunity, and community. “My focus is driving business through sport,” he says.

Connecting Through The Lekker Network

The same spirit of collaboration led Shaun to The Lekker Network. “I saw Renier Lombard’s post on LinkedIn and jumped at it,” he recalls. “For years, I’d been trying to find South Africans in the UK doing business and making a difference. The network’s been incredible – it’s all about trust, relationships, and helping each other.”

This reflects a broader belief in reciprocal partnership and community-building across borders.

The Call for Opportunity

Despite their growth, Shaun is honest about the challenges SMEs face in accessing major corporates.

“We’ve been indirectly servicing clients like Standard Bank for 15 years, supplying resources to their digital projects – and they don’t even know it,” he says. “It’s tough for SMEs like ours to get a foot in the door. All we ask for is opportunity – a fair chance to prove ourselves.”

For Shaun, the gap isn’t capability – it’s access. 

Organic Growth Meets Mentorship

Blossom Tech and OSA have grown exclusively through reinvestment, without loans or external funding. The next step, Shaun believes, requires guidance.

He shares: “We are now actively seeking guidance from experienced South Africans who can help us scale responsibly. That’s what excites me most – learning, growing, and giving back.”

Mentorship, he says, is just as important as strategy in building a truly sustainable global company.

Building a Legacy of Shared Success

Shaun is clear about the sacrifices involved: “We’ve sacrificed a lot, but it’s been worth every minute. We’re slowly getting there – making a valid contribution, building people, and proving that South Africans don’t just succeed abroad; we help others rise with us.”

It’s a concise definition of what drives Blossom Tech and Outsource-SA: building strong businesses that enable others to grow alongside them – a legacy built on impact, partnership, and shared success.