It’s hard to imagine that a global enterprise with over 20 million members and operations spanning the UK, USA, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Australia began above a kebab shop in Uttoxeter.
Yet for Olly Ragg and Mike Tomkins, that was the unassuming beginnings of TopCashback, a company now synonymous with saving people money on their everyday spending.
“In the early days, we pretty much just ran the operation entirely ourselves”, Olly recalls.
“It was as low cost of an operation as you could get. We would be working from home, serving the website from our own computers over a basic internet connection, programming the website ourselves and even taking care of the customer service.
“That was our life for two or three years.”
The concept of TopCashback was simple. Save as many people as much money as possible through an easy-to-use online platform.
Following steady growth, Olly and Mike decided it was time to move into an office in Uttoxeter.
“Our very first office was above a kebab shop with a financial advisor called Gavin Carr.
“Gavin happened to have a bit of spare office space, which was essentially a desk for us in a shared room. From there, we grew into a shoebox space with no outdoor windows, but the important thing was that we had our first official office space.
Pictured: TopCashback’s old office above the Indiana Kebab Shop in Uttoxeter, which they occupied from 2009-2010.
“Having an office allowed us to start properly employing people, growing the workforce and our business. We took on our first employee who ended up staying with us for over a decade.”
Olly and Mike’s efforts were paying off, with a growing member base and a brand that was graining traction, notably receiving a significant boost with national coverage mentioning them as one of the best cashback sites on the market.
“That was a turning point,” says Olly.
TopCashback would move offices three times in Uttoxeter, before its growth necessitated a move to Stafford for somewhere big enough to fit the expanding team.
“There was good availability here in Stafford. We’ve got lots of space for expansion if we need it, which is good to have.
“In terms of the town, there is good transport links here, centrally-located with easy train links into London and Manchester – which was crucial as the company’s operations expanded internationally.
“Our only criticism might be that the original bus route was taken away that some employees used. However, Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce have been lobbying to see this return, and it’s an initiative we very much support.”
Conscious that it was relocating its workforce, TopCashback launched an initiative to subsidise travel costs for staff during the first couple of years in the new offices.
It’s one of many staff programmes TopCashback operates, which also include things like summer and winter socials, TopTalks – its own version of Ted Talks – and the Hummingbird Games, all engineered to help create a team-focused environment for all colleagues.
These events are organised by Michelle Hayes, TopCashback’s Internal Communications and Events Manager, and a success story in her own right, having started on an initial three month contract in a customer service role before spending the next 10 and a half years developing in to different roles and climbing the ladder to a management position.
Michelle said: “TopCashback is not only a great place to work but it has also given me the opportunity to develop not only at a business level, but also a personal level.
“If you are interested in different areas of the business, there are programs to support staff with this, which opens up opportunities for anyone wanting to learn new skills.”
Despite its impressive growth, the company’s mission remains steadfast: to help people save as much money as possible on their everyday spending.
“Even though we have grown exponentially since the beginning, the commitment to our mission of being the most generous cashback company in the world remains the same”, added Olly.
“TopCashback’s success is deeply rooted in its commitment to fairness and customer-centric values.
“We are a company based on fairness. Treating people fairly is at the heart of our business and our Fair Play policy, which goes for both our staff and our members.”
Today, TopCashback operates in seven countries, including the UK, the US, Germany, France, Australia, Italy, and Spain, with plans to continue expanding through Europe.
“We’re now having a pause after launching in Spain, having done so many in quick succession. After that, we will continue to expand through Europe.
“Even though we’re growing around the globe, we will always have Staffordshire as our home – it is a good base to operate from.
“The community here has a good feel, and we have a big graduate placement programme, people who work here while they are at nearby universities.
“We have had lots of support from Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, too. In our early days, we made good use of the business helplines, and then as we grew, we utilised the networking opportunities and events to meet new contacts and businesses. We also consulted the Chamber who supported us with our international expansion plans.”
TopCashback is not just focused on business growth. The company is also committed to making a positive impact on society and the environment.
“We’re quite proud of the fact that we are environmentally minded. The company supports various local causes and national charities, such as the Money Charity, which focuses on money education.
“We also make impact investments, supporting initiatives that benefit society and the environment, like the Highlands Rewilding project in Scotland.”
Looking ahead, TopCashback’s goals remain ambitious yet grounded in its core mission.
“The main thing we want to do is keep getting better and better, and growing our member base. One of our main mantras is to save more members more money.”
With plans to launch more products for its UK audience and further international expansion, TopCashback shows no signs of slowing down. And in Staffordshire, this global company has found the perfect home to continue its remarkable journey.
