Our Story

It all started back in 2004... and we've come a long way. Great rates, spectacular service and fast and easy transfers was our mantra.
Take a peek at our journey so far.

• April 2004

  

  World First is born in the basement of a house in Stockwell, with Jonathan Quin and Nick Robinson, former Citibank folks, at the helm.

• April 2004

  Booked our first trade, and made a loss.

• Aug 2004

  

  Hired first employee: Jabu Henson, now our COO.

• April 2005

  Booked £43million in our first year.

• October 2005

  Hit our first £100 million in transactions.

• Dec 2005

  Up to eight employees by the end of the year. Seven still here. ☺

• Jan 2006

  Outgrew our basement and moved to Crombie Mews in Battersea. Enjoyed meetings on the lovely roof terrace.

• March 2006

  

  Launched our Corporate Desk with Alex Sullivan at the helm. Alex also still here.

• Sept 2006

  

  Sir David Clementi, former Deputy Head of the Bank of England, joined our team as our Senior Advisor.

• November 2006

  

  Elisabeth Dobson arrived to head up the Private Client Desk. Elisabeth is also still here.

• Dec 2006

  Started our annual tradition of hosting a team competition at our legendary Christmas parties. This year‘s theme was “Strictly Come Dancing” with lots of tutus, Riverdancing and all around craziness ensuing. Winning video can be seen here.

• Jan 2007

  Started 2007 with 22 employees. By the end of the year, we finished with 40.

• Nov 2007

  Expanded our office, splitting the seams of Crombie Mews. Transactions hit £1billion. Champagne popped.

• Dec 2007

  This year‘s Christmas challenge: “The YuleTube” challenge. The winners did an Eric Prydz spoof, but the video isn't really suitable for public viewing!

• April 2008

  FSA authorisation approved – we are now the first foreign exchange broker in the UK able to sell currency options.

• Dec 2008

  

  Officially grew out of Crombie Mews with 60 employees – upped sticks to our lovely new home overlooking the river Thames in Battersea.

• Dec 2008

  

  Australian office launched. Nick Robinson took a long, long flight to Australia to replicate the business model down under. G‘day!

• Dec 2008

  Christmas Challenge: “FX Factor”. Marc Bertrand‘s team wowed the crowds with his FX version of American Pie. Download and listen to the MP3 here.

• January 2009

  We hit £2billion in transactions. We opened some more champagne.

• January 2009

  First automated SWIFT payment made this month, greatly increasing the speed of our transactions.

• April 2009

  

  We are very proud to be awarded the Queens Award for Enterprise.

• Oct 2009

  

  World Firsters turned up decked out in pink for Breast Cancer. One of our many charity days.

• November 2009

  Became an FSA Authorised Payments Institution under the Payments Services Regulations.

• November 2009

  

  Our first emergence on the Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track – position 53.

• December 2009

  This year‘s Christmas Challenge: “Dragon‘s Den meets the Apprentice”. Watch the winning idea here – why this never took off as a real business will always be a mystery.

• Jan 2010

  

  Awarded our first star for Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For.

• Jan 2010

  

  Launched our industry-leading platform World First Online. Now, over half of our transactions go through this fantastic system.

• March 2010

  

  Another charitable event, this time for Sports Relief. World Firsters like to dress up, if you haven‘t noticed.

• April 2010

  

  Awarded the Service Business of the Year via the Fast Growth Business Awards.

• July 2010

  

  Summer Sports Day in Battersea Park, along with slightly competitive potato sack race with a photo finish.

• October 2010

  

  Finalist in the National Business Awards Customer Focus.

• October 2010

  Private client survey: 98% of our private clients said they would use us again and recommend us to friends. Thanks guys. ☺

• Nov 2010

  

  World First‘s new look was launched.

• Nov 2010

  

  Our second year in a row on the Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track – this time at position 65.

• Dec 2010

  

  This year Christmas Challenge: “YouSpoof” - the winning team wowed us with a unique ‘World First‘ take on Alicia Keys' "Empire State of Mind".

• Jan 2011

  

  Awarded our second star for Sunday Times Best companies to work for. Proud days.

• April 2011

  Hit £5billion in transactions, right around our seventh birthday and Sir David Clementi becomes our Chairman.

• July 2011

  Corporate client survey: 100% of our clients said they would use us again and recommend us to friends. A very proud moment for us.

• Nov 2011

  

  Third year in a row appearance on the Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track, this time at position 81 – a rare but very gratifying achievement.

• Dec 2011

  

  Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Challenge. Some very questionable talent strut their stuff.

• Jan 2012

  Ended our eighth financial year with revenues of just under £15million. A big leap from our humble beginnings in April 2004. We look forward to future growth and more good times in our future.

• August 2012

  

  Shortlisted for the National Business Awards Customer Focus Award.

• Sept 2012

  

  John Green and John Min launch World First USA, Inc. in Washington DC!.

• November 2012

  

  Announced winners of the National Business Awards Customer Focus Award!