Malta, November 5th, 2020.

Located in Malta, NIU is a full-service web design and development firm that builds, improves and scales digital products which impacts and drives results.

Its long list of services includes digital marketing, web application development, mobile apps, WordPress and WooCommerce development and hosting and security.

James Abela co-founded NIU with his friend Matthew Sammut when they were university students and since then the agency has rapidly expanded.

In an interview with TIA, Abela listed the elements that make NIU stand out and highlighted some of the agency’s recent work, describing the challenges of working in the pandemic.

What makes Malta an attractive place to work?

Having headquarters in the heart of Europe definitely has its advantages. Apart from giving our talent the opportunity to enjoy the Maltese lifestyle and our beautiful surroundings, being in a strategic business hub and having the ability and possibility of working with top brands from all over the globe definitely has its perks.

Tell us about your personal journey. How did you find yourself co-founding an agency?

The NIU story was born 14 years ago. My dear friend and co-founder Matthew Sammut and I were university students back then. The journey has definitely been an exhilarating one we’re so proud that we’ve built a home-grown brand which has quickly become a full-service web design and development firm.

Put simply we’re the ‘go-to agency’ for companies of all sizes – from start-ups to Fortune 500 brands who turn to us for our extensive list of services which include digital marketing, web application development, mobile apps, WordPress and WooCommerce development, hosting and security.

Currently, we are servicing 200+ clients and 500+ projects so as you can imagine there’s never a dull moment for our awesome team.

Apart from NIU we also joined forces with Nikolai Sammut and co-founded ICE Malta (icemalta.com) which is the island’s leading ICT Academy representing some of the most prestigious names in learning such as Adobe, Autodesk, Cisco, Microsoft, AWS, The Digital Marketing Institute and many others.

Our latest project is TheStudentCampus.com – an easy to use learning management system integrated with a virtual learning environment for schools and companies. We combined our tech expertise with our passion for learning, upskilling and reskilling and have built a one-of-a-kind online space which is revolutionizing the world of online education.

What makes NIU stand out?

The NIU brand stands out because we focus on forward-looking technologies and add a creative touch to anything that we present. We are driven to set higher standards, create innovative, effective campaigns and empower brands to embrace digital and tech. We leave our mark, always.

In your opinion, what ingredients are key to create a successful web development project?

Our core values include a number of key ingredients which we motivate our team to remember throughout the different phases of a project.

First, the art of listening. Second, attention to detail. And third, and one of the most crucial, under-promise and over-deliver. We understand that top brands trust us because of the stellar reputation that we have built and we take great pride in each and every project in our portfolio.

We love what we do and clients quickly realize that we become as passionate about their project as they are.

Of all the projects you/your agency has produced, which one are you most proud of?

As mentioned, all projects give our team rewarding moments, however, to answer your question the first projects that stand out and come to mind are
Malta Financial Services Authority: https://niu.com.mt/cases/mfsa-web-development/
LovinMalta.com: https://niu.com.mt/cases/lovin-malta-group-web-hosting-support-development/
Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit: https://niu.com.mt/cases/fiau-web-development/
MgarrFarms.com: https://niu.com.mt/cases/mgarr-farms-web-design-development/

A fundamental aspect of business is encouraging innovation. What steps have you put in place to guarantee this happens at NIU?

Innovation is at the heart of our business. In fact, we are presently going through a rigorous restructuring process to be able to allow more growth. The demand for our services is high so our goal is to make sure that we are able to scale and deliver the same high-level consistent quality expected from us.

Since the COVID-19 epidemic began, how does communication flow through the agency?

We’ve pivoted to a remote-working situation however I’m so pleased to see that our communication flow has improved notably. All employees across different departments communicate effectively and have embraced this new scenario brilliantly.

What’s an interesting trend you’ve noticed in the industry?

All businesses, across all industries, have rapidly shifted to digital and this means that they immediately need a strong online presence which is target-driven, a reflection of their brand and a sales generator.

Companies are investing because they know that at this point this is their only path if they want to survive and thrive while brands which have already built a strong online presence are focusing on internationalization which is an exciting milestone for their teams and ours.

From your personal standpoint, what global issues are you most passionate about and why?

Giving individuals the opportunity to gain the in-demand industry skills that top brands need no matter where they are. Building learning programs aligned to industry needs so that talent can continue to adapt swiftly and progress steadily.

What do you like doing in your free time?

Networking definitely is one of my most favorite past-times – the opportunity to connect with like-minded driven individuals who are passionate about their mission and goals.

I also love spending time with my family and friends, traveling and keeping up to date with the fast-moving world of tech.

Can you name a fun fact people would be surprised to learn about you?

I am a guest lecturer at the University of Malta and have been for years. I dedicate a substantial amount of time to share my insight and expertise with the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Thanks James!

Learn more about NIU

Follow James Abela on social media: 
LinkedIn

Follow NIU on social media:

LinkedIn
Facebook
Instagram

brandsBuildingCOVID-19DesignDigital ProductsEuropeprojectsstrategic