SME Case study 1 printed from the Technology Means Business web site
 

Growing a small business

     
Focus of study:
  Business data linked to website
Sector:
  Shipping Industry
Impact:
   National and International
     
Expert advice helps move home-based enterprise to international success
 
When business partners, Steve Cox and Phil Parry realised that to help their business progress they needed to update their database, they called in a Technology Means Business approved adviser. The results exceeded their expectations: a more powerful and efficient database, less time spent with admin and more time to devote their expertise to good use in the business.
 
Partners Steve Cox and Phil Parry launched their specialist recruitment service Spinnaker Consulting to plug a gap in the shipping industry. With the creation of www.shippingjobs.com it has grown from a home-based enterprise to a successful international business, servicing clients in the US and the Far East.
 
The Business Opportunity
 
In the early days of building Spinnaker's reputation the partners had sufficient time to handle the information on clients and candidates - first from a simple manual system and later using a basic computerised database system. Matching clients to candidates manually was time-consuming and not a long-term option as demand soared. When Steve realised a much more sophisticated database was needed he called on the services of Cathryn Fox, an independent consultant with Technology means Business accreditation, who run Objective. The results gained by Spinnaker demonstrate ample evidence of the beneficial effects of the way advisers with TMB accreditation combine business and ICT expertise.
 
WEB DESIGNER JOHN FINLEY WITH STEVE COX AND PHIL PARRY OF SPINNAKER
 
"Cathryn had little knowledge of the shipping industry," explained Steve Cox, "but she adapted to our way of doing things. She also had a very practical approach. She did not try to sell us a Rolls Royce when all we needed was a Mini."
 
The results exceed their expectations
 
Cathryn's database expertise has combined the client and candidate data, and linked it to the website designed by Objective's web designer John Finley to Cathryn's specification, enabling Spinnaker to handle administration in a fifth of the time. Streamlining administration also freed the company's fee earners so they could concentrate on providing their expert knowledge of the industry rather than dealing with administration.
 
"Working with Cathryn has been a joint effort", say Steve, "we have achieved more than we ever expected. As we went along we found ways of managing our processes slightly better, which stared to bring benefits from early on in the project. Our predicted growth has also been taken into account. The IT system now accommodates our twelve staff and has the capacity to handle up to 25 with further enhancement."
 
Steve's idea of bringing in specialist adviser has enabled him and his partner to embrace information and communication technology, in a way that suits how they operate and enables them to grow the business and increase efficiency. It also enabled them to devote more time to their core business activities. The advantage of using an adviser with TMB accreditation is that they have both business and ICT experience and their advice is impartial. As Steve and Phil have experience, it's the ideal way for small and medium sized companies to progress.