Meet the Customers: Spatial Synergy

by: Hannah

September 17th, 2010

David understands transport inside-out

David Marshall owns Spatial Synergy, a company that provides spatial and transport planning consultancy.

Spatial Synergy see their ‘final report’ as just the beginning of their job, and work with their clients and delivery partners to ensure that their recommendations are implemented.

With an ecologically sensitive approach, David Marshall’s spatial and transport planning consultancy offers a service that balances the needs of clients and communities. Through experience, advice and a wide network of associates, Spatial Synergy knows how to ‘make things happen’.

For more information about Spatial Synergy, get in touch on 07710 859 669, or visit their website www.spatialsynergy.co.uk

What does your company do?
Spatial and transport planning consultancy work for a range of public, private and voluntary sector clients.

What makes your business different?
We bring 28 years of experience in ‘making things happen’.  The final report isn’t seen as the end but more the beginning.

What inspired you to start this business?
It is something that I have wanted to do for a long time.  Changes within my previous employment provided me with the time and money to go ahead and do it.

Do you have any staff or partners in your business?
I am establishing a network of associates – like minded people with complementary skills to mine who I can call on to provide added value to any particular commission.

Where do you see your business in 3 years?
Well established with a growing reputation and employing 10-12 people.

Visit www.spatialsynergy.co.uk to find out more

What characteristics do you have that will help you make your business a success?
A will to succeed.

What are you most keen to learn that will help you grow your business?
Effective marketing techniques.

Are there any brands, companies or personalities that you most admire or aspire to?
The urban regeneration developer Urban Splash for its fresh approach to developing unfashionable areas of cities, and open access train operator Grand Central for bringing main line rail services to communities that were previously excluded.

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing your company?
Developing a regular client base during a time of financial austerity.  However this gives me opportunities and advantages over the ‘big boys’!

Is being a business owner how you expected it to be, or have you had any surprises along the way?
It is how I expected it – hard but enjoyable work.  I’ve not had any nasty surprises yet!

What is your main goal for your company?
I aim initially to become sufficiently well established to provide me with enjoyable work.  In the longer term to build up a critical mass of similarly minded creative individuals.

Do you have any advice for people thinking of starting their own business?
Life is for living not existing – just go for it.

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Meet the Customers: QS Charles

by: Hannah

September 10th, 2010

QS Charles Ltd provides professional Chartered Quantity Surveyor services to both public and private clients.

A decision was made in 2010 to form a company that could deliver quality, value and results to both corporate and private individual clients, in what has been a challenging realignment of the economic and commercial global environment that existed and operated for a respective chapter in recent economic history.

The way both private and public sector clients assess, procure, manage and deliver their respective goals, has changed in recent times in both the internal and external supply chains.

Welcome to www.qscharles.co.uk

At QS Charles, there has been recognition that there still needs to be a professional, experienced, and regulated service that can be appointed by future and current clients to ensure that their common goals and objectives are accomplished in terms of quality, value and results.Every client of QS Charles is given the same professional service, under the professional standards and ethics, of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, for more information, call us today on 01536 524030, or visit www.qscharles.co.uk.

What does your company do?
QS CHARLES provide the following professional services, under the professional standards and ethics, of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors:

  • Chartered Quantity Surveying
  • Cost Consulting
  • Employers Agents
  • Contract Administration
  • Purchasers Agents
  • Bank Monitoring Surveyors

These services are offered to corporate, private, public and non profit making organisations.

What makes your business different?
The business provides professional services to an entire market, through the global reach of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. QS Charles exists to ensure that the goals and aspirations of clients are met, and that they receive dedicated delivery of quality, value and results, irrespective of their budget. Every client of QS Charles is given the same professional standard of service.

What inspired you to start this business?
For many years my journey to gain professional experience and qualifications has been my goal, and an extremely difficult path to have walked. There have been obstacles and hurdles on this journey, both in my professional and personal life.

The inspiration has come from my beloved family, through what they have achieved and in the way they have conducted their professional and family life. Without the foundations placed by them, I would not have made the most of the opportunities that have been presented to me. I also respect and regard the previous companies that have employed me, as they helped build my knowledge and skills, and I have acquired a wealth of experience from them.

Charles Ridley has a wealth of experience and skills in Chartered Surveying

Do you have any staff or partners in your business?
Currently we have no directly employed staff – but the business is already looking to grow and it will need dedicated good quality and valued full time individuals, who will be treated and respected in order that we all grow and deliver together the common shared goal.

Where do you see your business in 3 years?
I have set QS Charles two important 3 year milestones: to have delivered quality, value and results to our clients beyond their expectations; and also in parallel we have provided a company for people to positively enjoy, contribute to, enjoy working for, and be proud to be part of.


What characteristics do you have that will help you make your business a success?
I have developed the professional discipline of using my eyes, ears, voice, mind, and experience when making professional decisions. At QS Charles we respect others, value peoples’ opinions, views, beliefs, cultures, circumstances and situations.


What are you most keen to learn that will help you grow your business?
The business will grow through maintaining a recognition that that a company only exists by way of its people, and I wish to learn more about placing the future members of this company in an environment whereby they are happy, respected, regarded, and can individually grow for the benefit of themselves, the company and our clients.

Call QS Charles or visit their website to find out more about their professional services

Are there any brands, companies or personalities that you most admire or aspire to?
Virgin Group has set a modern business model of a company group, to diversify and maintain a market presence. Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda have extended their respective, market presence and portfolio of goods in an ever changing market and global economy. World leaders of late have inspired also, the Presidents and Prime Ministers of the global super-economic countries now demonstrate a vision of presence, but with a compassion for global equality, peace and unity, in very challenging economic, and environmental times.


What do you think is the biggest challenge facing your company?
The challenge is to secure professional commissions in a global double recession and try to secure confidence in a UK market.

What is your main goal for your company?
To continue to provide quality, value and results to all our clients, even as the company grows and develops.

Do you have any advice for people thinking of starting their own business?
Believe in yourself, in your own ideas and aspirations. Go ahead and start your own business; rather than look back with regret in the future.

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Meet the Customers: Events Couture

by: Hannah

September 3rd, 2010

Events Couture help put together events of all sizes, styles and budgets

Events Couture is a company that’s actually more of a community. After becoming a mum, Clare Harrison found herself in great demand from her friends and family for her catering skills and amazing parties.

Events Couture was formed to organise parties and events of all sizes, styles and budgets using Clare’s own skills and talents as well as those of her close network of partners and contacts.

Clare considers the experience to be more like working with friends than companies, and it just goes to show that the personal touch she gives to every event is apparent in everything she does.

From small suppers to big weddings, Events Couture always aim to give you the perfect party, whatever your budget, give them a call on 01449 7253104, or 07540 185309 or visit the website at www.eventscouture.co.uk

What does your company do?
Our company caters for everything from relaxed suppers up to weddings, corporate events and everything in between. And now with the launch of our couture cookery school we’re also helping our customers to make their favourite restaurant meals at home any night of the week.

What makes your business different?
At Events Couture, we have the skills to make sure that whatever your budget there’s no need to compromise on the quality of your event.

What inspired you to start this business?
Our customers! Before having my children I had worked in the hospitality trade, and while they were young I carried on catering and planning parties and events for friends and family. Once the children started school, other people started asking if I would do their parties for them, I decided now was the time to set up on my own.

Do you have any staff or partners in your business?
The best thing about setting up the business has been getting to work every day with the friends I’ve made over the years, having people that you can trust and rely on has really made a difference.

Visit the website to start planning your perfect event

Where do you see your business in 3 years?
Hopefully still doing what we love to do!

What characteristics do you have that will help you make your business a success?
Passion for what we do and a determination to keep doing it.

What are you most keen to learn that will help you grow your business?
I think that constantly researching different cultures and cusines as well as focusing on new trends will help to keep our business fresh.

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing your company?
I think the same things most new businesses face really, just getting our name out there and letting people know what were about.

Is being a business owner how you expected it to be, or have you had any surprises along the way?
It’s been surprising how helpful the other companies that we work with have been, their going out of their way to give us their time and help has been really beneficial, especially in the very beginning. It’s great to be part of such a close community of businesses – and friends!

What is your main goal for your company?
To maintain the same personal quality and service as the business grows.

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