www.acq-intl.com • Business Excellence Awards 2019
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Excellence awards 2019 Cardiff Sports Nutrition: Best Sports Nutrition Retailers 2019 - South Wales Eagle Construction Services: General Contractor of the Year 2019 - Ontario
Also in this issue:
Best Online Global Trading Industry News Resource 2019
Featuring: Five Things E-Commerce Retailers Should Look for When Choosing an Online Inventory
Management System - Page 66 New Research Tool Launched to Solve Data Headache for Digital Marketers - Page 67
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Welcome to the 2019 Business Excellence Awards Calling all companies, businesses and enterprises! We would like to welcome you all to the AI Business Excellence Awards. Whether you are from a large conglomerate or small independent business, we look to honour anyone who has excelled in their sector. In these times of financial and economic upheaval, the business environment can be more uncertain than ever. From global issues of an increasingly erratic climate, to political instability and data security questions, enterprises are facing challenges, new and old. With our programme, we have provided our winners with the opportunity to be recognised for your perseverance and determination in these difficult times. Having been run for over five years, the AI Business Excellence Awards are a chance for you to reap the rewards your hard work deserves. Whether you have been in business for years or months, this is the chance to be rewarded for your excellence and passion, from a trusted source.
Hannah Stevenson - Awards Editorial Manager
Contents 4 Cambrian Fuel Card Services: Best Fuel Purchasing Solutions Company 2019 – UK
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Arthur Stone Planning and Architectural Design Ltd: Best Emerging Town Planning & Architectural Design Consultancy – Scotland & Bespoke EcoHome Design Services of the Year 2019 - UK
8 Dominion Fund Management Limited: Best International Fund Management Group 2019 10 Amplified Marketing: SME Marketing Company of the Year 2019 - South Africa & Leading Experts in Conversion Optimization Services - South Africa 11 DD Consultus Limited: Best Online Gaming Consultants 2019 12 FutureThink: Most Innovative Business Workshop Training Facilitator 2019 & Most Inspirational Woman in Communications Strategy & Execution 2019 13 Channel Facilities Management Limited: Best Commercial Office Cleaning Company 2019 - South England & Sustained Excellence in Facilities Management Services - South England 14 Sapper Support: Best Mental Health Support Charity 2019 - UK 15 MYLE - Make Your Life Easier: Best Organisation Accessories Retailer 2019 16 Euler Hermes Asia Pacific: Best Credit Insurance Solutions Provider 2019 - Asia Pacific 17 Unforgettable Croatia: Best Bespoke Luxury Croatian Tour Operator 2019 18 SeekVisa Migration Agents and Immigration Lawyers: Best Immigration Advisory Firm 2019 – Victoria 20 Pro-Tech Enterprises LLC: Best Aircraft Parts & Consumables Supplier 2019 & Aviation Solutions Provider of the Year 2019 22 Supremecoat: Most Advanced Paint Protection 2019 – UK
6 Easy as HGV: Best HGV Training & Recruitment Company 2019 - UK
23 Turnkey Lender: Best SME FinTech SAAS Software Company – Singapore
7 Compass Health: Best Mental Health Treatment Organisation 2019 - Southern USA & Patient Care Excellence Award – Florida
24 Circle Voluntary Housing Association: Best Housing Association 2019 - Republic of Ireland
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One2create Ltd: Best Digital Agency 2019 - South England & Award for Innovation in Web Design 2019
41 Montpellier Hotel Ltd: Best Boutique Hotel 2019 - Powys 42 Dfcu: Best Women's Business Entrepreneurial Support Program – Uganda 43 Explore Learning: Best After-School Tuition Provider - UK 44 Ekkio Capital: Best Investments Firm 2019 - France 45 Brandbirbals: Best Interior Design Service 2019 - Bengaluru 46 Enzen: AI Award for Excellence in Transaction Advisory Services 2019 47 Enzen: Best Energy and Water Business Consultancy 2019 48 Enzen: Utilities Delivery Partner of the Year 2019 49 Urobiologics LLC: Global Leader in Family Balancing through Gender Specific Conception 2019 50 LonDEC, King’s College London, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences: Best Dental Education & Training Centre - UK 51 Water Limousines Sydney: Best Luxury Vessel Charter Service 2019 – Sydney 52 BEST Physical Therapy: Best Physiotherapy Clinic 2019 - San Jose
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Pesel & Carr: Best PR & Marketing Agency 2019 – Victoria
53 Fairmont Bab Al Bahr: Most Luxurious Hotel Resort 2019 Abu Dhabi 54 Last Word: Best Marketing & PR Firm - North Island, New Zealand 55 Quastel Midgen LLP: Best Dispute Resolution Practice London & South East England 56 SUMA: Best Waste Management & Collection Company - Portugal 57 Classic Folios Ltd: Best Online Resident Management Systems Providers - England 58 Preformed Markings Ltd: Best Road Markings Materials Supplier 2019 - UK & Ireland
26 Finefair Limited: Best Property Management Company 2019 – London 28 ASZ Architetti: Best in Luxury Retail Design & Architecture 2019 & AI Excellence Award for Strategic Design Management 30 The Industry Spread: Best Online Global Trading Industry News Resource 2019 32 Uncle Tea: Most Exquisite Tea & Beverage Cafe 2019 - Dubai
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Knight Owl Security: Best Security Services Supplier 2019 - North Wales & Customer Service Excellence Award - North Wales
33 Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara: Best Luxury Hotel & Spa 2019 – Doha 34 Tuskerdirect Ltd: Best Workplace Car Scheme 2019 – UK 35 Linkk Search and Consultancy FZE: Best Boutique Executive Search Consultancy 2019 - Dubai 36 Zircom: Best B2B Communications Agency 2019 - England 37 MARLIN Design Ltd: Residential Architecture Practice of the Year 2019 - Essex 38 FirstMaid.CO.UK: Best Residential Cleaners Provider 2019 - Greater Manchester 39 SK D' Grand Cabana: Best Multi-Cuisine Restaurant 2019 - West Midlands 40 Sue Wilkins: Best Children's Storybook Author 2019
60 Eagle Construction Services: General Contractor of the Year 2019 - Ontario 62 Cardiff Sports Nutrition: Best Sports Nutrition Retailers 2019 - South Wales 64 The Brit: Traditional Pub of the Year 2019 – Swansea 65 New Benchmark Report by TTi Research Reveals Customer Satisfaction in the Utilities Sector Below UK Average 66 Five Things E-Commerce Retailers Should Look for When Choosing an Online Inventory Management System 67 New Research Tool Launched to Solve Data Headache for Digital Marketers
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Cambrian Fuel Card Services: Best Fuel Purchasing Solutions Company 2019 - UK Drawing on more than 26 years in the industry, Cambrian Fuel Card Services Ltd is an award-winning, family-run business. We profile the firm, which is not only a winner in this year’s Business Excellence Awards but also the UK’s longest serving family-run fuel card provider, to find out more.
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riginally started as an oil distribution company in 1976 with a fleet of tankers delivering fuels and lubricants from Cardiff Docks to customers in South Wales, Cambrian moved into fuel cards in 1993 when its owners spotted an opportunity to sell their own fuel through this innovative method. Today the firm provides a range of cards from leading brands such as Shell, Texaco, Keyfuels and UKfuels. These cards can be used nationwide in over 8000 locations. Cambrian’s relationship with these brands has allowed the company to create a network which is designed for optimum business use both in terms of locations and of the cost. Seeking to remain ahead of emerging technologies in the industry, Cambrian also offers a range of innovative additions, including a telematics solution that offers customers real-time vehicle tracking. Through a bespoke digital platform, fleet managers can ensure their fleet is operating at maximum capacity, monitor driving behaviour, pro-actively communicate with their drivers, and reduce costs. This unique focus is on building long-term working relationships with both customers suppliers, and this often involves not passing on costs to them unlike some of Cambrian’s larger competitors. Unique to the market, Cambrian offers its customers accounts that have no set-up costs, no transaction fees, no minimum spend charges and no card charges, and as such are the ultimate in cost-efficient fuel card solutions.
Company: Cambrian Fuel Card Services Name: Darren Stockton Address: White Hart House, Tredegar Street, Newport, NP20 2BE Telephone Number: 0800 612 6132 Web Address: www.cambriancards.com
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Having achieved excellence in the fuel card industry for more than a quarter of a century Cambrian is keen to maintain and enhance this success by continuing to innovate and adapt around the latest industry developments. For example, last year the first hydrogen fuel station opened in the UK and autonomous vehicles are also a key development for the market, and as such Cambrian is keen to add solutions for these vehicles to its offer. This will be the firm’s focus as it looks towards an opportunity filled future.
Arthur Stone Planning and Architectural Design Ltd Drawing on more than five years’ experience in the market, Arthur Stone Planning And Architectural Design Ltd are an independent firm of Chartered Town Planners and Architectural Designers and work extensively throughout Scotland.
Company: Arthur Stone Planning And Architectural Design Ltd Contact: Allie Arthur Website: arthurstoneplanning.co.uk
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ounded in 2014, Arthur Stone is able to offer a comprehensive planning and development service from pre-application advice and design solution to achieving local authority consents and full management service through to project completion. Originally created by its two female founders, who were keen to show that they could succeed in a male dominated market, Arthur Stone has since flourished, and today has a team including three additional town planners, four architects and architectural technicians and two administrative staff. This makes the firm the largest planning consultancy in Fife in competition with other companies who have been in the market for between 20 and 30 years. Since inception the firm has gained extensive experience in gaining permission for clients to build houses in the countryside which is becoming more and more popular with first time self-builders. Arthur Stone also has a sister company, Arthur Stone Eco Homes, which specialises in all manner of eco home solutions from Passive houses to new homes using the latest add on technology such as ground source heat pumps, photo-voltaic tiles, air-source heat solutions etc.
“Arthur Stone’s expert team take great pride in being able to provide a stress-free service working from their clients’ initial ideas to achieving a design solution and the relevant consents.” Through these two companies the Arthur Stone team aim to design bespoke homes for their valued clients which massively reduce their energy spending costs and dramatically reduce their carbon footprint. The team enjoy creating a beautiful one-off design to its client’s individual specifications and working in the very latest technologies to allow them to meet their ecological goals. The team take great pride in thier modern approach to planning and our lack of stuffy, corporate attitude and work with clients on a friendly, no nonsense basis with fixed fees and no escalating costs. This service offering is particularly important in today’s market, as the current planning system can be daunting and confusing at times. Arthur Stone’s expert team take great pride in being able to provide a stress-free service working from their clients’ initial ideas to achieving a design solution and the relevant consents. As the client’s representative, the team will deal with any correspondence from the Local Authority and negotiate on their behalf.
Seeking to offer clients’ a one-stop-shop, Arthur Stone integrate the skills of other professionals including, building surveyors, transport engineers and conservationists and have an-in-house own structural engineer to ensure that clients can find everything they need when they work with this dynamic and innovative company. Looking to the future, Arthur Stone has many exciting developments ahead, including the growth of its workforce and enhancement of its premises to ensure that the firm is able to provide its award-winning service offering to even more clients over the years to come.
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Company: Easy as HGV Name: Tom McGhie Address: Flagship House, Reading Road North, Fleet, Hampshire, GU51 4WP Website: easyashgv.co.uk
Easy as HGV Thanks to its dedicated staff and sister companies Easy As HGV offers a complete training service and is now the UK’s largest provider of heavy goods vehicle training services. To celebrate the firm’s success in this year’s Business Excellence Awards we share an insight into the secrets behind its success.
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stablished in 2008, Easy as HGV Ltd, The LGV Training Company Ltd and HGV Driver Training Centre Ltd are a group of the largest HGV training and recruitment providers in the UK, offering a one stop shop for all training needs for the industry. Whether a customer is looking to start a new carrier or a business looking to upskill their workforce, the team at Easy as HGV make it easy and simple to achieve these goals.
“Realising the importance of what gaining this qualification means to the customer is a key aspect of what sets the company apart from its competitors and marks it out as the best possible option for a wide variety of clients.” Based in Hampshire but operating across 80 locations, the businesses’ trained staff give candidates plenty of options on training local to them. In addition to this, the team also offers onsite training to business for CPC, with the company sending one of its experienced trainers to carry out training on the client’s premises. As a business, the team understands that gaining a licence is no small thing, it could be a brand-new start for a candidate’s career, a
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lifelong dream to drive big trucks or the ability to move up the ladder with their current employer. Realising the importance of what gaining this qualification means to the customer is a key aspect of what sets the company apart from its competitors and marks it out as the best possible option for a wide variety of clients. This expert team has cultivated an enjoyable, welcoming and supporting environment where staff and students alike can flourish, and this has helped drive Easy as HGV to the nationwide success it enjoys today. Ultimately, Easy as HGV is committed to creating the right environment in which its students can thrive and achieve their dreams, and this will remain the firm’s ongoing focus as it looks towards a bright and prosperous future filled with new developments.
Company: Compass Health Name: Scott Segal, MD Address: 1065 NE 125th St., Suite 300, North Miami, FL 33161 Phone: 888-852-6672 Web Address: compasshealthsystems.com
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Compass Health Founded by an eminent Psychiatrist, Compass Health uses his vast experience to provide award-winning mental health care and behavioural services. To celebrate the firm’s success in this year’s Business Excellence Awards we profile it and share an insight into the vital services it has to offer.
stablished in July 1990 by Scott D. Segal, M.D., who is a triple Board-Certified Psychiatrist, Compass draws on his immense industry experience to support a wide variety of clients.
Since its inception the firm has grown to become the largest private mental health treatment organization in Florida with additional clinics in Colorado and South Carolina. Each of these clinics feature a multi-disciplinary team built around at least one Board-Certified Psychiatrist. Compass’s teams also consist of Psychiatrists, Primary Care Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Psychologists, Clinical Social Workers, Mental Health Therapists, Physician Assistants, Certified Addiction Professionals and Therapists to ensure that each and every patient receives the expert care they deserve.
“Best Mental Health Treatment Organisation 2019 - Southern USA & Patient Care Excellence Award - Florida” Through its affiliations with many inpatient facilities, Compass is also able to offer continual care for patients: for example, it has an in-house pharmacy, MedzDirect offers free delivery services and specializes in compound medications. The firm also has a Heroin/opioid treatment center, Golden Glades Treatment Center and a 34-bed detox and residential treatment center, South Beach Detox.
Additionally, Compass is also able advance new treatments in the arena of CNS and Women’s Health through its sister company, Segal Trials. By bringing so many services in-house the firm is able to offer its patients the very highest possible standard of support that is completely consistent with their care. The firm’s expert team are familiar with the unique challenges that mental health and substance abuse pose to the managed care industry. Thanks to this experience and its partnerships, Compass is effective in negotiating the challenges whilst still providing quality care. The firm offers value added services, accepts most insurances and has a sliding fee scale to ensure that each person can access the appropriate care. As a concierge healthcare service provider, Compass offer same or next day appointments inclusive of evening and weekend hours to ensure everyone has access to the care they need, when they need it. Whilst Compass’ clinical staff embrace the treatment principles that managed care companies are seeking, fundamentally they are committed to their patients, and work alongside them to provide them with the treatment they need. The team will put forth all efforts to assist them in complying with their individualized treatment plan and ensure a healthier and happier outcome for both themselves and their family.
“Compass offer same or next day appointments inclusive of evening and weekend hours to ensure everyone has access to the care they need, when they need it.” As part of this focus on providing quality services, the firm is committed to offering each and every patient a primary care physician. A primary care physician is the point of contact for medical information and will guide their patients to specialists if more advanced care is necessary. Choosing a doctor that they trust and respect, and who respects the patient and understands their health status is the key to a healthy well-being. As such Compass’s expert firm’s primary care physicians coordinate their patients’ health care and provide comprehensive care including physical examinations, routine health screenings and preventive care. They also diagnose and treat many illnesses. Ultimately, Compass is at the forefront of a medically integrated, modern, scientific, and technological approaches to behavioural health and addiction treatment, and this will remain the firm’s core focus as it looks towards a bright future.
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Dominion Fund Management Limited
Company: Dominion Fund Management Limited Contact: James Greco Email: contact@dominion-funds.com
Dominion Fund Management Limited is an international fund management group specialising in long-term structural growth investing. We caught up with Tim Nelson to find out more about the firm and the secrets behind its success.
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ince its inception Dominion set out to create a range of products that were good investment ideas. Today the firm also works hard to ensure that the funds it provides and the strategies they follow are simple for everybody to understand. These strategies revolve around adapting to global changes within the corporate landscape, as Tim highlights in his opening comments.
“At Dominion, we can see that the world is changing, and it is changing faster than ever. As such, we identify global growth opportunities, which we call Global Trends, and invest in the companies driving them. Our funds offer investors exposure to all of the major sources of change in the world today, and generate returns based on this strategy. We believe that investing in the companies which provide the new technology and unique business models that enable global change, offers investors strong and reliable long-term returns. “These Global Trends, driven by demographic change, emerging markets, new technologies, and changing cultural habits, result in a critical conclusion for investors: products often become subject to forceful dynamics leading to accelerated obsolescence: today’s winner can be an obscure memory tomorrow, such as Nokia and Blackberry. This highlights the value of an active management strategy, which reduces the risks, as well as captures the great rewards that come from a changing world. To capitalise on these rewards, Dominion offers investors long-term exposure to these Global Trends, and many more. Investing in Global Trends with Dominion offers investors a long-term exposure to the structural growth underway in the world today, allowing them to reap the rewards of global change.” Thanks to this approach, each of Dominion’s three core investment funds has been positioned for optimal exposure to the Global Trends in their respective sectors. The firm’s Ecommerce fund is dedicated to investing in the Global Trends underlying our increasingly connected world. The rise of a new global middle class in emerging markets, combined with new technologies, is driving a megatrend of demand for services and activity in Ecommerce. As billions of people increasingly conduct their activity online they cannot help but become enmeshed in the digital Ecommerce world. This activity can take many forms, like digital entertainment, advertising, payments, retail, and business-tobusiness activity. This fund focuses on critical network mass in key areas of the online world where our investment names can monetise online activity and demonstrate growth and strong cash generation.
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Its Luxury Consumer fund focuses on the Global Trends in luxury goods and services. A growing global population, global GDP growth and increasing inequality ensure that the world’s wealthy grow steadily in numbers and relative purchasing power. Companies selling luxuries whose consumption share (by definition) increases with wealth will see steadily increasing demand for their goods, services and experiences. Dominion invest in those companies who operate business models that allow them to control prices in such fashion that they generate ever more cash, which can either be returned to investors or accelerate growth further. Typically, such companies operate well-recognised brands or IP, which are hard to copy.
“Best International Fund Management Group 2019” Finally, through Dominion’s Managed fund, the team invest globally across sectors in the most important Global Trends they can identify, offering investors a diversified exposure to Global Trends. In the long-term our investment names are growing revenue and profits well above global GDP growth, and this will in time reward
Dominion Fund Management Limited
the patient investor who has remained invested. Some of these core trends include investing in products demanded by Chinese millennials, the global demand for air travel driving demand for new aircraft, driverless cars and electric vehicles, the spread of connected devices and an ageing population driving demand for new medicines. Across these and many more structural demand trends, growth in profits will continue to be driven by the trends changing the world and driving demand for the products and services offered by Dominion’s investment names.
“At Dominion, we can see that the world is changing, and it is changing faster than ever. As such, we identify global growth opportunities, which we call Global Trends, and invest in the companies driving them.” Each of these three funds uses the same approach and technology to ensure that every investor can rest assured they are receiving strong returns and a risk adjusted process, as Tim emphasises.
“Across all three funds we utilise Dominion’s proprietary stock selection system, which monitors a universe of over more than 5,000 listed companies. We use in-house screening tools to identify companies trading at attractive valuations, which are exposed to Global Trends. We then conduct deep fundamental analysis on the companies and the industries to confirm or reject the investment opportunities. Our portfolios are constructed of the best ideas of growth stocks we believe offer the optimal balance of risk and reward. We manage the funds pro-actively, constantly monitoring our portfolios and when necessary adjusting market exposure. This process involves utilising Dominion’s proprietary risk-management systems to maintain an optimal invested level.” Looking ahead, Tim foresees even greater success for Dominion and its innovative approach to investing, as he proudly concludes.
“Ultimately, with more than 100 years of combined financial markets investment experience, Dominion’s investment team prides itself on offering investors a unique and leading exposure to long-term structural demand patterns: Global Trends, which we are confident will continue to power ahead and generate strong returns for the investors long into the future.”
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Amplified Marketing Based in South Africa, Amplified Marketing is a boutique marketing agency that focus on assisting small businesses to grow their profile through strategic digital marketing strategies. We profile the firm to learn more about the success it enjoys today.
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stablished in 2012, Amplified Marketing supports businesses in all types of sectors, with a core focus on loyalty programs and improving customer experience, so that the small business owner retains customers. Whatever their business and requirements, Amplified Marketing works closely alongside them to provide the exceptional level of support and service they expect. The team has developed a Digital marketing Portal that allows each of the firm’s clients to manage their own campaigns. At the same time, they can enjoy direct support should they require assistance to create campaigns or if they need advice as to how to engage with their customers. Thanks to this innovative approach and dedication to embracing technology Amplified Marketing has been able to remain ahead of emerging market developments and offer clients the support and service they need. After all, over recent years the digital marketing industry has evolved very quickly and with that happening so many businesses are struggling to adapt to this ever-changing industry.
“SME Marketing Company of the Year 2019 - South Africa & Leading Experts in Conversion Optimization Services - South Africa.�
Often, Amplified Marketing has found that other digital marketing agencies over-charge small business owners because they have the experience behind them by employing thousands of people. This in return puts the small business owner out of pocket with strategies that often do not work. Seeking to act as an alternative to this approach, Amplified Marketing offers them a unique combination of vast industry expertise and personalised service at an affordable cost. Overall, Amplified Marketing has achieved phenomenal success since its inception, and looking ahead the firm will remain dedicated to providing its clients with the same exceptional level of support and service that they have come to expect.
Company: Amplified Marketing | Name: Allek Address: 8 Fourth Street, Boksburg North, Johannesburg, 1459 Telephone Number: +27844050611 Web Address: https://amplifiedmarketing.co.za
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DD Consultus Limited Based in Malta, DD Consultus Limited specialises in the online gaming industry, online payment processing and the related services thereto. Having recognised the firm as a winner in this year’s Business Excellence Awards we profile it to find out more and explore how it has gained a reputation for excellence over the years thanks to its dedication to high quality client service and focus on innovations within the industry.
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ormerly known as ACT Consultus, DD Consultus offers senior international gaming consultancy to all sectors of the gaming industry, including but not limited to, online gaming, land-based casinos and arcades, software and platform providers, and gaming machines manufacturers.
“DD Consultus is able to meet the requirements of a variety of clients around the world and provide them with first-class support tailored to meet their exact needs.” Seeking to offer clients an innovative solution that meets their needs, DD Consultus’ gaming practice encompasses all aspects of gaming law, including licensing, corporate, legal and financial compliance, acquisition, mergers and development. The firm’s consultants have previously occupied strategic posts in the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) for a number of years and with their expertise in the gaming industry, provide tailor made solutions and consultancy to their gaming clients, locally and internationally. Additionally, DD Consultus professional practice also extends to the provision of services in the field of online payments and the acquisition of financial institutions and electronic money licences in Malta, as well as consultancy to online payment processors. Offering their services in a variety of jurisdictions including Malta, Bulgaria, the UK, Africa and Latin America, to name just some, DD Consultus is able to meet the requirements of a variety of clients around the world and provide them with first-class support tailored to meet their exact needs. Ever since its inception, the company’s core values are professionalism, top-notch service, reliability. Each new step taken since then comes to prove the firm’s continuous effort to grow as a company and improve its clients' experience. These key aims will remain DD Consultus’ ongoing focus as the firm looks towards a bright and prosperous future.
Company: DD Consultus Limited | Contact: Denitza Dimitrova Website: ddconsultus.com | Email: info@ddconsultus.com
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FutureThink Based in New York, FutureThink is an award-winning training company that helps leaders and their teams embrace change and become world-class innovators. We invited Lisa Bodell to tell us more about the firm and the range of services it has to offer.
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upporting a range of organisations across the public and private sectors, FutureThink works alongside each client to create a customised program based on their mission and what they are hoping to achieve. Services include keynotes, workshops and accelerated learning sessions for individual team members. Central to the firm’s focus is the idea of simplifying key ideas and breaking them down so that participants can easily understand and absorb them, as Lisa explains.
“As a thought leader in innovation and simplification, at FutureThink my role is to ensure that we are constantly evolving our messaging and teaching tools. That is what our clients expect from us. Our business model of teaching other companies keeps us current as it means we are always re-evaluating not only what we are teaching, but also the methods we are employing.” “Thanks to our focus on simplification, we have a very streamlined approach when guiding our clients. The FutureThink team identifies what the goals are and which of our products/services best suit their needs. We then speak with a high-level leader for a pre-session review. This assures that all of the planned activities align with the anticipated results.” Lisa is excited for the projects she has on the horizon which will help her to take FutureThink and her own career to new heights.
“Looking ahead, the future is very bright for FutureThink. Personally, I would love to find time to write my third book as I have so many new ideas. Our biggest company challenge is to better harness all the amazing tools and materials we have to share with our clients, who are very hungry for this information. These exciting developments will help to drive both myself and my company to even greater success over the years to come.”
Company: FutureThink | Name: Lisa Bodell Address: 380 Lexington Ave Suite 1743, New York NY 10168 Telephone Number: 646-257-5737 Web Address: futurethink.com
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Lisa Bodell - CEO and Founder
“Most Innovative Business Workshop Training Facilitator 2019 & Most Inspirational Woman in Communications Strategy & Execution 2019”
Channel Facilities Management Limited Channel Facilities Management Limited is Kent’s premier eco-friendly, green office cleaning and facilities management company. We caught up with Darren Gregory-Foster to learn more about the firm’s success and the developments it has undergone over the past 12 months.
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upporting clients ranging from small independents to large blue-chip commercial companies and providing a wide range of services including commercial cleaning, pest control and security, Channel Facilities Management has to work hard to ensure that every client receives the individual support and service they require. Darren explores how the firm’s approach facilitates this and ensures that clients always make the most out of their time working with this dynamic and dedicated company.
“At Channel Facilities Management, we understand that every client is unique, and as such we aim to offer them a bespoke service tailored to meet their specific requirements. As such, our approach to our potential customers is to listen; in the meeting we want to learn about our customers business and how we can operate within their operation. They are the experts in their relevant field and we are the experts in FM, therefore we want to ensure that what they do best is not hindered by having to concentrate on what we do best. Therefore, we take the management of the FM away from our client and let them manage their business in order for them to grow and with that we grow with them.”
This collaborative and supportive approach extends beyond the firm’s clients and through to its staff. Darren discusses how this ensures that clients always receive the highest possible quality of service when they work with his company.
“Internally we listen to our workforce, as we understand that they are on the ground floor doing the tasks that we require to supply to our clients. In listening to them they are far more engaged with us as a business and feel part of a larger team. After all, they are incredibly important to our success. Cleaning has always been a lower category, however, without a cleaning team most companies cannot operate to its fullest extent. We have introduced Lean Six Sigma techniques into our operation, this reduces the waste in process. We do not use any form of chemical based products in our operation, we are a fully GREEN operation. We have aligned ourselves with the UK’s fastest growing manufacturer in Enzyme based cleaning products. “Thanks to our supportive internal culture, we are able to empower our staff and drive them to make decisions on our clients’ premises. We use various pieces of software to ensure that jobs are carried out on time and to the desired standard required. We can check in with them without being intrusive and they know we are here to support. This approach ensures that our clients receive the best possible service and we are able to attract and retain some of the best talent in the FM industry currently.” Looking ahead, Channel Facilities Management has big plans for further growth and achievement, as Darren is proud to conclude.
“Currently we have several large tenders underway, winning these awards are a step in the right direction in gaining our potential clients trust as they see the commitment we have to the environment, staff and the way we operate in general. The next 12 months we are looking to grow by an astonishing rate and take on the big five FM companies to ensure our ongoing success.”
“Best Commercial Office Cleaning Company 2019 - South England & Sustained Excellence in Facilities Management Services South England” Company: Channel Facilities Management Limited Name: Darren Gregory-Foster Address: Unit 5, Almond House, Betteshanger Road, Deal, CT140EN Telephone Number: 03333051698 Web Address: channelfm.co.uk Acquisition International - 2019 Business Excellence Awards 13
Sapper Support: Best Mental Health Support Charity 2019 - UK Created by former soldiers who saw first-hand the need for support war veterans struggling with mental illness as a result of their service, Sapper Support has flourished into a unique helpline that supports a variety of veterans and emergency service staff. Celebrating yet another win for the organisation in our Business Excellence Awards programme we profile it and share an insight into the vital services it has to offer.
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stablished in 2014, Sapper Support is the UK’s only 24:7 PTSD and associated mental health illness helpline staffed solely by veterans and 999 personnel.
With their aim firmly fixed on giving emotional, physical and, where appropriate, financial assistance to three demographics: veterans, 999 employees and those who have migrated from the armed services to the emergency services. The reason for Sapper Support’s unprecedented success is the ability of the volunteers to understand the lingo of their callers, but also, having experienced first-hand the things that their callers have been through. This can range from serving in and surviving a war/ battle environment to the trauma associated with the duties of a 999 employee. Thanks to the organisation’s team of former veterans, Sapper Support is able to offer unique services that no other charity can. Empathy is central to the organisation’s success, as service users know that they are speaking to someone who truly understands what they are going through and is able to offer them practical advice and support. Looking ahead, Sapper Support plans to expand to create a series of regional hubs, supported by a national framework. The organisation is seeking a high-profile patron to help support it in this journey. Additionally, as the charity supports all arms of the 999 community, it is also looking to create working partnerships with every FRS within the UK. Company: Sapper Support | Name: Tim Evers Address: 1 Scott Lane, Gomersal, West Yorkshire, BD194JY Telephone Number: 07852994222 Web Address: www.sappersupport.com
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Ultimately, Sapper Support will strive to be the market leader within the emergency services mental health support space over the coming years, drawing on its unique experience to drive it further towards this ambitious goal.
Company: MYLE - Make Your Life Easier Address: Brisbane, Queensland, Australia Web Address: www.myle.net.au
MYLE - Make Your Life Easier Founded on the belief that good order is the foundation of a happy life, Make Your Life Easier (MYLE) is an innovative concept which helps clients to organise their homes and reduce their clutter. We profile the company to find out more about the unique solutions it has to offer to its discerning clientele.
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aunched in February 2018, MYLE has flourished and gained a reputation for excellence despite its relative youth.
Created by a husband and wife team, the company helps its customers to live a less stressful, healthier and happier life by de-cluttering their home. To achieve this, MYLE supplies home organisation products which solve particular storage problems which the owners themselves have faced.
“Best Organisation Accessories Retailer 2019” After all, clutter in a space can lead to mental clutter, which may cause stress. As such, MYLE believes that the best practice to keep any home organised is to have dedicated storage space for each item. The firm provides storage areas that will ensure every item has its place and make any home look and feel clean and tidy. Clients are drawn towards this innovative approach to home décor as a result of the popularity of Marie Kondo and other organisers who are using TV shows and social media platforms to showcase the benefits of decluttering, and as such there are many opportunities for firms such as MYLE to grow and flourish in this market. Seeking to use these opportunities to its advantage and grow even further, MYLE is keen to position itself as a leader in home organisation moving forward. As part of this focus the firm will be launching a blog on how to make organisation easier, and the company hopes to expand into new stores and start shipping its products internationally over the coming years. These excited developments will ensure a bright future for this young and dynamic company.
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Acquisition International - 2019 Business Excellence Awards 15
Euler Hermes Asia Pacific:
Best Credit Insurance Solutions Provider 2019 - Asia Pacific For more than a century, Euler Hermes Asia Pacific has invested in people and technology as well as financial, operational and market data to feed powerful predictive analytics and business intelligence. Today the firm’s unique knowledge of companies, industries and countries will help clients to choose the right customers and the right markets to avoid bad debt in the first place, as we found out when we profile it and explore how it came to win one of our prestigious Business Excellence for 2019.
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stablished in 1883, Euler Hermes has since flourished and today has an international presence and a vast service offering.
Being part of Allianz Group, Euler Hermes offers over 125 years of trade credit insurance service to help protect customers’ business, including multi-national corporations, banks and SMEs, against the unexpected commercial and political risks that exist in most economic sectors. Trade credit insurance includes a broad spectrum of services, including risk management for customers, credit control on behalf of its policy holders, risk mitigation, claims, debt collection, and the firm offers all of these, drawing on its team’s vast industry experience to offer them award-winning support and service. This dedicated team of experts do their utmost to protect their customers’ trade receivables. As part of this focus, Euler Hermes underwrites their credit risk, continuously assess and follow up on the debtors and gives them access to important information from legal matters to market conditions. Trade credit insurance allows the firm’s customers to benefit from better protection on cash flow, opportunities for sales expansion and enhanced financing availability. It is this professional and dynamic team that is the secret to Euler Hermes’ success, and as such the firm constantly aims to create a culture and an atmosphere that is crucial to retain, motivate and engage its people. Every team member worldwide can continue their education using the e-learning programmes in the firm’s training academy. This inspires innovation, the skills needed to progress, and skills to perfect for a leadership role. The firm also offers mentoring programmes with its board members, regional CEOs and senior leaders. As a result of this range of initiatives Euler Hermes is able to operate a truly diverse, engaging and inclusive workplace that ensures it retains the best talent in the credit risk market. Thanks to its global presence and expertise, Euler Hermes has valuable insight which allows it to provide its clients with advice and insight on risk experience worldwide. Despite this, there are always unexpected challenges, and when they do arrive the firm’s customers can be confident they are fully protected.
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Among the firm’s focuses is its dedication to supporting new markets and providing clients with innovative solutions that meet their needs. With an office in the Asia Pacific region Euler Hermes is able to meet the region’s need for quality credit risk support. After all, trade credit insurance is crucial in helping companies identify sales opportunities, grow their business and protect cash flow. However, only approximately 5% of businesses in APAC buy trade credit insurance, compared to 15% market penetration rate in Western Europe. The main alternative to trade credit insurance in APAC is selfinsurance, a practice many businesses opt for. Businesses can put a reserve on their balance sheet to cover any bad debt that may incur over the year. However, this is not a very capital efficient solution and a very risk alternative. Bad debts can be a particular problem for SMEs, quickly leading to financial distress. Chronic cash flow difficulties often begin when a customer pays late or simply does not pay at all. In other instances, a customer may have entered insolvency themselves, which leads not only to non-payment of an invoice, but to a lack of future work for subcontractors and suppliers. Through its presence in the Asia Pacific region Euler Hermes works alongside its clients to overcome these challenges and provide them with the services they need but cannot find elsewhere. Over recent years the firm has launched a number of initiatives to drive it to even greater success and better support its valued clients. For example, Euler Hermes’s True Customer Centricity (TCC) initiative is launched to map out its customers’ needs and provide a tailored solution which best addresses them. Also, the firm’s Zero Defect initiative measures the firm’s performance at all touch points that its customers offer. The firm’s team believe that this initiative is essential as a quest for perfection in order to improve its quality of service, and as such it is a key part of its ongoing focus on excellence. Company: Euler Hermes Asia Pacific Contact: May Yu Website: www.eulerhermes.com
Unforgettable Croatia Unforgettable Croatia is the largest luxury small ship cruise company in Croatia, offering small ship cruises on some of the most sought after 38 passenger vessels in the country. To showcase the firm’s win in this year’s Business Excellence Awards we explore the secrets behind its success.
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ince its inception in 2015 Unforgettable Croatia has since flourished thanks to a combination of exceptional service, a very passionate team who know Croatia exceptionally well and some luck. Since the beginning the firm has built its brand around offering unrivalled personal service which is a great combination with the personal and more tailored experience they enjoy on small ships. The firm’s Founders were keen to ignore the rest of the cruise industry and instead focus on giving clients the experience they want. As a result, Unforgettable Croatia now enjoys a 99% guest feedback rating. Today the firm has established itself as the leading luxury tour operator to Croatia with offices in London, San Francisco and Melbourne. Unforgettable Croatia’s guaranteed weekly departures between May and October run from Split and Dubrovnik each week, offering 7-night luxury island hopping cruises along the magnificent Dalmatian coastline. Thanks to this unique service offering, over the years Unforgettable Croatia has welcomed a variety of clients from all walks of life. Their common interest is seeing the Croatian coast on board a small ship where they are able to meet likeminded people, explore a different island each day and enjoy spending evenings dinning alfresco in the charming seaside restaurants on each of the islands they are visiting. Seeking to build upon the success of Unforgettable Croatia, the firm launched Unforgettable Cruises in the Autumn of 2018. This new brand offers small ship cruises in Greece, the Seychelles, Costa Rica, Maldives and Vietnam, offering the same exceptional quality service to clients on an even wider scale. This dedication to adapting around the needs of its clients remains the firm’s ongoing focus so that it can further grow and flourish moving forward. Whilst cruising in general has grown in popularity in recent years, Unforgettable Croatia has noticed a huge demand for guests looking to get away from the huge ocean liners and enjoy a smaller and more personalised experience. As such, looking ahead Unforgettable Croatia will continue to enhance its bespoke small ship experience and adapt around trends it is noticing in the industry such as an increased focus on sustainability. To reduce its environmental impact, the firm will be partnering with the Blue World Institute a non-profit marine research centre in Croatia and
donating a percentage of its profits to developing dolphin research and conversation programmes in the Adriatic. The firm will also be working alongside its captains and the local community in Croatia to make its ships more environmentally friendly, by eradicating plastic on board and introducing other green initiatives. Ultimately, this focus on enhancing its service offering and adapting around emerging developments in the luxury hospitality market will ensure that Unforgettable Croatia remains a leader in the market over the years to come.
“Best Bespoke Luxury Croatian Tour Operator 2019” Company: Unforgettable Croatia Name: Graham Carter Address: 1st Floor, 415 High Street, London, E14 4QZ Telephone Number: 02080042345 Web Address: https://unforgettablecroatia.co.uk
Acquisition International - 2019 Business Excellence Awards 17
SeekVisa:
Migration Agents and Immigration Lawyers Drawing on its vast market experience, SeekVisa Migration Agents and Immigration Lawyers is the leading expert in Australia and New Zealand immigration services. As part of this year’s showcase of a selection of our winners from the 2019 Business Excellence Awards, we profile the firm and share an insight into the secrets behind its market leading success.
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ith over 40 years combined experience, SeekVisa is specialised in all aspects of Australian immigration, helping clients navigate the complex process of coming to Australia. Over the years, SeekVisa has assisted newcomers to Australia from around the world, providing them with award-winning service and expert support throughout the process. Thanks to this vast expertise, today the firms dedicated team is able to provide representation and advice to foreign nationals who are looking to enter Australia on a permanent or temporary basis. The company is now one of the most reputable registered offices to provide assistance in all visa and migration matters to Australia and New Zealand. SeekVisa is established as one of Australia’s foremost migration law experts, having successfully prepared, and lodged hundreds of successful visa and skills assessment applications. SeekVisa possess extensive experience representing clients at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and experienced with character cancellation cases and detention matters. They have assisted numerous overseas companies and start-ups in obtaining their Overseas Business Sponsorship status. SeekVisa are headquartered in Melbourne, with offices across Australia specialising in TSS 482 visa, ENS 186 visa, RSMS 187 visa, Partner visa, Business and Investment visas, Employer Sponsored visas, visa refusal appeals and cancellations. The firm’s team is multilingual, and as such can support clients no matter what language they speak or what cultural differences they may have. This expert team allows SeekVisa to provide their clients with the cutting-edge support and service that will then help them to achieve the outcome they need and to overcome the complicated migration process. SeekVisa’s expert team are registered with the Migration Agents Registration Authority or the Immigration Advisers Authority and provide their services in accordance with the highest professional standards.
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Supporting a wide range of clients including students, families, investors, corporates, businesses and individuals, the firm is able to provide award-winning support and service. For these clients the firm offers a range of services including immigration advice and information based on current legislation, full assessment of visa options, requirements, the migration process, visa and skills assessment application preparation and advocating clients for review applications in the Tribunal (AAT). Looking towards the future, SeekVisa will remain committed to providing its clients with the same exceptional standard of service and support that they have come to rely on so that it can then grow even further and support a wider array of clients.
Australian Visa Assessment & Eligibility Complete our online assessment form to know your chances of obtaining an Australian visa.
Best Immigration Advisory Firm 2019 - Victoria - SeekVisa Migration Agents and Immigration Lawyers
Best Immigration Advisory Firm 2019 - Victoria Contact: Simon Long | Voya Kablar Address: Suite 513, 566 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne VIC 3004 Website: www.seekvisa.com.au
Acquisition International - 2019 Business Excellence Awards 19
Pro-Tech Enterprises LLC. Pro-Tech provides parts for aircraft systems to commercial requirements including MIL-Spec, TSO, OEM, as well as PMA parts manufactured by leading manufacturers. As part of our showcase of some of the incredible winners of this year’s Business Excellence Awards we profile the firm to learn more about how far it has come since inception.
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upporting the aircraft manufacturers, airline maintenance departments and repair workshops across the world, Pro-Tech Enterprises is an innovative supplier or aircraft parts with an international reach. The company provides a wide range of aircraft parts, components as well as consumables for repair, maintenance and service. With thousands of parts from top-tier OEMs and suppliers ready to ship, Pro-Tech is a reliable source for aircraft maintenance stations, aviation repair services and major airlines around the world. The firm’s expert team are specialists in expedited exports and very experienced shipping to China and all of Asia. Many members of the team speak Chinese and the company has affiliations with many companies on the mainland of China to ensure it is able to support clients both throughout Asia and beyond. Thanks to its vast experience and streamlined procedures the firm is able to deliver any client a quality product with the utmost speed and at a reasonable cost. Combined with exceptional quality client service, this approach ensures that every client that works with Pro-Tech Enterprises receives the solution they need and the high standards of support they expect. Looking to the future, Pro-Tech Enterprises has many exciting developments on the horizon which will ensure its success for many years to come.
“Best Aircraft Parts & Consumables Supplier 2019 & Aviation Solutions Provider of the Year 2019”
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Company: Pro-Tech Enterprises LLC. Name: Jenny Tsao Address: 375 Morgan Lane, Unit # 101 & # 102, West Haven, CT 06516, USA Telephone Number: 203 931 9668 Web Address: www.pro-tech-usa.com
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- 2019 Business Excellence Awards 21
Supremecoat: Most Advanced Paint Protection 2019 - UK Using industry leading innovative technology, Supremecoat provides protective coatings for all vehicle types, car, caravans, motor-homes, motorbikes and marine based vehicles. As part of our overview of a selection of the winners from this year’s Business Excellence Awards we profile the firm to find out more.
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hanks to its innovative array of solutions, Supremecoat is a leader in the automotive paint and interior protection market.
The firm’s cutting-edge technology is far in advance of anything available to the motor trade today. As a result, Supremecoat supplies it’s innovative solutions to automotive-based businesses around the world and its products have been part numbered and approved by such worldwide known names that include Renault in their extensive customer line up. Seeking to offer the very highest possible standard of protective vehicle coating solution available today, Supremecoat provides trusted and proven coating products to its clients, who use them to grow the revenue and profit streams, while at the same time providing their customers with the best level of protection for their vehicle purchases. Led by an MD who has been in the industry for over 20 years, Supremecoat is able to draw on his experience to provide its clients with innovative solutions and exceptional quality service. His success has been down to solid relationships with the firm’s customer base and he lives by his word and commitment to customers. This working ethos carries over to all of the firm’s staff within the business, who also conduct themselves daily in the same manner. As a result, every client knows they are in safe and capable hands when they work with Supremecoat. Having already achieved incredible success in the UK market, over the coming years Supremecoat is focused on growing its global reach and providing its award-winning solutions to an even wider array of clients. Aiming to further grow its brand awareness in Europe first before it moves towards other regions, the company has a bright and exciting future ahead of it.
Company: Supremecoat | Name: Darren Johnson Address: Unit 3 & 4, Newhall Road Industrial Estate, Sanderson Street, Sheffield, S9 2TW Telephone Number: 01144670070 Web Address: www.supremecoat.com
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Company: Turnkey Lender Contact: Anna Tykhonchuk | Website: www.turnkey-lender.com
Turnkey Lender: Best SME FinTech SAAS Software Company - Singapore
Based in Singapore and trusted by some of the most authoritative institutional investors in the FinTech industry, TurnKey Lender is a market-leading provider of intelligent all-in-one lending automation, risk mitigation, and credit decisioning solutions and services. To select the winners of this year’s Business Excellence awards we profile the firm and gain an insight into the global reputation for excellence it has gained since it was founded.
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ed by two experienced executives and serial entrepreneurs, TurnKey Lender has been working in the lending automation space for five years and in that time has become a renowned technological leader of the industry. The founders saw a glaring gap in the market and used their previous experience and expertise to fill it. With its AI-driven customizable scorecard, TurnKey Lender’s platform is tailored to meet the needs and wants of various types of lending operations. Thanks to its unique solutions TurnKey Lender serves a wide range of industries which include cloud lending, retail, payday loans, microfinance, in-house lending, lease finance, medical, dental, and telecom. The firm’s solutions suit a range of lenders including alternative, SME, peer-to-peer and direct lenders, auto financing companies, mortgage provides, in-house finance, community banks, and credit unions. Originally established in the UK, Turnkey Lender quickly saw the potential for growth in the Asian markets, which led this innovative and responsive firm to move its operations to Singapore so that it could support clients in the region and bring them the award-winning investment solutions they need.
“With its AI-driven customizable scorecard, TurnKey Lender’s platform is tailored to meet the needs and wants of various types of lending operations. Turnkey Lender currently offers one of the best solutions on the market to address all the pain points of any lender on the market.” Looking ahead, the firm will continue to adapt to ever-changing market developments. Currently, alternative lending as an industry is booming. As technology penetration increases worldwide, more businesses will consider branching out to start their own in-house financing initiatives. The main challenge here is to keep up with the businesses’ needs and provide them with software flexible enough to help them provide loans very fast and with scoring models sophisticated enough to eradicate risks. At the same time, regulators will be zeroing in on smaller lenders as they may see them as money laundering threats. That’s fine as long as lending businesses have a proper origination solution on board enhanced with regulatory functionality to comply with local and international AML and KYC rules. This is an area in which Turnkey Lender is able to support them, and the firm will remain dedicated to working with even more clients and providing them with intelligent award-winning solutions. All this helps TurnKey Lender to achieve its core goal: to become the go-to lending automation software solution for businesses worldwide. The team constantly works towards that by constantly improving the firm’s products, opening new offices, like its recent opening in Kuala Lumpur, fuelling expansion into new markets and target audiences, and by investing in R&D to maintain the leading technological positions. Ultimately, Turnkey Lender currently offers one of the best solutions on the market to address all the pain points of any lender on the market. As part of its ongoing focus on preserving its market-leading position, the firm will remain committed to providing its clients with cutting-edge solutions that will meet their needs in the fast-paced investment market.
Acquisition International - 2019 Business Excellence Awards 23
Circle Voluntary Housing Association Circle Voluntary Housing Association works in partnership with our tenants, statutory, and community-based agencies to enable socially responsible, environmentally acceptable and sustainable communities. We profile the organisation to learn more about the vital services it has to offer.
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riginally established in 2003, Circle VHA was established to provide high quality social and affordable housing to families and individuals in the Dublin area.
From the beginning Circle VHA’s vision is to make a difference by providing good quality homes for people in a housing need. The organisation’s team believe that good quality housing is a foundation for families and individuals, allowing people to grow and develop their capacity in parenting, education, work, leisure activities and community contribution. The provision of good quality affordable housing enables choice and opportunity for its tenants. Today, Circle VHA operates over Dublin, Kildare, Cork, Wiklow, Tipperary, Meath Waterford and Kilkenny providing both housing and facilities management services in its developments. This innovative organisation works in partnership with local authorities, state agencies, developers and funders to deliver new-build social and affordable housing solutions.
As a socially responsible housing association, Circle VHA actively engages with its tenants, other residents, statutory agencies and local communities to create socially responsible, environmentally acceptable and sustainable communities. Working with tenants and all residents in its schemes, Circle VHA works to create sustainable communities that are balanced in terms of age profile, and working and non-working tenants. The organisation also manages estates that are clean, well-maintained and environmentally acceptable. Ultimately, Circle VHA is committed to meetings the needs of its tenants and offering them respectful, sustainable housing solutions that create communities they can be proud to live in. This will remain the organisation’s ongoing focus as it looks towards a bright future.
“Best Housing Association 2019 - Republic of Ireland”
Company: Circle Voluntary Housing Association Contact: John Hannigan | Website: http://www.circlevha.ie/ Twitter: @CircleVHA
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One2create Ltd: Best Digital Agency 2019 - South England & Award for Innovation in Web Design 2019 Thanks to a vast array of in-house creative, marketing and branding specialists One2create Ltd is able to meet the needs of a diverse range of clients and provide them with unique solutions that will engage with their target audience. We profile the agency to find out more about the services it has to offer and how these helped it to win one of our prestigious 2019 Business Excellence Awards.
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stablished in 2002, One2create is a full-service marketing agency offering everything from simple print layout all the way up to broadcast quality video and animation.
Since inception One2create has flourished, and today the agency works with clients of all shapes and sizes, across multiple industries. From the fleet industry to hotels and charities, the agency is able to support every client and offer them a range of solutions across the marketing, branding and creative spaces. These services include everything from website design and social media management through to copywriting and design support. Each and every service is managed in-house so that One2create can ensure quality and excellence for each and every client.
and offer truly unique marketing and branding that really speaks to their target market. Seeking to build upon the phenomenal success it has already achieved, over the coming years One2create’s focus is to become the best marketing and creative agency on the South Coast. To achieve this the company will remain focused on growth and working on new and exciting projects that will raise its profile and, most importantly, that of its valued clients.
As a result of this vast service offering the agency has also worked across a diverse range of industries including corporate, veterinary services, recruitment, education, fire and safety, and so many more. Supporting such a diverse range of clients, One2create has to work hard to understand their individual needs and expectations, and this starts from the moment the team engage with a new client. From the start of any project the team make it their mission to understand every nuance of what their clients are looking for. This is achieved by analysing the brief of the project and having an initial meeting with the client. This session allows One2create’s experts to establish what the clients’ goals are, the motivations of their business, and how the agency’s creative and technical team can bring their project to life. Once this has been finalised, the project starts. The agency’s creative team works by creating three landing pages, which are reviewed internally before sending to the client. If there is any feedback, this is implemented before the rest of the website is built or the project continued. Throughout the whole project, there is communication between One2create’s team and the client, with regular phone calls and email conversations, to ensure that they are kept up to date on their project. Every project that One2create undertakes is managed by one of their Senior Marketing Specialists to ensure that it delivers the results the agency’s clients expect, especially when focusing on the commercial aspects. Thanks to this client-focused approach the agency has been able to meet the needs of its clients over the years
Name: David Harris, Managing Director Email: info@one2create.co.uk Address: One2create, The Flint Barn, St Clairs Farm, Wickham Road, Droxford, Hampshire, SO32 3PW Telephone Number: 01489 232 312 Web Address: www.one2create.co.uk
Acquisition International - 2019 Business Excellence Awards 25
Finefair Limited: Best Property Management Company 2019 - London Led by industry experts, Finefair is one of London’s largest social housing management company’s maintaining its preferred partner status with Local Authorities across London, South East & Midlands providing housing and support services. To celebrate the firm’s success in this year’s Business Excellence Awards we share a unique insight into the story behind how it came to achieve the market-leading position it enjoys today.
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ince its inception in 2003, when the firm was Founded by Kamran Naseem, Finefair has developed an impressive investor base providing investment companies real solutions by rent guaranteeing their investments on long term leases with solid covenants. It secures housing stock by ensuring investors long term rent guarantees whilst providing the public sector with the housing and support services in desperate need. Currently, the firm has over £1.5 Billion in managed assets, with its property portfolio spanning all 33 of the London boroughs, South East & the Midlands as a Preferred Partner and framework provider through its consistent approach focusing on quality service. Kamran points out, having run the organisation for 16 years say’s property management is very different to Social Housing Management. This area of work requires a real dedicated team of people with a detailed and intricate understanding of social issues, governance and legislation. This forms a key role Finefair undertakes in daily operations ensuring that every stakeholder involved receives the very best in respect of services provided by Finefair. The company’s true success, however, is the growth of its client base, which has been achieved predominantly through recommendation and a consistent run of successfully securing public sector contracts. A company’s reputation is critical in running social housing, as one is only as good as its last placement. Finefair has been privileged to achieve the respect and admiration of the majority of its valued clients, which has, in turn, led to an increase in the firm’s client base and housing authority portfolio. To date, the firm has an impressive 100% customer retention rate through its reputation for excellence which has driven Finefair to become one of today’s leaders in its field. Aiming to bridge the gap between public and private services, Finefair has carved itself a niche in the property management market by supporting investors and social housing providers. Over the years the firm has expanded its reach to showcase that it is more than just a social housing provider, but as the preferred company for Local Authorities with an intricate understanding of Company: Finefair Limited | Contact: Kamran Naseem Address: No.1 – The Point, 420a Eastern Avenue, Gants Hill, IG2 6NQ | Phone: 020 8554 0500 Email: info@finefair.com | Website: www.finefair.com
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social housing and specialist services for supporting families and young people. This expertise is what sets the firm apart from its competitors and marks it out as the best possible provider of these vital services. Recognising the importance of expertise and longstanding industry knowledge on its ongoing success, Finefair invests heavily in attracting and retaining the housing industry’s top talent. The company’s senior management team is hands-on and aims to constantly drive the company to success from the ground-up. As such, every member of Finefair’s team is provided with the resources and support to drive themselves to excellence and provide the firm’s stakeholders with the award-winning support they expect. For Finefair quality of service extends far beyond just its investors but encompasses its service users from 16+ all the way to move on support for families. As such, the firm is constantly seeking to introduce new initiatives and innovations, to improve tenant welfare and raise the standards within social housing. Working alongside a plethora of industry collaborators the company is constantly improving its services and outcomes it achieves for young people and families in its care. Seeking to build upon its already impressive success, Finefair is set for continued growth as the company sets its sights on moving its services heavily into the Midlands and the North of England. This growth positions the firm as one of the few specialist social housing and support companies operating nationally and offers exciting opportunities for further growth and success. At the same time, Finefair remains committed to providing its investors with the same quality service that they have come to expect and rely on even as it expands nationally and enhances its brand and reputation.
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Company: Pesel & Carr Name: Barbara Pesel Address: 47 Elgin Street, Carlton, VIC Australia Telephone Number: +61 3 9036 6900 Web Address: www.peselandcarr.com.au
Pesel & Carr Based in Carlton, Australia, Pesel & Carr is a multi-award winning independent strategic communications agency. To celebrate the agency’s success in this year’s Business Excellence Awards we invited Barbara Pesel to tell us more.
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ince its inception in 1997 Pesel & Carr has been partnering with leading organisations to create many engaging strategic communications outcomes.
Boasting an incredibly diverse team which includes PR and communications specialists with decades of experience, former journalists, globally renowned crisis experts, former government advisers, educators, company directors, business analysts, digital marketers and copywriters, the company is able to meet the diverse needs of its valued clients. Each and every one of the team is committed to offering clients a personalised service and attention to detail is paramount. As part of this approach Pesel & Carr is always looking to improve and achieve out of the ordinary outcomes for their clients. It’s this philosophy that Barbara Pesel & Louis, Culture Manager – Pesel & Carr
has helped to drive the agency to the success it enjoys today. Barbara discusses how she has nurtured this environment of development and innovation, and how she has adapted to ensure excellence for both her team and her clients.
“As a business leader I try to cultivate an environment where everyone works as a team, but more importantly feel that they have the chance to contribute, regardless of their seniority. “I have learned over the years that you have to leave your ego at the door, worrying or being embarrassed about the things you don’t know is a waste! A willingness to ask for help and to work collaboratively is the key to success. “I surround myself with people who fit in with our culture and bring new skills and knowledge to the table. Our Culture Manager, my Standard Poodle, Louis would certainly agree! For me, hierarchical business structures don’t fit anymore although it is imperative that everyone is clear on expectations and what’s needed, I far prefer an agile business model.
“Best PR & Marketing Agency 2019 - Victoria” “Over the years, I have dedicated a significant amount of time to building a network of experts across specialist fields that we can engage on a project-by-project basis. This model provides an access to work with the best in the business, even if they are not necessarily on our pay-roll full-time. For example, with our IssuesID+ product, we work with globally acknowledged issues and crisis experts Tony Jaques and Sue Driscoll. This collaborative approach ensures my team is supported by the experts they need and our clients receive the level of support and outcomes they expect.” As she looks to the future, Barbara foresees many exciting developments in the industry, that will help Pesel & Carr to continue offering clients the advice and service they need.
“Since starting way back in 1997, the industry is barely recognisable but it is filled with exciting opportunities. With the increasing rate of technological development and robotics, there is still an important part of human nature that needs to feel connected. As communication professionals, we are storytellers, we build relationships and we engage. I fully expect the next twenty-two years to be even more fascinating than the last. “From a strictly tactical perspective, we’re also seeing an everincreasing use of video. Whilst it’s a terrific medium, for us it is also about being client-focused. We keep trends in mind but will only introduce things to clients when they are ready for it. This will remain our ongoing focus at Pesel & Carr as we look on towards the future.”
Acquisition International - 2019 Business Excellence Awards 27
ASZarchitetti:
Company: ASZarchitetti Name: Andrea Sensoli Address: Office 210 – 211, Building 8, Dubai Design District, U.A.E. Telephone Number: +9714 443 5180 Web Address: https://www.aszarchitetti.com/
Best in Luxury Retail Design & Architecture 2019 & AI Excellence Award for Strategic Design Management Based in Florence, Milan and Dubai and serving clients around the world, ASZarchitetti aims to offer its valued clients innovative creations divined from their passion for creativity and beauty in architectural design. We profile the practice to find out more about the stunning projects it has created over the years and how it is constantly working to grow its portfolio even further.
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ince its inception ASZ has focused on how to perfect the construction process, as the main field of expertise, at the same time working on architectural projects of various types. After some years of practice from the native office to the international stage, it was in 2009 that ASZ branched out to different continents, settling in Dubai first and Shanghai soon after. Today the firm operates from the resident branches of Milan, Florence, and Dubai, with a new office launching in Riyadh very soon. Each branch works in seamless connection, together with a network of engineering consultants throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Asia to provide their clients with a global outlook and exceptional quality support. Over the years the firm has worked on a range of renowned retail projects including stores for Kering, LVMH and Richmond groups, along with Prada, Tiffany, and Burberry. Altogether, the number of deliveries in ASZ’s track record exceeds 400.
“ASZ’s core values lay emphasis on impeccable execution: it aims to assist the world’s leading creatives in making the most of their innovations and ideas.”
28 Acquisition International - 2019 Business Excellence Awards
Best in Luxury Retail Design & Architecture 2019 & AI Excellence Award for Strategic Design Management
Alongside these working with household names and revered brands, ASZ also takes great advantage from the synergy created through collaboration with sister company SUPERFUTUREDESIGN*, which ASZ itself has founded to transfer the creative component. As a result, the imaginative design of SFD* originates many of ASZ’s projects. The driving force of the practice is its architects and engineers, who all share a passion for design built from the ground up. Their vision is to portray architecture as a reflection of the cultures it originates from, ultimately as an expression of civilization. ASZ’s core values lay emphasis on impeccable execution: it aims to assist the world’s leading creatives in making the most of their innovations and ideas. To achieve this, ASZ believes that, rather than just undertaking a simple task, they need to offer a comprehensive service to the design community, with one goal in mind: the pursuit of excellence. Equipped with their eclectic heritage, ASZ’s position is in projects is one that seals the rift between past cultures and future ideals. As part of this approach, ASZ aims to immerse itself in every project, participate in the resulting transformation and make it systematic yet sustainable. The firm’s mission is to serve as the force that ties art with science and ideas with techniques; ASZ elaborates the
fascinating process that tackles the intangible and transforms it into an objective reality. ASZ’s professionals do so by making themselves interpreters of the client’s visions and create it from scratch, by applying contractor-based execution. The backbone of the practice comprises expert architects who possess engineering awareness and clever engineers who have the sensibility of design. Together, they understand what it takes to reach the end-goal, delivering unmatched quality in the respect of time and budget. Despite being known for having served the luxury retail industry, ASZ has also provided architectural solutions to private estate and commercial property owners, besides other businesses. They have transformed heritage palaces, converted vernacular bare sites into contemporary residencies and delivered houses, villas, and penthouses from Brooklyn to Shanghai. In addition, over the years the practice has branched out to help new retail businesses such as Oriana, The Kape, Todd English, Masel and many others to create a unique selling platform. ASZ’s new formula of integrated services combines Design Development with both Project Management and Construction Management. The firm’s specialized services spread from site surveying to MEP and Structural engineering; from Design Development to Local Architect and planning; from tender process to site supervision, to testing and commissioning and finally handing over to the client. Alongside the labour-intensive design process, the firm also offers budget estimates, procurement strategies, like solutions and materials selection, and approvals based on the region’s regulations and laws. As a result, ASZ continues to get involved in different concepts and themes and their target audience is set to expand over the many years to come. Ultimately, it is ASZ’s design philosophy that sets it apart from its competitors, and as such this will remain the firm’s core focus as it looks towards a bright future. The team aims to remain passionate about design and continue to offer its clients the exceptional standard of design that they have come to expect from this innovative and dynamic practice. Company: ASZarchitetti | Name: Andrea Sensoli Address: Office 210 – 211, Building 8, Dubai Design District, U.A.E. Telephone Number: +9714 443 5180 Web Address: www.aszarchitetti.com
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Company: The Industry Spread Contact: Brendan Gunn Website: https://theindustryspread.com
The Industry Spread: Best Online Global Trading Industry News Resource 2019
Seeking to offer informative, insightful news and insight, the Industry Spread is a premium news and information portal tailor-made for the global trading industry. Having recognised the firm in this year’s Business Excellence Awards Acquisition International Magazine profile it to find out more about the services it has to offer.
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ince its inception in 2016 the Industry Spread has been working tirelessly to provide its users with up-to-the-minute insight and unrivalled knowledge.
The firm’s informative website provides the B2B trading industry with all the information they need to keep informed about trading technology, changing global regulations, new industry partnerships and announcements of the latest executive moves. Alongside typical topics such as FX and Cryptocurrencies, the news portal covers all exchange traded markets as well as OTC products. The Industry Spread also provides featured news stories where our team of global journalists have investigated a specific industry topic or trending issue which the trading industry is facing. Every piece of data and content the site publishes is sourced directly from the industry so that clients know it is completely reliable and up-to-date. Over the years, the industry spread has built a specialised team designed to deliver the information users need to know about what is happening in the global markets today and what they need to be aware of. Each commentator has experience working for some of the top financial institutions in the world, managing trading desks as well as, in some cases, being responsible for Managing Funds across the Equities, FX, Futures, interest rates and Bonds spaces.
As a result, the information they provide will keep users informed and ready for any client meeting, lunch or “coffee” with a colleague or fellow industry professional. It is not designed to give out minuteby-minute updates, but rather a comprehensive overview of the markets. This expert team is led by Michael Moran, an experienced global markets professional who currently writes a daily markets commentary. Moran has traded currencies for over 30 years, having worked in dealing rooms of many major banks from all over the globe. He lives in Sydney with his wife, 5 children, 2 grandsons and another one coming. He still loves trading and talking about the currency markets. All of them! He began his career as an assistant dealer in money markets and foreign exchange with Lloyds Bank. He has worked in Hongkong, Manila, Tokyo, Singapore and Sydney. He’s traded through the 1985 Plaza Accord, Paul Keating’s 1986 “banana republic” statement, the Asian Currency Crisis in 1997, and the 9/11 New York Twin Tower terrorist strike. Later he took the task of speaking to sales team of the banks he worked at (Lloyds, NAB, CBA) during the daily morning meetings. Other traders hated this job, but Moran developed a liking for commentating and putting forward his views on currencies, in the process helping others, which he still does today. Moran wrote briefly for Invast Global before taking the position as a Senior Analyst for Royal Financial Trading. He currently is a Responsible Manager in Compliance for Transferwise Ltd, Pty, a global money transfer firm where he advises the Treasury team. Having spent the last 10 years of his trading career managing the Emerging Markets and Asian currency desks of NAB and CBA, he formulates much of his market analysis from their movements.
“Each commentator has experience working for some of the top financial institutions in the world, managing trading desks as well as, in some cases, being responsible for Managing Funds across the Equities, FX, Futures, interest rates and Bonds spaces.” 30 Acquisition International - 2019 Business Excellence Awards
Best Online Global Trading Industry News Resource 2019
Moran is supported by Nikolas Papas, who has been involved in the finance industry for over fifteen years spanning across Europe and USA with a depth of knowledge and experience within many aspects of the financial markets. Nikolas gained several years’ experience with some of the Europe’s leading Brokers, as equity analyst, and trader managing accounts for both Private and Corporate Investors. He enjoys both the fundamental and technical aspects of trading focusing on stock markets and all FX majors. Currently Nikolas provides analysis and comments to online financial publications. Educational background in Economics (BSc), and Finance (MSc). Rounding-off the team is Karthik Subramanian, who has been a professional trader and fund manager over the last 18 years. He is basically a software developer who made the transition to financial domain around 18 years back as the attractiveness of the financial markets proved too much for him. He lives in Chennai in India along with his wife and son.
“Each commentator has experience working for some of the top financial institutions in the world, managing trading desks as well as, in some cases, being responsible for Managing Funds across the Equities, FX, Futures, interest rates and Bonds spaces.” He began his career as a software developer in 1999 and then gradually moved into the financial industry as he began trading stocks in his pastime. He then moved into the financial markets full time and then shifted his focus to the FX markets due to the liquid nature of these markets. Since then, he has been trading FX diligently and his favourite pair are the EURUSD and EURJPY. Over the last couple of years, he has found blockchain to be of high interest and considering his background in software and finance, he has since assembled a team of highly talented developers who have since worked on a variety of projects like crypto exchanges and blockchain architecturing.
gain experience and also recognition across the industry. He loves to write, and this passion has helped him to reach out across the FX and crypto industry. Currently, he works on his pet projects in the FX and crypto industry and spends his time writing and managing his blockchain team and helping it to reach higher. Together this expert team works tirelessly to provide their users with the insight, knowledge and expertise to remain at the forefront of emerging investment industry developments. Ultimately, the Industry Spread is more than just a news source, providing essential information to anyone in the industry. The firm’s expert team understand that the industry is changing, and to capture a better understanding of these changes, and as such they work hard to bring their readers in-depth articles on the latest innovations and trends, as well as interviews. Looking to the future, the team believe that there will be significant changes in the industry over the next few years driven by regulation, consolidation in the market, and applications of new technologies, and they aim to keep their clients ahead of these emerging developments through the continued development of the Industry Spread’s online platform.
“Best Online Global Trading Industry News Resource 2019”
Now, he balances his time between trading and commenting on both the FX and crypto markets. He has worked with many publications including FX Street and Finance Magnates, which has helped him
Acquisition International - 2019 Business Excellence Awards 31
Uncle Tea: Most Exquisite Tea & Beverage Cafe 2019 - Dubai Uncle Tea is a recently opened Tea Lounge located in Al Barsha and specialising in delicious, fresh tea and milkshakes. As part of our overview of a selection of the winners from this year’s UAE Business Awards we profile the establishment and share an insight into how far it has come over the short time since it opened.
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ince its foundation, Uncle Tea has already become synonymous for the exceptional products, services and a preferred hang out spot to unwind after a long day at work with friends and family. Named after the Founder’s uncle, Uncle Tea draws on his deep passion for tea to provide guests with an innovative tea drinking experience. This uncle often told stories of tea that originated from the magical legends about the Chinese Emperor to what the Indians believed that tea emanated from the Buddhist temples and the Goddess of Mercy who presented tea as a gift to devout farmers. One thing that remained common and accompanied every fascinating tea tale was his perfect cup of tea that he never failed to boast about.
They are proud to be able to share their uncle’s vision and offer their guests a truly unique experience when they visit Uncle Tea. Alongside its exceptional variety of uniquely blended teas, Uncle Tea takes pride in its expertly prepared fresh milkshakes that only use the freshest ingredients and are packaged in a unique and quirky manner. Seeking to build upon its current success, moving forward Uncle Tea will be propelling into a full expansion by 2019, which will entail of opening 12 branches across all the Emirates. This development will drive the already flourishing brand to even greater recognition and success.
With his passion for tea and exceptional brewing skills came the inspiration for Uncle Tea as steeping tea was an art that he taught with immense love and precision. Although tea was discovered roughly 5,000 years ago, it is still one of the most relished beverages worldwide and is considered as a local stipulation anywhere you go. Tea diversifies within each culture and each culture has a unique identity for tea like the Taiwanese Pouchong, the Japanese Matcha or even the black tea flavoured by each to create their very own refined cup of tea. As such, the team at Uncle Tea truly believe that Tea is truly magical and possesses a unique and powerful quality in not only flavour but in uniting cultures and people where just sharing a cup of tea dissolves all barriers set aside by the differences of cultures.
“The team at Uncle Tea truly believe that Tea is truly magical and possesses a unique and powerful quality in not only flavour but in uniting cultures and people where just sharing a cup of tea dissolves all barriers set aside by the differences of cultures.” Company: Uncle Tea | Contact: Arif Ebrahim - Contractor Website: http://www.uncletea.ae/
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Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara
Company: Unforgettable Croatia Name: Graham Carter Address: 1st Floor, 415 High Street, London, E14 4QZ Telephone Number: 02080042345 Web Address: https://unforgettablecroatia.co.uk
Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara is located on an exclusive 13-hectare private island. We profile this award-winning resort to find out more about the secrets behind its immense popularity.
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truly stunning setting, Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara is a crescent of golden beach and over water villas just off the coast of downtown Doha. Accessible by private catamaran, the resort is the perfect escape for family adventures, ocean thrills or serene spa bliss. Guests can enjoy an iconic location with the little ones as they surf, dive, golf, bowl or cinema. There is something for everyone, and more adventurous guests can race across lagoon waters with a host of motorised water sports, whilst the relaxed can unwind in the Middle East’s only wellness centre in a resort setting, spread across lush botanical gardens. With guests travelling from all over the world, the resort aims to offer something for everyone and boasts 141 rooms, suites, villas and overwater villas with private pools alongside 9 dining outlets, an Anantara Spa and a Wellness Centre. There are also three meeting rooms and one events hall. For families there are Kids’ and Teens’ Clubs, Bowling, Cinema, a Kid’s aqua park, Tennis court and 2 Swimming pools. For the adventurous ones, a professional Dive Centre, a two-lane surf pool and fitness centre are also available. The resort has also plenty of activities such as boat trips, water sports, bicycles and Segway rental so that it can meet the needs and exceed the expectations of each and every guest. Recent developments in Qatar have allowed visa access for over 72 countries, which has already proven to be a successful support from Qatar National Tourism Council and local government to boost tourism in the country, and Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara is looking forward to welcoming new guests thanks to this development over the coming years. The resort has seen an increase of guests from new markets and over the years ahead it is eager to welcome an even more diverse range of international travellers to sample its award-winning hospitality.
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Tuskerdirect Ltd: Best Workplace Car Scheme 2019 - UK Tusker offers an innovative workplace car scheme designed to benefit both employees and employers. As part of our showcase of a selection of this year’s Business Excellence Award winners we profile the firm to find out more about the solution it has to offer.
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oday Tusker is the UK’s leading Car Benefit company, and they manage fleets of cars for both public and private sector organisations across the UK. Their award-winning salary sacrifice product allows employees to exchange some of their salary for a cost effective, brand new car. The scheme allows employees to drive their brand-new car with insurance, maintenance and vehicle tax all included for a fixed monthly cost. It means they can save money and have peace of mind that everything needed for their car is covered. Tusker’s friendly customer service team are always just a phone call away for any questions or issues their drivers might have when they are on the roads. All that’s left to think about is topping up on fuel. The result for employers is that their staff are happier and often more engaged. It doesn’t cost a penny to set up and run and is even carbon-neutral as Tusker offset the emissions of every car ordered with them.
Tusker also have a Contract Hire offering, and those customers of theirs utilise and benefit from their expertise as an outsourcing option for their company cars. This way, Tusker take the hassle out of managing a fleet, and ensure costs can be controlled with a fixed monthly amount per car, rather than varying servicing and maintenance costs. With an impressive 97% customer satisfaction rate, Tusker are constantly working to improve their offerings. They are currently hard at work developing a completely new set of processes, systems and tools in order to futureproof the organisation from a technology perspective. Their new systems mean that the user experience for their customers is always innovative and simple. Overall, Tusker has achieved phenomenal success since it first began, and moving forward the firm will continue to strive towards even greater success as it looks towards a bright future.
Working with big brands including National Grid and Your Move, as well as 25% of NHS Trusts in England, and a third of Ambulance Trusts, Tusker are specialists in employee benefits. They pride themselves their customer service, which is built around an experienced and eager team, and is delivered through one of the most advanced live quotation and fleet management systems in the UK.
Company: Tuskerdirect Ltd | Contact: Lauren Sayers Website: https://tuskerdirect.com/
34 Acquisition International - 2019 Business Excellence Awards
Linkk Search and Consultancy FZE Linkk Search and Consultancy FZE provides its clients across the UAE, Gulf and beyond with niche recruitment solutions. We profile the firm to find out more about how it came to be recognised in our prestigious 2019 Business Excellence Awards.
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rawing on its wealth of industry experience, Linkk is a boutique executive search consultancy dedicated to recruitment in, and for, the legal profession, acting for law firms and inhouse legal teams. Its Managing Director, Kevin Cooper, trained and qualified initially as a lawyer, practising under common law and civil law with a leading international law firm in London and Paris. He recognises that, when working in the UAE legal market, it is particularly important to understand the local context and culture when embarking on a new project or working with a new client. Expectations and aspirations need to be assessed carefully. He is often asked to provide strategic input and direction to senior management, whether in the context of a private practice or in-house mandate He and his team at Linkk work hard to ensure that their clients receive the support and service they need, no matter what requirements they may have.
“Best Boutique Executive Search Consultancy 2019 - Dubai” Since setting up in Dubai seven years ago, Linkk has seen its business evolve and develop across other jurisdictions through the Gulf region and beyond. It has managed to forge extremely close relationships with clients, who rely on its ability to source and benchmark the highest quality candidates, sometimes in complex or difficult jurisdictions. Its success is driven by hard work, dedication and a deep understanding of the market, allied with a commitment to discretion and integrity. Seeking to capitalise on this success, Linkk’s aim is to become the leading legal recruitment services provider across the whole Gulf region, whilst also playing an active role in helping to shape the legal market itself. This ambitious aim will be the firm’s ongoing focus as it looks towards an exciting future.
Company: Linkk Search and Consultancy FZE Name: Kevin Cooper Address: Spider Business Center, 19th floor, Conrad, Dubai, UAE Telephone Number: +9714 3827736 Web Address: www.linkksearch.com
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Zircom: Best B2B Communications Agency 2019 - England Drawing on over 20 years’ experience, Zircom is a marketing communications agency, focussed primarily on B2B sectors and dealing with a range of clients from SMEs right up to some of the biggest brands in the world. We invited managing Director Tim Newton to talk us through how far Zircom has come over the past two decades.
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ince it was founded in 1999 by current Chairman John Paul Simpson, Zircom has grown to be a trusted marketing partner to clients across the globe. The company has seen many exciting changes over the years which have helped it to flourish into the award-winning agency it is now, as Tim highlights in his opening comments.
“Founded 20 years ago, our business has grown from its owneroperator roots to the stage where we are now 16 strong. This year sees Zircom not only celebrate its 20th anniversary, but also its first year as an Employee Owned company. The change in ownership as part of the overall succession plan provided everyone with a real stake in the ongoing success, a voice in the strategy and direction and ultimately a share in the profits generated by the business. “This has also allowed us to have a solid platform from which we can look to grow and develop, both in terms of size and also the range of services we offer and markets we serve. Alongside the phenomenal organic client growth we enjoy, thanks to great client retention through strong relationship building we are also experiencing one of our best periods of new client acquisition too.” Today Zircom works with businesses of all sizes to offer expert marketing support that really makes a difference to their performance, helping clients get the most out of their brand and engage with their target markets, whether they are internal or external.
Company: Zircom | Name: Tim Newton Address: 29a Woodchurch Ln, | Telephone Number: 01516080101 Web Address: zircom.uk.com
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This growth and success has helped the firm to flourish, but the team remain keen not to rest on their laurels, and are constantly looking for ways to enhance their success and improve through hard work and a commitment to excellence. Such an approach is particularly important in the fast-paced marketing industry., especially with the proliferation of start-up agencies creating lots of noise and distraction in the sector. Over the years Zircom has faced increasingly stiff competition as the B2B Marketing Services sector has grown considerably. Tim explores how his firm has set itself apart from other similar companies and proved itself to be ahead of the game when it comes to client service.
“At Zircom, we differentiate ourselves from our competition thanks to our thirst for knowledge and deep desire to understand the clients requirements. We ask questions and listen to the answers! This means that we do not just accept the brief we are given, but instead we encourage our team to actively challenge so that we can be sure of delivering great results. Once we have agreed a budget, project parameters and timeline we work tirelessly to ensure that we deliver to time and quality objectives. Our project delivery is based on the highest Quality Standards and we constantly check and review projects to ensure they deliver against the expectations of the client and more often than not surpass those expectations. “As a result of this approach we are able to meet the needs of each and every client we have the pleasure of working alongside. Our team is focussed on creating and delivering the best results we can for our clients and understand what it means to go the extra mile. We work with our clients to co-create appropriate and actionable strategies and plans and then bring them to life in the appropriate channels, whether they are on or offline, print or 3D motion and video.” In his concluding comments Tim discusses the future of Zircom and how the firm will remain focused on growing whilst at the same time continuing to provide its valued clients with the same exceptional support and service they have come to rely on.
“Moving forward, we have a growth plan that we believe is both ambitious and achievable with key milestones over the next three, five and ten years. This is a plan will enhance the organic growth we are experiencing, accelerate the new client development and potentially see us in a position to acquire businesses who share our quality and value set. This plan will allow us to expand our service or market offering over the years ahead and everyone here at Zircom is very excited about the developments that we have in store. After all everyone at Zircom is an owner of the business and has a real stake in future success!”
Company: MARLIN Design Ltd Contact: Mark Wiffen Website: marlin-design.co.uk/
MARLIN Design Ltd Based in Bishop’s Stortford, MARLIN Design Ltd is an award-winning architectural design company providing high quality bespoke architectural designs in both traditional and contemporary form, throughout London, East Anglia and the South East. We profile the firm to find out more about the range of services it has to offer.
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ounded in 2010, MARLIN Design draws on the expertise of Owner Mark Wiffen, a qualified Architectural Technician with extensive experience in the construction industry.
Supporting both private and commercial clients, MARLIN Design offers a diverse range of services to meet any need. The firm specialises in providing architectural design services to domestic clients, however it has a variety of projects in its portfolio and can tailor its solutions to meet its clients’ individual needs. Thanks to this wide-ranging experience, the firm is able to undertake a full range of architectural design and planning services. Whatever the size of the job large or small, the firm’s expert team aim to establish the exact needs of each client.
No matter what their project size or nature, MARLIN Design treat all customers in a professional manner, working towards completing the process from instruction to start on site to a very high standard. This client-focused approach ensures that everyone who works with this dynamic architecture practice receives the exceptional standard of service they expect and feels supported throughout their project. As part of this focus on ensuring client satisfaction, every project that the firm undertakes is quoted at a fixed price, with no hidden extras. As a result, clients can rest assured that when they work with MARLIN Design they are receiving the highest possible standard of service which is cost effective and completely transparent. Overall, MARLIN Design has worked hard over the past nine years to provide its clients with the high standards of service they expect, and moving forward this will remain the firm’s ongoing focus.
Image Credit: Ongar Rd, Abridge, Essex - MARLIN Design Ltd
“Residential Architecture Practice of the Year 2019 - Essex” Image Credit: Ongar Rd, Abridge, Essex - MARLIN Design Ltd
Acquisition International - 2019 Business Excellence Awards 37
FirstMaid.CO.UK : Best Residential Cleaners Provider 2019 - Greater Manchester Supporting both, homeowners and cleaners throughout the Greater Manchester area firstmaid.co.uk aims to offer a reliable, professional online booking facility that allows local cleaners who are searching for more cleaning work to be matched with local homeowners seeking cleaning services. This then explains why they are often called “mini-UBER for the cleaning industry”. To celebrate the firm’s win in this year’s Business Excellence Awards we provide an overview of the services that can be booked via their platform.
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ince its inception FirstMaid has established a reputation for excellence in organising residential cleaning across all Greater Manchester postcode areas.
This is due to the firm’s clear and open pricing structure, with all of its registered cleaners’ rates viewable on the firm’s easy-to-use website. Materials and equipment are included in price and provided by the cleaners as standard. Quality is also a key focus for the firm, and it works hard to source talented, experienced cleaners who are willing to work hard to exceed their clients’ expectations and clean their home in a professional manner. As part of its commitment to offer all registered users a cutting-edge service that meets their needs and can be tailored around their busy lifestyles, the firm has spent a great deal of time developing its website into a resource for its users. The team believe that by booking cleaners in Manchester and the surrounding through firstmaid.co.uk homeowners will receive great service at a sensible and affordable price. Despite being an online booking platform most of the firm’s operations are still undertaken by a person so that clients receive the human touch. The firm’s unique solution is more not just another App with full automation that often goes wrong, but instead an innovative solution designed to meet all of its user’s cleaning needs. From general cleaning services and specific solutions such as carpet or oven cleaning through to deep cleaning, FirstMaid can organise it all, and is able to deliver quality service and support through its online portal. Each and every cleaner listed on firstmaid. co.uk platform is of the highest possible calibre and works alongside their client to ensure that they receive the service they need to enjoy a fresh and revitalised home. Cleans can be offered as regularly as clients need, so that in addition to one-off visits and intensive cleans they can maintain their property on a weekly, monthly or fortnightly basis. The FirstMaid team will liaise with the client to ensure they receive the cleaning plan that they desire. For those with regular cleaning plans keys can be provided to the cleaner so that the homeowner does not even have to be present while the cleaning takes place, ensuring convivence for the client but also allowing the cleaners to fit their cleaning services around their hectic schedule.
E-mail: hello@firstmaid.co.uk | Website: https://firstmaid.co.uk/
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Overall, thanks to its client-focused approach to organising cleaning services FirstMaid has achieved incredible success over the years, and looking to the future the firm will remain committed to enhancing this and building an even larger presence throughout the Greater Manchester area and beyond.
SK D’ Grand Cabana: Best Multi-Cuisine Restaurant 2019 - West Midlands Following a new company taking over in September 2018 under the name of SK Hotels and Resorts, the eatery previously known as Venue has changed its name to SK D’ Grand Cabana. To celebrate this and it’s the establishment’s success in this year’s Business Excellence Awards we profile it and share the secrets behind its success.
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uilding on the exceptional reputation it gained as the Venue, SK D’ Grand Cabana is one of the most well-established conference and banqueting suites in the West Midlands.
Over the years, the stunning building that now houses the SK D’ Grand Cabana has taken many forms. Originally the Regent Cinema, opened in September 1928, later becoming The Gaumont theatre, and in 1961 it closed for eight days, reopening as Top Rank Bingo Club. It later became the Venue and, most recently, SK D’ Grand Cabana.
Today, SK D’ Grand Cabana can cater for any kind of event, from an intimate special occasion, birthday party, corporate lunch, to a lavish Wedding with 700 guests. The establishment has the skills and experience to make sure that every guest leaves with amazing memories. Alongside its delicious dishes and exceptional hospitality, the establishment has become renowned for its tribute nights and Christmas parties, which are known to be some of the best in the area. With its themed discos and tribute nights regularly selling out, SK D’ Grand Cabana has a great reputation for a great place for live entertainment. A beautifully restored historic and unique venue, it is also the perfect location for a wedding or celebration of any size, with several suites available catering from 2-700 guests. The Cabana Suite is a grand and elegant suite with original art decor features and extensive selection of wedding packages to select, ensuring couples can create the wedding they have always planned for. Whether they are looking for a small intimate wedding or a large lavish reception, couples can be assured of the most professional and attentive service on their special day when they host it at SK D’ Grand Cabana. At the heart of SK D’ Grand Cabana is the food. With an awardwinning restaurant, guests can experience cuisines from around the world all from their seat at the Buffeteria Restaurant. The eatery’s entire menu is Halal, and the kitchen service a range of global cuisines including Indian, Chinese, Italian, Continental, Mexican and Thai. Thanks to an expert team of chefs the eatery is also able to prepare and serve dishes to order, and as such there is sure to be something for all of the family and everyone’s individual tastes. The new owners of this are renowned for their banqueting and wedding halls in India with of over 15 hotels and banqueting halls under there profile. SK D’ Grand Cabana is there first venture here in the UK, hoping there are many more Hotels and Banqueting halls to come. Ultimately, under new ownership the SK D’ Grand Cabana has the potential to use its established reputation and the knowledge and expertise of its new owners to achieve even greater success over the years ahead.
Company: SK D’ Grand Cabana Contact: Leanne Turner Website: http://www.skdgrandcabana.co.uk
Acquisition International - 2019 Business Excellence Awards 39
Sue Wilkins: Best Children’s Storybook Author 2019 Sue Wilkins is a self-published author who draws on real life inspiration to create children’s books that resonate with adults and children alike. We invited her to tell us more about her work and the secrets behind its popularity today.
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Derbyshire-based author, Sue Wilkins crafts stunningly illustrated stories that really come to life. She discusses her work in more detail and the inspiration behind it.
“Over the years I have written many humorous poems for birthdays and other celebrations. When a friend challenged me to write a story, at first I dismissed it as a joke. But then I thought: why not? I’ll give it a go. During the next five years, it was my passion and creativity that produced the story, but it was my dogged determination that led me to strive towards publication. My first book, Alfie’s Story, published in 2014, is a true tale about a stray kitten. This was closely followed by Fearless Flynn, a mouse who dares to be different and who had featured on some of the illustrations in Alfie’s Story. “Next came Arkwright the Duck, a commission by The Arkwright Society at Cromford Mill in Derbyshire. They asked me to write an adventure for their mascot, a soft toy, named after the famous industrialist, Sir Richard Arkwright. My fourth book, Milly, Molly and Maisy is another true story about three kittens I adopted from an animal sanctuary. The next story, to be published later this year, Owl to the Rescue, was inspired by a visit to an owl and otter sanctuary. I write in rhyming couplets, making the stories easy to read and memorable. Luckily, I appear to have chosen characters that appeal to children and adults alike. I have also recently had a few soft toys designed which are proving to be very popular.” Throughout the past five years Sue has enhanced her presence in the children’s book market, with sales to date totalling more than 10,000, and today she is renowned for her memorable characters
and unique plots. She explores how far she has come and how she is still working to develop her brand.
“My books are stocked by gift shops, garden centres, independent bookshops and numerous other retail outlets within my home county of Derbyshire. Recently, I have attended national fairs and shows such as Countryfile Live at Blenheim Palace and as a result have secured some national outlets. This year I will be attending the British Craft Trade Fair, a three-day event held in Harrogate where I will be speaking to retailers and distributors from across the country. “One aspect of my success of which I am very proud is that two of my books (Alfie and Milly) are now promoted by www.nurtureuk.org – an organisation that supports fostered and adopted children and their families. These two books are about me adopting animals and they are now being used to help adoptive and birth children talk about and make sense of their experiences.” Commenting on the state of the book industry, Sue states: “I am very optimistic about children’s books. Digital media has its place, but I am hearing more and more from adults and children alike that you can’t beat a good old-fashioned book at bedtime. Feedback that I receive from all over the world – the latest from 7-year old Ella in Australia – shows me that they love my books and my characters.” Sue is also committed to encouraging the next generation of writers and to this end frequently goes into primary schools to read her stories to the younger children and answer questions from the older ones such as “where do you get your inspiration from?”, “how do you publish a book?” and “are you a millionaire yet?” Looking to the future, Sue will continue to create and market her unique books and share her experience with even more readers over the years to come.
Company: Sue Wilkins Email: info@suewilkins.co.uk | Website: https://suewilkins.co.uk/
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Montpellier Hotel Ltd: Best Boutique Hotel 2019 - Powys For more than 50 years the Montpellier Hotel has been a bastion of exceptional hospitality in Powys, Wales. We profile the establishment to find out more about its vast success, which spans over half a century.
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ver the years, the Montpellier Hotel has established itself as a leading boutique hotel, welcoming a wide range of guests and providing them with exceptional service and hospitality.
Prior to being taken on by its current management team, the Montpellier Hotel had been shut for five years, and as such the team had a very large task ahead when they set about rebuilding the establishment from scratch and creating a hotel that they could be proud of. Today, the Montpellier Hotel is a three-star hotel with an exceptional restaurant that provides incredible meals. There are three bars at the hotel to offer guests a diverse choice and ensure it is able to welcome a wide range of visitors. The hotel also boasts an events room which is the perfect space for a variety of celebrations and gatherings.
Seeking to offer all guests an exceptional standard of hospitality, the Montpellier Hotel relies on an expert team of staff who work tirelessly to ensure that every guest feels truly at home. They are always on hand to offer support and make sure guests have all the amenities they need. Looking ahead, the team behind the Montpellier Hotel have exciting plans to expand their reach and grow the hotel into a chain which will someday stretch around the world. These ambitious plans will ensure that the team continue to focus on innovation whilst also striving to provide the exceptional quality that their guests have come to expect.
“Best Boutique Hotel 2019 - Powys�
Company: Montpellier Hotel Ltd Name: Lord Ibrahim Sani Address: Temple Street, Llandrindod Wells, LD1 5HW Telephone Number: 01597258358 Web Address: www.montpellierhotelwales.co.uk
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Best Women’s Business Entrepreneurial Support Program - Uganda Drawing on more than 55 years’ experience in the market, dfcu is an innovative bank supporting a wide range of clients and offering a range of programmes designed to help support growth in the Ugandan economy. We profile the firm and turn the spotlight on its award-winning women’s business support programme.
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The recent USD 30m fund will go towards financing SMEs in similar sectors with emphasis on businesses with foreign currency earnings potential, with the aim of boosting the country’s export earnings.
For many years dfcu has been associated with many success stories in Uganda’s economy. Today the bank runs a wide range of programmes supporting the region, including its own award-winning development programme aimed at supporting women in the country.
Overall, dfcu’s vision is to be the preferred financial institution providing a broad range of quality products to its chosen customer segments. This will remain the bank’s ongoing focus as it looks towards a bright future, and the bank’s team are excited about the prospect of exciting developments for both the institution as a whole and its women’s support programme.
stablished in 1964, dfcu was designed as a development finance institution. dfcu Bank is the banking branch of the group and has been successfully serving the nation especially promoting SMEs and women in business.
In partnership with Daily Monitor and Uganda Investment Authority (UIA), dfcu has been carrying out free business trainings for women entrepreneurs across the country. This vital support helps service users to gain independence and greater understanding of the business market, allowing them to play a meaningful role in their country’s corporate landscape. As a result of this, it supports both the individuals involved in the programme and Uganda’s business market.
“Best Women’s Business Entrepreneurial Support Program - Uganda”
The bank also works hard to support SMEs in Uganda. Recently French Development Finance Institution, Proparco, has arranged a USD 30 Million senior debt facility to support dfcu Bank’s efforts to bridge the long-term financing gap for SMEs. Proparco and dfcu Bank have had a long-term partnership that has seen Proparco extend a series of facilities to the bank since 2005. The current facility is the 5th transaction with the bank. This testifies to Proparco’s long term commitment to supporting SMEs in developing countries and to the deepening of the financial sector in Uganda.
Company: dfcu | Contact: Victoria Byenkya Website: https://dfcugroup.com/
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Best After-School Tuition Provider - UK Offering more than just tutoring, Explore Learning is a nationwide after-school tuition service seeking to drive students to embrace the joy of learning. We caught up with Laura Gordon to learn more.
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Since it first opened in 2001 Explore Learning has helped not only the 250,000 children who have attended its centres, but thousands of schools, community groups and families in developing a generation of confident, Fearless Learners who can tackle anything. Laura explores the firm’s service offering in detail and outlines how it works to drive each and every student to be the best they can.
“As well as supporting our students, we keep their parents involved every step of the way. With feedback after every session, regular parents’ meetings and open sessions, they get an in-depth insight into their child’s work, areas of difficulty and their progress. Through this approach Explore Learning is always on hand to discuss their child’s development, the school curriculum and ways that they can support them at home, providing support to the whole family.”
“Every parent wants their child to succeed; to flourish at school and achieve academically, but most importantly to leave with a platform of skills which sets them up for future success. At Explore Learning we deliver exactly that through our international network of 145 maths and English tuition centres. Together they help us provide something unique: a home that nurtures ‘Fearless Learners’. These are children who are hungry for knowledge, not afraid to make mistakes and are ready and excited for their next steps.
A people-led business, Explore Learning has always sought inclusion, and as such Laura is understandably keen to explain how the firm works to ensure that after-school tuition is available to as many students as possible.
“Our vibrant and energetic centres operate on a membership basis. Children attend up to twice a week for hour-long sessions which are specifically designed to suit their individual needs. Open seven days a week, members attend on a drop-in basis, allowing supplementary education to fit with busy family life. Our teaching tools are a combination of the best licensed materials from leading provider, Pearson, as well as resources designed exclusively by our in-house education team. All of our courses map to the school curricula, supporting each and every individual at a level and pace that’s right for them.” Seeking to provide parents and students with a truly unique service, Explore Learning offers a tailored approach, specific to each child’s individual needs, ensuring each child gets the most out of their time at the centre and at school, as Laura highlights.
“At Explore Learning we get to know each and every child as an individual. We learn about their own unique strengths and areas of development, designing a unique programme of study that is right for them. Despite having over 33,000 members, no two children’s work is the same, and no two children are taught in the same way. We bring learning to life, tailoring our methods to each child’s way of learning.
“Since inception Explore Learning has always sought to deliver a fantastic standard of education to all children, regardless of means or background. In order to deliver the best possible standard of education we have an in-house education team who are constantly developing our offering. They also write our content in house, developing new courses and advancing our curriculum to suit our members needs and any changes to the school curriculum. “Additionally, our membership is kept affordable to all members thanks to being on the voluntary Ofsted register. This means families is receipt of working tax credits, universal credits, childcare vouchers or income support which may be eligible for a discount on their monthly membership.” As she looks ahead Laura is optimistic that Explore Learning will continue to flourish, as the company seeks to grow its service offering for the benefit of students and parents alike.
“Currently Explore Learning is at the start of a new chapter with lots of exciting developments upon the horizon. We are looking forward to expanding our provision over the coming years as Explore Learning seeks to support more children than ever in becoming ‘Fearless Learners’.”
Company: Explore Learning | Name: Laura Gordon Address: 74 North Street Telephone Number: 07775429285 Web Address: www.explorelearning.co.uk
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Company: Ekkio Capital Contact: Jean-Marc Sceo Website: http://ekkio.fr/
Ekkio Capital: Best Investments Firm 2019 - France Drawing on more than two decade’s experience in the investment space, Ekkio Capital is able to offer investors and businesses alike the benefit of its vast industry knowledge and financial expertise. We invited its President, Jean-Marc Sceo, to tell us more about the firm and showcase the secrets behind its vast success in this competitive market.
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or more than 20 years Ekkio Capital has been investing in high-potential growing French and European SMEs across three sectors: tourism and leisure; health care and beauty; as well as control and security. Jean-Marc explores the firm’s service offering in greater detail and explains how it has now evolved over the years.
“Here at Ekkio Capital we closely support SME development projects through an active involvement alongside CEOs and top management. We support them to optimize their growth and in their international development, advise them on strategic investments, mergers and acquisitions, and provide them with an extensive network of contributing business leaders and industry experts. “Over recent years we have created strategic committees within portfolio companies to help them in their development strategy. We also have dedicated teams to provide them operational support on
Photo Credit: Jean-Marc Sceo, President of Ekkio Capital
six different areas of expertise including human resources, financial issues, IT, communication, business development and internal organization. As evidenced, at Ekkio Capital we are constantly thinking about the evolution of our company while remaining faithful to our investment strategy, and this approach has helped us to provide our investors and the companies we invest in with cuttingedge support and services that meet their needs.” This focus on evolving and adapting its service offering has helped the firm to ensure it is at the forefront of the ever-evolving investment market, as Jean-Marc highlights.
“Today, the Private Equity industry is focusing more and more on its corporate sustainability, by practicing responsible investing. As a result, Principles for Responsible Investment are now becoming more essential. At Ekkio Capital, we have always advocated an ethical, responsible and long-term approach to investing and we would like to strengthen this commitment but also encourage our portfolio companies to have a more responsible activity. “All of our businesses are evaluated, using a questionnaire thats developed and administered by a specialized consulting company, which helps them to improve their commitments. We are also currently working on establishing a generalized model of ‘value distribution’ between the employees in our portfolio companies. As such we have high hopes that we will remain compliant with regulations and ahead of private equity industry developments in the future.” As he looks to the future Jean-Marc is very confident that Ekkio Capital can build upon its already great success as the firm seeks international growth.
“In May of 2018 Ekkio Capital made a final close for Ekkio Capital IV on €161m, surpassing our €150m target. Now, our priorities are about finding and investing in the right companies. We also plan to develop in Germany, which is why last year we recruited a professional focusing on the German market, and another is due to be added to our team soon. “Overall, Ekkio Capital aims to become a European player, with plans to expand into Spain and Italy in the long term. We are seeking growth whilst looking to implement our four strong principles: a sectorial focus, targeting companies between 10 and 30 million turnover, and doing primary transactions and direct deals. This dual focus will ensure that we remain true to our principals as we grow and flourish.”
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Business Excellence Awards: Brandbirbals - Best Interior Design Service 2019 - Bengaluru Interior Design specialist who are improving living and pleasing the enviroment.
Get in touch: Brandbirbals: aman1177@gmail.com
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Company: Enzen Name: Luis Suarez-Olea, Global Head of Transaction Advisory Address: Enzen, Calle Orense 34, Iberia Mart II, 6º floor. 28020, Madrid, Spain Telephone: +34 672 187 305 Web Address: www.enzen.com
AI Award for Excellence in Transaction Advisory Services 2019 Specialising within the energy and water sectors, Enzen is a global knowledge practice that can leverage its international expertise to provide clients with award-winning, tailored solutions. In the final part of our showcase on this incredible firm’s success in this year’s Business Excellence Awards, we learn about its Transaction Advisory Centre of Excellence.
Luis Suarez-Olea Enzen
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n 2006, Enzen began working towards its mission to make energy and water more sustainable, accessible and affordable for all.
Over the years the firm has grown at an exceptional rate. Today Enzen operates across 26 countries around the world, with bases in the UK, India, Australia, USA, Spain, Turkey, Middle-East and Kazakhstan. Supporting a diverse range of international clients, Enzen has four main divisions: Business Operations, Business Transformation, Digital Enterprise and Energy and Water Networks, which are further made up of different Centres of Excellence specialising in particular areas of Enzen’s portfolio of solutions. The company’s Business Transformation division provides utilities with the transformative strategies and actions to ensure sustainable success. Whether it’s strategic frameworks, technological products, due diligence and innovative business models, Enzen harnesses the practical experience and deep domain knowledge of its expert teams to provide exceptional, high-value delivery. Centres of Excellence within the Business Transformation include Strategic Insights, Transaction Advisory, Utility Transformation, Smarter Cities and Customer Excellence. The Transaction Advisory Centre of Excellence is headquartered in Spain and led by its Global Head Luis Suarez-Olea. Comprising Mergers and Acquisition professionals specialising in the energy and water sectors, the team provides a wide range of end-to-end solutions encompassing strategic consultancy, due diligence and financial management services. Luis explains the department’s service offering and how this benefits Enzen’s clients.
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“At Enzen, our Transaction Advisory solutions are designed to offer value for money and tangible business outcomes. In the style characteristic of Enzen’s other Centres of Excellence, we combine strategic insight with specialised ‘hands-on’ operational knowledge and practical experience. This means our customers, whether they’re seeking a buy or sell transaction, can draw on our real experience of asset operations in different geographies with different processes and regulations. “Such expertise significantly improves our customers’ position when they analyse potential acquisitions, equipping them with greater insights, in-depth knowledge and the opportunity to convert this into valuable returns.” Offering an example of how this expertise can be put to good use, Luis shares an insight into one of his department’s recent successful projects.
“An example of the returns we offer is our recent work advising a customer that was aiming to acquire one of Spain’s biggest portfolios of renewable energy generation assets. As part of our due diligence service, we identified a number of improvements that would enhance the value of the investment and deliver greater economic impact. “Based on these results, the customer asked Enzen to run the operations of the full portfolio, applying our expertise and knowledge to the maintenance and operation of the assets in future. At the same time, we mapped out a way the customer could grow its new portfolio through further acquisitions and establish a bigger presence in the renewables sector.” Moving forward, Enzen is set to expand the Transaction Advisory department to further support its clients around the world.
“Looking to the future, to ensure Enzen’s continued success our Transaction Advisory team is set to expand further through a series of regional hubs in the USA, Chile, Dubai, the Middle East and Australia. This will help us provide this service to an even wider array of clients. I’m incredibly excited about this development.”
Company: Enzen Name: Kutty Prabakaran, Group Chief Executive Officer Address: Enzen Global, Blythe Valley Innovation Centre, Central Boulevard, Shirley, Solihull, B90 8AS, United Kingdom Web Address: www.enzen.com
Best Energy and Water Business Consultancy 2019 end-to-end services that include identifying the customers’ challenges, analysing their businesses, creating strategies, overseeing project management and implementing new technology and infrastructure to deliver positive benefits for all. The company’s four main divisions are Business Operations, Business Transformation, Digital Enterprise and Energy and Water Networks. These are further made up of different Centres of Excellence that specialise in particular solutions. Within the Business Operations space, Enzen works with utility companies to conceptualise, design, deliver and manage best-inclass operations. If network asset owners or investors need reliable, safe and quality infrastructure, Business Operations can help them achieve excellent outcomes that are sustainable for the long-term. What’s different about Enzen is the firm provides this service across the entire asset lifecycle, from strategy and consultancy through to asset performance, asset operations and customer service.
Kutty Prabakaran, Group Chief Executive Officer
Leading the market in global energy and water consultancy is Enzen, an internationally renowned, award-winning knowledge practice. After the firm’s success in winning three awards at this year’s Business Excellence Awards programme, we profile the business to find out more.
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rawing on 13 years of experience as a specialist in the energy and water sectors, Enzen develops tailored services for utility customers that combine both the deep domain knowledge with exceptional, high-value delivery. The company’s experts, known as ‘knowledge practitioners’, believe in constantly reviewing and improving the work they undertake to meet evolving market needs. Their methodology is to refine and share their knowledge continuously so Enzen can be a global leader in energy and water capability and leave a cleaner planet for future generations. As part of its dynamic and flexible approach, the Enzen team take great pride in responding to shifting industry requirements in the energy and water sectors. These include the growing demands of an expanding population, changing regulatory environments, distributed energy resources, the rise of renewables, the increase in unregulated markets and the transitioning to smart, digital and IoT technologies. To overcome the challenges they face, Enzen’s customers require a strategic partner that has in-depth knowledge, vast experience, an agile, innovative approach, excellence in execution and exceptional customer service. Enzen is structured to deliver all this. Through its four main divisions and Centres of Excellence the company is able to provide innovative
In the Business Transformation space, the firm provides utilities with the transformative strategies and actions to ensure sustainable success. Whether it’s strategic frameworks, technological products, due diligence and innovative business models, the firm harnesses its team of global knowledge experts and their practical experience in delivery. Areas of focus for Business Transformation include strategic insights, transaction advisory services, utility transformation, smart cities and customer excellence. Complementing this, Digital Enterprise helps Enzen’s customers maintain their competitive advantage in an industry disrupted by the rise of new technology. That means designing custom solutions based on the latest advancements in Machine Learning, IoT, automated data science, augmented AI simulation software, robotic process automation and virtual power plants. Unlike its competitors, Enzen does more than offer just technical solutions. Starting with each individual customers’ vision and target outcomes, the team craft comprehensive digital strategies and solutions that will help these customers lead the industry into the future. Finally, in its Energy and Water Networks division, Enzen’s global team of knowledge practitioners help utilities in the power, water and gas sectors find efficiencies within their increasingly complex network of assets. The firm’s holistic approach combines strategic thinking, economic modelling, advanced digital tools and practical operational experience to create bespoke solutions for its customers’ ambitions. Included in this service are smart meters, the migration of control rooms to the cloud, monitoring the efficiency of industrial equipment and delivering new smart technologies to enhance operational performance. Ultimately, Enzen believes passionately in promising clients what it can deliver and delivering what it promises – and judges all its projects by the quality of their outcomes. Such an ethos will remain Enzen’s guiding principle as the company looks towards a bright future.
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Company: Enzen Name: Robert Murray, Global Head of Business Operations Address: Enzen Global, Blythe Valley Innovation Centre, Central Boulevard, Shirley, Solihull, B90 8AS, United Kingdom Telephone: +44 7785 254 782 Web Address: www.enzen.com
Enzen: Utilities Delivery Partner of the Year 2019
Over the past 13 years Enzen has honed its unique consultancy services to meet the specific requirements of the energy and water sectors. To celebrate the firm’s success in this year’s Business Excellence Awards, in which the firm won three prestigious titles, we invited Robert Murray, Global Head of Business Operations, to talk us through how the firm’s award-winning utilities services are provided.
Robert Murray, Global Head of Business Operations - Enzen
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stablished in 2006, Enzen began life in India and the UK with a clear mission: to make energy and water more sustainable, accessible and affordable for all. By harnessing the practical experience and deep domain knowledge of its expert teams around the globe, Enzen has earned a reputation for providing exceptional, high-value delivery. Since its inception, the firm has grown at an exceptional rate and today it operates in 26 countries around the world, with bases in the UK, India, Australia, USA, Spain, Turkey, the Middle East and Kazakhstan. Robert begins by explaining the firm’s core service offering in more detail and how it is shaped by its values.
“Here at Enzen we are a global knowledge practice that operates solely in the energy and water sectors. We provide consulting, technology, engineering, management and innovation services to leading businesses, governments, non-governmental organisations and not-for-profits. “At the heart of everything Enzen does are our six values: Passion, Integrity, Creativity, Knowledge, Excellence and Respect. These values guide and inspire our expert workforce of knowledge practitioners: a 3,600-strong team of management consultants, technology specialists, engineering specialists and infrastructure specialists who are made up of 22 different nationalities. “In addition to this, Enzen has a network of group companies and subsidiaries which specialise in everything from renewables, smart metering and the Internet of Things (IoT) to drones, mobile solutions, operations engineering and wave technology.”
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Seeking to offer its target clients the services and support they need, Enzen is at the forefront of utility transformation, using a rapid diagnostic methodology to identify where change is required. Once the requirements are established, the firm takes a practitioner approach, working with people on the ground to deliver the transformation. As Enzen’s expert team know the results they can deliver, they are able to share the risk and rewards with their customers, so everyone achieves the best outcome. Robert is understandably proud of this offering and shares an insight into a selection of the firm’s recent projects.
“Within the utility transformation space, recent achievements for Enzen include mobilising and delivering 50km of mains and service asset replacement for a gas distribution network, something the existing supply chain was unable to deliver. “Another success is our Zen Multi-Utility Accelerator framework. As energy costs and environmental standards rise, energy solutions are becoming increasingly localised. In response to this and the lowinterest economy, many businesses are becoming Independent Gas Transporters (IGTs) to generate better returns from owning gas assets and connections. However, many aspiring IGTs do not currently have the knowledge or tools to satisfy regulatory and consumer expectation. “To counter this, our Zen Multi-Utility Accelerator framework helps IGTs with their set-up, licensing, safety cases, process documentation, operational tools and managed service offering. A single, customised, cradle-to-grave offering, it embeds best practice, accelerates growth and sustains efficiency through measurable outcomes. “Using the framework, Enzen delivered a bespoke enterprise process model for a customer when it sought to become an IGT. The solution covered network adoptions, customer service, new connections, service requests, asset management, revenue management and faults, gas escapes and emergencies. In total, Enzen helped the customer acquire the necessary licences, and then produced 90 best practice operation documents, and created a calculator tool to help the customer to then determine the value of its assets over the long-term.”
Urobiologics LLC: Global Leader in Family Balancing through Gender Specific Conception 2019 A pioneer within the market, Urobiologics LLC is the original discoverer of a scientific and logical way to conceive a boy or girl through following patented technology. We profile the firm to gain an insight into this fascinating technology and how it is leveraged to support couples to create the perfect family.
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ince its inception in 1982 Urobiologics has been offering innovative family gender planning solutions and support to a wide variety of couples.
Their strength lies in discovery of alternating gender specific menstrual cycles and proving that those conceiving in boy specific cycle get boys and vice versa. This has made women very happy by removing social stigma associated with having multiple kids of same gender. Their PreGender Preconception test done 2-3 month before wedding is putting would-be-brides in total control of getting a small and balanced family and stay happy for life. They are first to establish that gender selection is genetically controlled and that the uterus does the sperm selection depending on the cycle she is in. Gender specific natural conception offers the only working and effective natural gender selection program. The team helps balance the families of couples having many babies of same gender or those trying to conceive their dream babies and their customers include single women as well as married couples. This technology will put an end to having multiple babies of the same gender because gender specific conception would become the way of life. The proof can be seen in their ‘Live Charts’ section of their website.
Alternating hormonal enviroments in women. Conception in desired cycle can get you your dream baby boy or girl naturally.
T/E Ratio
Cycle 1
Cycle 3
BOY PHASE
BOY PHASE AGAIN
Cycle 2 GIRL PHASE
CONCEPTION WILL LOCK THIS CYCLE FOR 9 MONTHS.
PREGNANCY TEST & GENDER DETECTION ON DAY-1
This is the original copyrighted work of Urobiologics LLC, not available in any book or journal. All right reserved. Copiers and infringers be aware.
All tests require urine samples from women to be shipped to Urobiologics thru couriers. It’s legal to ship urine across countries as shown at the website. Seeking to build upon its current success and raising awareness on the benefits of its unique system looking to the future, Urobiologics’ focus is to develop and market lateral flow gender planning and detection test strip for family balancing. The wet process is already running and is being upscaled to high-throughput analytical system. Longer term, it aims to open its own IUI and IVF clinics which will have double the success rate than existing clinics (patent pending). These exciting developments will drive the firm to even greater success and allow it to support an even wider array of clients to create the family they desire leading to happy communities and lesser domestic violence. Company: Urobiologics LLC Name: Kuldeep Verma, Ph.D. Address: 31628 Glendale Ave., Livonia MI 48150 Telephone Number: 3135747500 Web Address: www.urobiologics.com
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LonDEC, King’s College London, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences: Best Dental Education & Training Centre - UK Based in the heart of the UK’s capital, LonDEC (London Dental Education Centre) is a state-of-the-art education and training centre designed to enhance and further the skills and knowledge of the entire dental team. To celebrate the centre’s success in this year’s Business Excellence Awards, in which it has been recognised for its dedication to excellence in dental training, we profile it and share the secrets behind its success.
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pened in 2009 as part of King’s College London partnership with the NHS London Deanery, the £2.4 m high-specification centre is dedicated to the task of training up healthcare professionals, driving clinical standards and even improving clinical leadership via unrivalled opportunities for continuous personal and professional development. Over the years the centre has flourished and today, as LonDEC celebrates this award and its 10th anniversary, it provides an unrivalled range of dental courses. It is now home to a vast selection of postqualification education and continuing professional development opportunities for every member of the dental team at all levels. As a very dedicated Dental Continuing Education Courses facility, LonDEC’s highly sophisticated equipment and congenial ambience offer a high-specification and comfortable environment to learn in. The space is designed with students in mind, and makes for the perfect space for learners of all kinds. Course lecturers and students alike believe that the centre’s £2.4m CPD dental facilities are among the best in the world.
Company: LonDEC, King’s College London, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences Contact: Bill Sharpling | Website: https://www.londec.co.uk/
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There is a space for every form of learning, whether it be the more practical rooms such as the Clinical Skills Training Classroom, Infection Control Training Suite or the Medical Emergency Training Suite, as well as space for lectures, seminars and group work in the Seminar Room. These spaces contain state-of-the-art equipment that is at the cutting-edge of the latest developments within the dental industry so that students are always ahead of emerging trends and able to enhance their skills to meet their patient’s ever-evolving needs. In addition to providing an ideal clinical skills training facility for King’s College London’s Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences postgraduate students, LonDEC’s state-of-the-art facilities which are available for hire for CPD dental lectures and hands-on training. Seeking to build upon its already impressive success, moving forward LonDEC will continue to host a variety of dental education courses to meet the needs of a wide variety of professionals from around the world and across the dental care market.
Company: Water Limousines Sydney Contact: Sean Quinn Website: waterlimousines.com.au/
Water Limousines Sydney Offering bespoke boat charter experiences, Water Limousines Sydney is the leading Australian provider of completely personalized luxury boat hire and experiences on Sydney Harbour. As part of our showcase of a selection of this year’s Business Excellence Award winners we profile the firm to learn more.
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ince its inception in 2013, Water Limousines Sydney’s very dedicated team of day charter experts have offered Australian and international travellers the opportunity to design distinctive charters on the stunning Sydney Harbour.
“Best Luxury Vessel Charter Service 2019 - Sydney” With a selection of vessels ranging in size from 30ft to 98ft, a trip with Water Limousines Sydney has become the ideal way to impress guests. The firm also boasts a truly unique service experience which will keep guests coming back time and time again. The team can offer guests a unique combination of an amazing vessel, a luxury cruise and a mouth-watering meal and beverage package for up to 80 guests.
Versatile and truly unique, Water Limousines Sydney’s cruises are also suitable for social and themed gatherings like Vivid, New Year’s Eve, Boxing day, Australia Day, Christmas functions, Sales Meetings, Fundraisers and Team Building Exercises. The team even help their guests decorate the vessels according to their needs and requirements, giving them a vessel set up that fits their budget and charter theme. Seeking to build upon its already impressive reputation for excellence, looking to the future Water Limousines Sydney will continue to enhance its service offering and work with even more clients across a range of markets to show them the beauty of Sydney Harbour in true luxury and style.
As a result of its focus on quality service, the firm’s Corporate Yacht Charters now boast a large clientele from all private and public business sectors. Water Limousines Sydney has the latest Water Limousine transfer vessels and Superyachts available for booking seven days a week, and can offer a five-star service that cannot be found elsewhere.
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BEST Physical Therapy: Best Physiotherapy Clinic 2019 - San Jose Based on Thomas A. Edison’s concept of using diet and the human frame to prevent ailments, BEST Physical Therapy works with clients to drive genuine change and help them achieve their goals. We profile the practice to find out more.
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stablished in 1995, when Founder Kathy Johnson Wesolowski knew it was time to create something more personal and comprehensive for physical therapy: a solution that provided individual, quality care in a fun and healing environment. Over the years she designed her firm with a view to providing an environment where the patient would receive individual attention and education at each and every visit so that the knowledge and manual skills of the physical therapist would benefit the patient in reaching their highest level of function and their goals. Today, BEST Physical Therapy, (an acronym for Back Education and Sports Therapy), is recognized as one of the leading rehabilitative and wellness clinics in the area with offices in the Almaden Valley and Cupertino areas. Since the beginning the practice has focused on the notion that prevention is equally as important as rehabilitation. The team’s treatment philosophy centers on the fact that the body is a complete functional system, and not just a collection of individual parts functioning independently of each other. As part of BEST Physical Therapy treatment plan, the expert team strives to educate their valued clients to understand their injury, their recovery process, and how to prevent future injury. Each treatment plan is personalized and designed with the individual client in mind. The team works alongside them every step of the way to ensure that they feel supported and fully understand each and every aspect of their treatment plan. Such an approach ensures that the practice drives the client to achieve their goals. BEST Physical Therapy personalizes outpatient physical therapy through the use of evidence-based manual therapy, advanced exercise techniques, and patient education to quickly and efficiently return patients to healthy, pain-free, fully functioning lives. The team strives to continually raise the bar in the practice by training for and obtaining advanced certifications, offering injury-prevention and educational seminars in the community, and working together to collaboratively address patients’ mobility and pain concerns. Thanks to this focus and expert team, BEST Physical Therapy has a history of excellence when it comes to returning clients to activities, work and sport. The practice’s family atmosphere establishes a positive culture of healing, well-being and encouragement which has been proved to be exceptionally effective.
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Alongside its work with clients, BEST Physical Therapy is deeply invested in supporting the local community. Whether it is hosting a screening, hosting educational lectures in the clinic, walking to support cancer research, schools and athletic programs, or generating funds for causes, the practice’s team are ever aware that we are a part of something bigger than simply the clinic itself. As such, they continually give back to the community that has always supported the clinic and helped drive it for the last 24 years. Looking to the future, BEST Physical Therapy will remain dedicated to providing exceptional quality support and service to its valued clients and ensuring that they achieve the health goals they are reaching for.
Company: BEST Physical Therapy Contact: Marti Remmell Website: www.bestphysicaltherapy.com
Fairmont Bab Al Bahr: Most Luxurious Hotel Resort 2019 - Abu Dhabi Part of the renowned Fairmount Hotel Group, Fairmont Bab Al Bahr offers guests a unique location, unrivalled hospitality and sumptuous décor to ensure they enjoy the experience they deserve when they visit Abu Dhabi. We profile the establishment to find out more about the secrets behind its popularity and reputation for excellence within the city’s competitive luxury hotel market.
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ne of the wealthiest cities in the world, Abu Dhabi lays claim to an amazing array of architecture, attractions and natural splendour. Situated at the gateway to the capital city is Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, a beachfront five-star hotel with unrivalled views of a design masterpiece, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Located just a 45-minute drive away from Dubai, guests of this luxurious hotel can enjoy the best of both worlds at Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, the close proximity to a neighbouring metropolis and Abu Dhabi attractions, including the first Ferrari theme park with the fastest roller coaster in the world, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix race Circuit, and Yas Waterworld, the region’s largest waterpark. As a result of its unique location, the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr is ideal for a wide range of guests. Shopping enthusiasts will be spoiled with choice at the newest destination for retail therapy: Yas Mall, while within walking distance, revel in quaint artisanal shops in a Venetian themed souk (market), complete with a leisurely abra (boat) ride down winding canal ways. Additionally, being in close proximity to the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Fairmont Bab Al Bahr also complements business travel with 10 meeting rooms and a ballroom; with flexible lay outs extending out to lawn spaces and piers into the Abu Dhabi Creek with spectacular views. The hotel also boasts a range of amenities in house, including an outdoor, Olympic length swimming pool with dedicated family and children areas, Jacuzzi and a pristine beach line, offer a refreshing pace, while world class dining, including Marco Pierre White restaurant from the former three Michelin star British chef complete the luxury experience. Ultimately, with a striking exterior made of sheer blue glass, Fairmont Bab Al Bahr features 369 contemporary and spacious guestrooms and suites, as well as Fairmont Gold, highlighted by one of the largest lounges in the city filled with plush seating areas and full culinary set up’s for daily made-to-order breakfast, and evening hors d’oeuvres and beverages, all against a staggering backdrop of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. This luxurious décor and range of quality amenities all combine to offer guests an unforgettable experience when they visit this exceptional establishment. Company: Fairmont Bab Al Bahr Contact: Rebecca Polintang Website: https://www.fairmont.com/abu-dhabi/
Acquisition International - 2019 Business Excellence Awards 53
Last Word: Best Marketing & PR Firm - North Island, New Zealand Supporting clients from around the world, Last Word is a marketing and public relations agency based in New Zealand and dedicated to quality solutions that translate into return-on-investment for clients. Celebrating the firm’s success in the 2019 Business Excellence Awards we profile it to share an insight into how it came to win one of these prestigious accolades.
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rawing on its vast industry experience, Last Word believes in the power of creative, high-quality and expertly crafted marketing and public relations.
Since its inception, Last Word has provided advice and support to some of New Zealand’s most trusted brands, from Tourism New Zealand and the Ministry of Education to PricewaterhouseCoopers and Special Olympics New Zealand. Each and every one of Last Word’s valued clients receives a unique service built on a philosophy of not just understanding a client’s business and objectives, but also being passionately invested in seeing them succeed. This has driven both the clients and Last Word itself to achieve considerable success over the years, and the firm’s expert team is committed to continuing to exceed expectations.
James Heffield - Last Word Director James Heffield
This level of service would be impossible without a dedicated and knowledgeable team. Last Word’s staff are all deeply passionate about what they do and strongly believe in providing high quality and expertly crafted communications, with a dash of creativity, that achieve lasting results for their clients. Creativity, honesty and a plain-English approach to marketing and public relations services are hallmarks of the work undertaken at Last Word, and it is this approach that has driven the firm to the success it currently enjoys. Moving forward, the core focus for Last Word is on continuing to achieve results through its media and marketing expertise and further expanding its web design and digital marketing offerings. The Last Word team also enjoys the dynamic of getting up in front of a group of interested people and sharing what they know, and as such group workshops and one on one training for senior management will be an ongoing focus as the firm looks towards a bright and prosperous future. Company: Last Word | Name: James Heffield Telephone Number: +64 7 863 1278 Web Address: www.lastwordmedia.co.nz Megan Heffield - Last Word Director Megan Heffield
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Company: Quastels LLP Contact: Robert Kay Email: rkay@quastels.com Phone: +44(0)20 7908 2559 Website: www.quastels.com
Quastels LLP Quastels LLP is a highly respected fourteen partner commercial law firm in Central London focused on providing the highest quality legal advice. As part of our overview of a selection of this year’s Business Excellence Awards winners we profile the firm to learn more.
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uastels is committed to providing a bespoke, client focused, cost effective legal service. It distinguishes itself from other top law firms because not only do all clients receive partner attention, but their service offering is tailored to meet the needs of its clients. They provide timely, focussed, advice which has earned the loyalty of some of the most respected international businesses and individuals, they are committed to protecting their clients’ interests and providing the best possible advice. The firm’s principal areas of expertise are: dispute resolution, corporate and commercial, real estate, employment, and immigration. The Quastels’ dispute resolution team is experienced in handling a broad range of contentious matters including: • • • • • • •
Contracts & Commercial Debt Recovery & Enforcement Insolvency & Business Recovery Partnership Disputes Real Estate Disputes Blockchain, Cryptocurrency & Technology Reputation & Defamation
Whether you need business or individual advice, Quastels are able to understand your requirements and objectives and can discuss how they can best assist.
“Best Dispute Resolution Practice - London & South East England”
Acquisition International - 2019 Business Excellence Awards 55
Best Waste Management & Collection Company - Portugal SUMA (Serviços Urbanos e Meio Ambiente) is an innovative Portuguese waste management specialist supporting a diverse range of clients. We invited CEO, Manuel Costa to tell us more about the firm and the services it has to offer.
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upported by the solid foundations of its shareholders, SUMA has been leading a path of leadership and entrepreneurship since its inception in 1996, assuming the top position in the national waste sector and excellence in the management of its complete cycle for different typologies. Over the years the firm has come to lead the privatised waste management market in Portugal. Today, the firm is striving to always rise the standards of its activities, anticipate the needs of clients and meet the European goals for this area. Manuel explores how far the firm has evolved since inception and how it has enhanced the Portuguese waste management industry as a whole.
“At SUMA, we believe that our path intertwines with that of the Portuguese waste sector itself. We started in an incipient context and accompanied and impelled some major achievements in the area. As we started out, we were offering urban cleaning and waste management (especially waste collection and transport) services to municipalities, but we soon branched out and diversified.
Ultimately, as SUMA turns a quarter of a century old, it will remain committed to innovation and driving change in the waste management space, as Manuel proudly concludes.
“In 2008 SUMA began its international path and, through our local subsidiaries, we now provide services in Angola, Brazil, Mozambique and Oman, where we have applied our know-how and shaped our management system to fit the local needs and realities. Moving forward, we hope to use these new local bases to drive change in these regions and support greater reform in the waste management space. “Now, as we did 25 years ago, we reinvent ourselves in the pulse of emerging needs, using our expertise and technical capacity. The future of SUMA is one of innovation as we seek to enhance our service offering and provide our clients with the waste management solutions they need.”
“As an organisation SUMA is now comprised of some fifty companies dedicated to assuring excellence in the integrated management of the waste life cycle. These several specialized operators allowed the extension to services such as treatment, in which we also lead the market and manage transfer stations, sorting plants, landfills with biogas recovery, biological treatment plants, waste-to-energy plants, laboratory analysis and quality control, and environmental education.” Operating in the waste management market, SUMA has had to adapt its service offering over the years, and today its core focus is on sustainability to ensure that it remains at the forefront of emerging market developments, as Manuel is eager to emphasise.
“Environmental awareness and education are both very important aspects of our DNA. It is a pillar of SUMA’s social responsibility policy and has been one of the key elements in the differentiation of the company’s performance. We are a reference in the area, not only in Portugal, but in every market that we operate in. “Since our inception, we have created and implemented over 400 campaigns aiming different environmental/citizenship issues and targets; we use these diverse approach strategies to ensure the most efficient results; we have developed mobile awareness units, interactive platforms, movies, music CDs and video clips. We are committed to indorse routines fitting reduction, reuse and recycling logic, to develop functional environmental literacy and to promote the change in behavioural paradigm change in populations, namely consumption patterns and natural resources’ preservation.”
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Company: SUMA | Contact: Regina Sequeira Website: https://www.suma.pt/
Classic Folios Ltd: Best Online Resident Management Systems Providers - England Classic Folios Ltd is the market leading supplier of online, mobile and printed residential homeowner manuals, working with 6 of the UK’s top 10 housebuilders and 250 other developers, housing associations and contractors. We profile the firm to find out more.
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ince its inception in 1996, Classic Folios has provided over just 250 property developers with market leading, professional homebuyer manuals and their online resident management systems. The firm helps all clients foster binding relationships with their own clients, suppliers and staff teams, through exceptional brand presentation and precise communication.
Thanks to its vast industry experience, Classic Folios is now able to work alongside companies of all sizes, delivering a bespoke, high quality and consistent service that is tailored to meet the specific needs of the client’s brand. Such an approach ensures that no two products are the same and that clients receive the quality solutions they need to attract their target buyers.
The firm supports many leading property companies, helping them to transform the way they connect with buyers, tenants and agents throughout the customer journey to build valuable, long lasting client relationships.
Overall, having risen from back bedroom start up to becoming the most trusted name in the industry for handover product, Classic Folios is very keen to continue building upon its success moving forward. As part of this focus they will continue to provide its clients with the exceptional standard of service that they have come to expect over the years to come.
Today the firm now consists of a team of around 40 passionate and dedicated individuals, all of whom are deeply passionate about partnering with developers and housebuilders to create exceptional homeowner support products and platforms that really ‘wow’ buyers.
Company: Classic Folios Ltd | Contact: Kate Pickard Website: https://www.classicfolios.com/
Acquisition International - 2019 Business Excellence Awards 57
Preformed Markings Ltd: Best Road Markings Materials Supplier 2019 - UK & Ireland Preformed Markings Ltd is the UK and Ireland's leading supplier of PREMARK® preformed thermoplastic material supporting a wide range of clients. As part of our overview of a selection of the deserving winners of this year’s Business Excellence Awards we profile the firm to find out more.
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art of a large Scandinavian group of companies, Geveko Markings, Preformed Markings is able to draw on its parent company’s vast industry expertise to provide its clients with a range of unique solutions. Headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, Geveko Markings has several manufacturing sites throughout Scandinavia, Europe and a new purpose-built site being constructed in the USA, supporting a vast sales team around the globe. As a result, Preformed Markings has the ability to utilize the knowledge and the market trends of a global design ethos.
Moving forward Preformed Markings has many exciting new projects in the pipeline which will help drive the firm to even greater success. Aiming to be at the forefront of the emerging developments in the industry, the firm is currently developing colourful crossings and 3D road markings. Seeking to further inspire clients and drive them to even greater creativity, over the coming years Preformed Markings will continue to explore and develop new materials and further enhance its market leadership.
Being based in the UK, a country renowned for its innovation in road markings, and drawing on the support of its Scandinavian parent company, Preformed Markings has been able to attract interest from many clients such as architects, designers, landscapers, planners, contractors, as well as large Blue-Chip organisations over the years. Today the firm’s clients are extremely wide and varied and Preformed Markings is proud to be associated with each and every one of them. Each client receives the same exceptional service and support that the firm has come to pride itself on, and they know they can rely on Preformed Markings to provide them with exceptional quality products and a supportive service. As part of this approach the team here at Preformed Markings firmly believe that understanding a design or project is without doubt the most crucial aspect in any design plan. With finances for projects being constantly scrutinized, it is essential that the team work alongside clients to support them in getting the job right, on time and on budget. This is forefront of the team’s discussions with the client from the moment they begin any new project.
Company: Preformed Markings Ltd Name: Andrew Price Address: Unit 6 Oyster Park, 109 Chertsey Road, Byfleet, Surrey, KT14 7AX Telephone Number: 01932359270 Web Address: www.preformedmarkings.co.uk
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Knight Owl Security: Best Security Services Supplier 2019 - North Wales & Customer Service Excellence Award - North Wales Operating throughout Wrexham and North Wales, Knight Owl Security provides reliable and affordable security services. We profile the firm to find out more about the work it undertakes and how it works with clients to ensure they receive the standard of excellence they expect.
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ounded in 2011, Knight Owl Security is a security services supplier serving security personnel to commercial, factories, construction, events, and festivals as a manned guarding supplier. Supporting such a wide range of clients the firm is flexible and adaptable, working with each individual client to ensure they receive the security services they need. The company is able to supply highly trained manned guards and security officers for any site requirement. All of Knight Owl Security’s static guards, mobile patrols, events and specialist security officers are trained to industry standards, have fully screened backgrounds, and a checkable work history. As a result, clients can rest assured that they will receive dependable guards and expert security support when they work with this innovative and dynamic company.
Owned and operated by a security expert with over 24 years’ experience in the industry, and who still works as a part of the team today, Knight Owl Security takes the greatest pride in all of the security solutions that it delivers, whilst at the same time working hard to ensure that prices are accessible. Overall, with crime currently on the rise and the police increasingly overstretched in the UK, Knight Owl Security foresees an increased need for its services, and as a result the firm will work hard to ensure all new and existing clients receive the exceptional standard of service they need throughout 2019 and further ahead.
Company: Knight Owl Security Contact: Matthew Davies Website: https://knight-owl-security.co.uk/
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“Eagle Construction Services: General Contractor of the Year 2019 - Ontario� Providing industrial Construction Services to a wide range of clients throughout the construction and build sectors. communicating, and managing the industrial Construction sector within Eagle Construction.
Company: Eagle Construction Services | Contact: Kevin Reptke Email: kevin@eagleconstructionservices.ca
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“Providing material, labour and equipment� Being responsible for the quality of all the work thats being done by Eagle Construction Services.
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Cardiff Sports Nutrition: Best Sports Nutrition Retailers 2019 - South Wales Cardiff Sports Nutrition (CSN) is Cardiff’s only dedicated sports nutrition store, offering leading brands at unbelievably low prices. As part of our showcase of some of this year’s Business Excellence Awards winners we profile the firm to find out more about how it works to offer clients the selection and service they expect at prices which they do not.
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ince its inception in 2007 CSN has been working hard to provide clients with a vast selection of leading brand sport nutrition products.
The firm has an expert team who work endlessly alongside clients to ensure that they select the products that are right for them and will help them to meet their unique health and fitness goals. These staff offer experienced advice ranging from dietary information to training tips and can help recommend what products will be best suited to each individual and their specific goals as well as offering individually tailored stacks at a discount. This team had over 10 years’ experience in the sports supplements industry and have the expertise to help drive clients to achieve their goals and purchase only the products they need. By providing excellent customer service, CSN proves that it is dedicated to providing sports nutrition supplements from the biggest brands at a fantastic price.
Products offered at CSN range from traditional supplements through to nut butters, health bars and even innovative new solutions such as drug testing kits. The firm is keen to adapt around the latest industry trends, and as such it now offers an extensive selection of vegan products to cater to the growing number of sports participants who adopt a plant-based diet. Alongside a vast store with one of the largest ranges of sports products in Cardiff, CSN also offers an online order option so that clients can select the products they need and buy them quickly and efficiently. As a result of this focus on client excellence the firm now boasts a wide variety of loyal clients who regularly buy from and recommend CSN for its helpful client service and its extensive product range. Looking towards the future CSN is continuing to grow and create a strong reputation from our commitment of delivering a very high standard of service and professional advice to ensure its valued customers are always satisfied. This will remain CSN’s ongoing focus over the coming years as it foresees a bright future operating in the ever-growing fitness supplement and sports snacks market.
Company: Cardiff Sports Nutrition | Contact: Marc Robinson | Website: https://www.cardiffsportsnutrition.co.uk
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The Brit: Traditional Pub of the Year 2019 - Swansea Serving local and visiting guests in the Port Talbot area the Brit is a traditional pub and restaurant committed to quality. We profile the establishment to gain an insight into how it came to win one of our prestigious Business Excellence Awards for 2019.
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he Brit is a welcoming pub and restaurant offering a wide range of meals, drinks and light bites. Welcoming everyone from couples to families and even dogs, the establishment offers a luxurious option for those keen to enjoy the best Welsh cooking and hospitality on the market today. Fresh, locally sourced ingredients are homecooked into delicious, flavourful dishes that will tempt even the most discerning of diners and showcase the beauty of Welsh cooking and cuisine. From hearty lunch choices, including the incredibly popular shortcrust pastry pie of the day, the menu has options to suit all tastes. All the sauces and side dishes that go with each meal, and the Brit also boasts a selection of very indulgent homemade desserts to ensure that guests always leave feeling full and satisfied. In addition, the bar serves Real Ales, a glorious selection of gin and good wine in a relaxed atmosphere, all of which ensures that the Brit has something for everyone. The establishment also boasts comfortable accommodation for those who wish to sample some of the finest overnight hospitality in the region. Close to the Afan Valley cycle routes and the M4 allowing easy access, the Brit is perfect for a variety of guests, from those just passing through to visitors who want to indulge in the beauty of this majestic setting and explore the stunning Welsh countryside. Throughout 2019 and further ahead the Brit will remain dedicated to providing guests with the same exceptional quality hospitality and food that it has become renowned for.
Company: The Brit | Contact: Gemma Jones Website: http://thebrit.wales/
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New Benchmark Report by TTi Research Reveals Customer Satisfaction in the Utilities Sector Below UK Average In this latest cross-industry customer satisfaction benchmarking report, launched in March 2019, new insights from TTi Research mark the UK’s Utilities Sector as a firm ‘Must do better’.
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he 21-month report provides analysis and exclusive insight into the customer experience energy and water companies provide, including:
• An overview of these Utilities customer satisfaction and how it then compares to the 11 other sectors, including Retail, Insurance, Banking, Distribution, Telecoms and Airlines. • Insight into both the individual energy and water companies’ performance, including British Gas, SSE, Scottish Power, Anglian Water and more. • The Customer Touchpoints that increase Customer Effort • What customers want from their utility provider • Factors driving and discouraging employee engagement in the sector Glyn Luckett, Commercial Director at TTi Research, commented: “Utility companies face mounting regulatory pressure to deliver a quality customer experience. With both Ofgem and Ofwat moving towards stricter price controls and customer engagement requirements, it has never been more critical for all these energy networks and water companies to demonstrate to its customers that they are getting good value for money and great service for the services they buy.” TTi Research’s UK Customer Satisfaction Benchmark Survey delivers insight into the quality of customer service in Utilities and 11 other industry sectors. Rolling data is derived from an online survey of over 6,000 UK respondents, including 565 utilities customers, conducted over 21 months between 1 May 2017 and December 2018. Respondents were asked to provide customer satisfaction, customer effort and employee engagement ratings, as well as answer questions about their interactions with different service providers.
By measuring the customer satisfaction against customer effort across a range of service interactions, the research specialists at TTi Research were able to pinpoint vital customer pain points for companies to prioritise. Analysis revealed that, despite increased investment in call centre management systems, utilities customers are still finding service to be below par. Common complaints based on sentiment analysis included: • • • •
Slow to answer calls Long hold-times Complex phone menus Passed around departments and personnel
Focussed research on customer journeys through call centres will provide a robust, comparable measure of what customers expect, whether those expectations are being met and improvements customers want to see, enabling networks to tackle problems at source. Glyn Luckett explained: “With Utilities’ budgets squeezed, company leaders face difficult decisions on which customer strategies to invest in that will create a positive and distinctive customer experience. Our report shows the value customer research plays in improving decision-making outcomes. By examining the customer journey at each touch point, companies can uncover, not only where gaps in service provision lie, but its importance to the customer, enabling targeted, effective action planning.” Ovo Energy received one of the highest customer satisfaction score of 9.1/10 – with 10 being the highest - followed by Anglian Water with a score of 8.9. Scottish Power received the lowest customer satisfaction rating with a score of 4.5, followed by Utilita with a score of 6.3. Winning customer strategies identified among the highest scoring providers include: • • • • • •
Customer-focussed messaging Self-service Instilling Trust Rewarding brand loyalty Promoting Green Energy Innovating
Acquisition International - 2019 Business Excellence Awards 65
Five Things E-Commerce Retailers Should Look for When Choosing an Online Inventory Management System In order to perform online efficiently as an Internet retailer, one needs to choose the most effective inventory management system. Its main features should include centralised user interface, full automation, automated stock checking and others.
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-commerce is the buying and selling of goods over the Internet, and market research experts such as Euromonitor believe that it will make up 14% of all global shopping sales made by 2021. From the online retail entrepreneur’s end, its popularity has been driven by relatively low overheads and its ability to reach customers across the planet.
There are a number of e-commerce inventory management systems currently available to online vendors on the market, including Multiorders, Stitchlabs, and TradeGecko.
To keep the competitive advantage, online retailers rely on certain tools - and one of the most important parts of any e-commerce business is an inventory management system.
1. Centralised user interface. When inventory management system uses centralized interface, users are able to use one dashboard to fulfill orders and carry out store management from a single location.
E-commerce inventory management systems allow online vendors to check their stock levels, orders, sales and deliveries. Designed to eliminate errors associated with manual data input across various sales channels used by online retailers, inventory management systems empower e-commerce business owners with keeping costs low and growing their business.
2. Full automation. With a fully automated software, users do not need to use human employees to manually choose a shipping carrier and manually update tracking numbers.
A number of these inventory management solutions offer integrations with online marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay and Etsy, which give business owners the opportunity to trade to customers anywhere in the world. Integrations with shipping carriers are also offered. Shipping plays a large role in e-commerce business development because it dictates timely delivery, and ultimately customer satisfaction.
Here are the five things that online store owners need to consider ahead of selecting an inventory management system for their business.
3. Automated stock checking. A multichannel inventory control means that the user is able to control the stock levels of several sales channels from one centralized location. Not all solutions, including TradeGecko, offer an automated stock checking feature. 4. Marketplace merging. Marketplace merging means a platform is able to merge several products from different market places (including Amazon) into one order, speeding up the delivery time. 5. Cost effectiveness. Different inventory management systems offer varied pricing, so it’s important to choose one that offers that best price-quality ratio. For example, Multiorders software costs $29 per month, while Stitchlabs, that has been around for significantly longer, costs $799 per month. Multiorders provides some of the functions that Stitchlabs doesn’t have, such as centralised interface. TradeGecko solution costs $99 per month. Bonus: Shipping management There are some inventory management solutions that also offer shipping management integration. Although there are separate software solutions focusing on e-retail shipping process automation, like Shipstation, it makes things much easier if inventory management software can do both. At the moment, industry newcomers Multiorders are seem to be unique in this regard as they strive to bridge multichannel shipping and inventory management in one software solution. Choosing the right online inventory management system can affect the whole business and sales, and allow online vendors to keep their competitive advantage. As e-commerce grows, online vendors can benefit a lot from modern automation tools.
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New Research Tool Launched to Solve Data Headache for Digital Marketers A new SEO research tool has been launched to allow digital marketers to gain valuable and in-depth keyword insights for free.
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opics, which was developed by SEOmonitor, a leading provider of SEO software, is a comprehensive monitoring tool that instantly provides clients a competitive overview for a topic, keyword list or domain. It provides rich insights on keyword trends, search volumes, SERP features, and competitor analysis and is powered by a curated and up-to-date keyword database that guarantees accurate results without further manual work. As well as launching Topics, SEOmonitor will also be supporting digital marketing agencies that are under three years old with a series of £5,000 grants. Through its Spark programme, digital marketing startups can receive a year’s worth of daily keyword rankings, full access
to its forecasting tool - Business Case Builder - and even their data analyst app - Signals. Cosmin Negrescu, founder and CEO of SEOmonitor, said: “With so much data to consider, it can be a challenge for digital marketing agencies to plan a SEO strategy that really focuses on what matters.
“That’s why we’ve developed these Topics. It helps to extract and aggregate all the keyword data and information a user could need for their campaign research. It also helps to save digital marketers time and money, as all the information can be obtained from one place, eliminating the need to compile their data from different tools which could lead to duplications and irrelevant information."
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