10.02.05
Brokered Advice Helps Tile Company Reach Full Potential

A Cornish company that prides itself on its innovative tile designs has benefited so much from the support and business advice it has received from Business Link, and their network partners, it is expecting to more than double its turnover to an estimated £1.2 million this year.

TileWest Ltd started just three years ago when owners Marian Barnard and Chris Warmington set up business in St Ive Road Industrial Estate near Pensilva. Since then they have opened a larger warehouse facility and show room in Wadebridge and are employing ten people. They currently supply both domestic shoppers and commercial businesses with over 3,000 stock lines of natural stone, porcelain, glass and mosaic tiles for walls and floors sourced from designers and suppliers around the world.

Chris Warmington was first recommended to approach Business Link by TileWest's accountant Max Spence a partner at Bennett Jones Accountants in Bodmin.

Chris comments, "We had experienced rapid growth over a very short trading period and Marian and I were so tied up with day to day issues we really needed some extra help and support consolidating and managing our future growth potential."

Business Link's personal business adviser Alex Nicholas undertook a complete business diagnostic review of TileWest which included management guru Belbin's culture analysis of the management team.

Business Link were able to broker in the services of a Business Consultant, Brian Smith, for two and a half days a month. He has been focusing on the business growth and human resource requirements of the business that were highlighted by the Belbin diagnostic report.

"Going from 2 to 10 employees in less that 3 years and the acquisition of new premises is a heavy responsibility for any director" explains Brian, "My role in TileWest has been focusing on people management and simply getting the right team together. In addition to the recruitment of the right people with the right attitude this has involved the introduction of staff appraisal systems, continuous improvement techniques and habit change projects. With this we believe we have brought together an efficient, effective and - most importantly - a happy team."

Alex Nicholas from Business Link explains, "We also identified that investment in IT systems could improve the access and flow of information across the company so we referred TileWest to actnow who put forward three different local companies that could specify and install broadband, new phone and computer systems that were all eligible for actnow business support and investment."

Chris says, "The impact was dramatic – we improved our work practices overnight and became a lot more efficient, as a result we are now in the position to review our web site and consider developing e-commerce applications to our business."

"The advice from Business Link and the additional help and support they have been able to broker in for us has been staggering. Basically it has helped Marian and I concentrate on growing and developing the business. We are constantly evolving, and expanding our 3,000 product lines, the most recent addition is our exclusive distributorship and stockist deal with WEDI, one of Europe's leading suppliers of waterproof systems for wet rooms."

"Over the last year we have grown from a couple, in business together, to think more as a company - the decisions we make effect everyone and we have a responsibility to them and to ensuring TileWest reaches its full growth potential."

Business Link has received Objective One investment (European Regional Development Fund and EAGGF) to help companies in a variety of ways.

For further information please contact Carolyn Daw on 01822 833488, mobile 07866 697057 or email: cdaw@marketing-pr.co.uk.

Editor's notes:

Business Link for Devon and Cornwall delivers the national Business Link service to the region under contract from the DTI's Small Business Service.

Business Link provides a free information and enquiry service via an information gateway on the web www.blinkdandc.com and via the telephone on 0845 600 9966 to all businesses and those considering starting a business. Additionally It provides impartial business advice and support through a network of partner organisations, which it co-ordinates, and a register of independent business practitioners.

Press Enquiries:

In the first instance, should be directed to press officers Carolyn Daw on 01822 833488 mbl: 07866 697 057 email: cdaw@marketing-pr.co.uk.

Direct enquiries should be directed via the marketing department to Leanne Lidstone or Janice Brazell on 0845 600 9966.

Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439

cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk

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