BUSINESS SPECIAL Business West
Tara Gillam, head of enterprise
Tell us a bit about your business:
Business West is a not-for-profit company whose purpose is to remove barriers to business growth to make this area the best place to live, learn and work. We achieve this by helping businesses to start, grow, innovate and export, as well as lobbying government on their behalf to tackle key challenges. What areas do you specialise in?
I manage the Enterprise Services team which covers all our projects and services which help businesses to start, grow and scale-up. Our team support businesses across the whole of the South West, we provide business advice, help accessing funding, and also specific support in areas such as marketing and business planning. We also have Tara Gillam marketing workshops and business planning workshops running monthly in Bristol for new entrepreneurs – you can book these on the Business West website.
“Over the past five years the Enterprise team have helped over 750 businesses to start trading”
Tell us a business fact that you’re particularly proud of?
20,000 businesses have connected with Business West since our launch, and over the past five years the enterprise team have helped over 750 businesses to start trading and created an additional 600 jobs in these businesses. Alongside this we have supported 522 businesses to access over £4.5M in Start-up Loans. www.businesswest.co.uk
Tara Gillam
Latchams Direct
Amanda Woollaston, head of marketing Tell us a bit about your business
Amanda Woollaston
Latcham Direct is a market-leading provider of data, digital print, digital marketing and fulfilment services. We work with customers throughout the UK, enabling them to increase customer engagement through multi-channel personalised communications. We have a secure production site in Hengrove, Bristol and employ over 100 people. What is it like to operate in Bristol?
Latcham Direct has its roots firmly in South Bristol, and a great many of our staff are local people. The city is continually growing and changing, attracting large blue-chip, media and other businesses, which is great; however, there are a few fundamental issues that need to be resolved, particularly within South Bristol to attract inward investment and for more businesses to settle here. Transport, infrastructure and available sites for business development is lacking. This needs to be addressed so that local people can take advantage of local jobs. What areas do you specialise in?
I head up the marketing function for Latcham Direct and since joining the business in April 2017, I have restructured the marketing effort, working closely with our MD Mike Hughes to make the most of our brand, target core sectors and raise the profile of the business as a UK provider of specialist services. So, no two days are the same. My role which is supported by our marketing assistant, encompasses digital and social media, brand development, events, PR, campaign management, strategy and CRM management. I also support the wider sales function with appointment setting/lead generation and I am continuing to manage a major initiative that looks at the way in which we evaluate and manage bid opportunities. www.latchamdirect.co.uk
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