JSP Virtual
make it to the Semi-Finals Owner Jo Peters says it couldn’t have come at a better time for her company which offers virtual assistant services
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he last year for JSP Virtual has been a runaway success. With the family run business growing exponentially in its reach, client base and staff, the start of 2020 was looking very bright indeed. Then, at the height of their success the global pandemic put a short sharp, stop to things and felt like a monumental blow to Jo just when her hard work and efforts to grow her virtual assistant business were paying off. “It was a serious shock, like it was for everyone, and I did feel a certain amount of comfort in realising I wasn’t alone in the crisis of course. But now,
with things moving from recovery to restart along with the support of the local business community, I am confident we can get the business THE NEWS THAT WE HAD REACHED THE SEMI-FINALS WAS SUCH A WELCOME RELIEF! IT REALLY HELPED GIVE ME A BOOST
back to where we were.” The news of their semi-finalist success in the Best Family Business category was a welcome piece of
good news at a time when there wasn’t a great deal of lightness around. “Honestly, the news that we had reached the semi-finals was such a welcome relief! It really helped give me a boost and the motivation to dust off, adapt and continue to push the business forward. When people outside of a family business believe in you, particularly in a time like we have all just been through, it can make a huge difference to your opinion of the work that you are doing and the vision you have.” If you would like a free consultation online please go to jspvirtual.co.uk .
Dragon’s Den interest for Leicester man’s app App developer quit his job and sold his home to fund the venture
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ew Spotted: App, inspired by popular local ‘spotted’ Facebook pages, gained 3,000 users and intrigue from Dragon’s Den producers within two months of being live. Its creator has now been delighted with the news that he’s made it to the finals of the Innovation, in Business category. John Whitbread, who created Spotted: App to help people find local businesses, said: “Being in the running for an award is a completely new and exciting experience for me.” The 38-year-old has had a whirlwind 12 months after deciding to put everything on the line whilst awaiting the birth of his now sevenmonth-old son. “My wife was heavily pregnant, but she knows I always put my ultimate into everything I do. And it’s paid off. The people who’d made apps for huge national, well-known companies said they’d never seen such quick growth as Spotted: App has had.”
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He came up with the idea after learning the importance of community whilst living abroad for eight years. John returned to Measham and set up a ‘Spotted’ Facebook page which became a valuable asset to the community, but he noticed it became less effective due to new algorithms. He created the app to help support local businesses. Companies receive two months’ free advertising on the app, and then pay 99p each month. “I’ve been told I’m not charging enough and there are similar apps out there that provide the same service for £10 a month. But I made this app to help small businesses like the local ironing lady and handyman, those people who don’t have a marketing budget. Consumers can instantly browse local businesses that work in their area, based on location with the closest business at the top. You can’t get fairer than that.” Available in all app stores or download from spottedapp.com.
