ENTREPRENEURIAL SPARK
FLYING THE NEST The first residents at Brighton’s Entrepreneurial Spark “hatchery” are coming to the end of their six-month stint. PBM spoke to two new companies to find out how it was for them...
5 Squirrels Gary Conroy
Account Management Now Giles Gailer
What does 5 Squirrels do? 5 Squirrels Ltd is the silent partner working with anti-ageing clinics to take all of the pain out of sourcing, supplying and marketing their own brand of skincare products. Our solution offers our clients exclusivity and high-grade, clinically proven products. It increases their client retention and offers them a competitive edge. In the past 12 months, we have launched more than 40 brands for our clients. These brands have now appeared in the national media, including The Sunday Times and Channel 4. The brands we have developed have had lots of celebrity endorsement and are now available in some of the UK’s leading department stores.
Has the company progressed during the ESpark programme? The company growth has been very rapid and consistent since we joined the ESpark programme, and the team has grown from two members to five. We are now shipping internationally, to Spain and Sweden too. The ESpark programme has really helped with this, I think mainly due to the fact that it makes everyone more accountable, able to commit to actions, execute them rapidly and measure their impact. The programme has really adjusted my mindset to getting the job done, realising the possibilities and going out and making the most of every opportunity we create.
What has been the most beneficial about the experience? I think the ability to network with other entrepreneurs who are also facing many of the same challenges has been very helpful. Starting a company from scratch can be quite isolating at times, but the programme has been very supportive and reassuring in this respect. The fortnightly temperature checks have also been a great place to raise key issues in the business and to work through key actions to address these, which can often involve the support of others in the network, be it other businesses or the wider local community, like the universities, the chamber of commerce or some of the mentors who have kindly volunteered their time.
www.5squirrels.com. info@5squirrels.com.
What does Account Management Now do? Account Management Now is a Brighton-based business development agency that provides a local and national pay-as-yougo sales support service to businesses. They can pay by the hour or by the project for telemarketing campaigns, to generate leads, business development managers, to support sales activities or account managers, to grow their accounts. It’s a very simple sales pipeline model providing sales support to help sales managers hit their targets and support teams in times of need. I’m building a business employing people from the local area who need to have a flexible approach to work.
Has the company progressed during the ESpark programme? Account Management Now has grown rapidly over the six months since I joined the hatchery to being a business that now employs nine people, with plans to roll out the model nationwide.
What has been the most beneficial about the experience? It’s been an incredible journey. I’ve found the guidance given by the ESpark team has taken me from being an employee working on an idea to a leader developing a business. I’ve had access to people who will listen to me and offer sensible advice, which has helped me clarify the services we provide. And it’s been great fun and has reminded me that I can do something that I enjoy.
giles@am-now.com www.am-now.com
Entrepreneurial Spark is the world’s largest free business accelerator for early stage and growing ventures. Key partners are NatWest, RBS and KPMG. www.entrepreneurial-spark.com
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