BUSINESS PROFILE |
121
The benefits of SMEs in the modern supply chain GeoAccess Ltd Managing Director, Mark Coleman, explains how Network Rail’s aspiration to use more SME’s has helped in the growth and diversity of GeoAccess
A
ccording to the Network Rail Action Plan, dated 5 November 2019: ‘Network Rail is committed to achieving the Government target of 33 per cent of our annual expenditure to be spent via small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) by 2022’. What benefit does a small and medium sized enterprise bring to the client? SMEs are mostly born from an individual or groups of people involved directly in the industry. The key individuals generally have a specialist knowledge of the task at hand, and due to the size and structure of the company can deliver a personalised fast reacting solution to a client’s requirements and problems. A major benefit for any client is the direct relationship with key decision makers within an SME, cutting out much of the bureaucracy involved in much larger organisations. Small companies play a significant role in the growth of the economy. First and
foremost, they create jobs, and account for a major percentage of all private sector employment in the UK. We believe SMEs are also important to Network Rail, as this business community is recognised as being highly adaptive and innovative. How does your company fit in with this? We established the company in 2014 to serve a niche market identified at the time. The company saw a gradual growth but was often held back by short duration contracts hindering more longer-term investments in the organisation. However, during this period it did give us time to prepare ourselves and obtain the required accreditations and prerequisites to progress to tender stage in various disciplines. Being successful in long term framework contracts is a springboard for our organisation to grow and diversify. The aspiration of future clients to engage more with SMEs has enabled us to progress in line with our business plan. How did your company begin and get to where it is now?
Both my business partner and I were previously involved in successfully solving a complex problem around difficult access assets on Network Rail Managed Infrastructure. During a debrief at the end of the project and whilst sitting in a hotel hot tub, the beginnings of GeoAccess were being formulated. Our knowledge of the industry and upcoming standard changes identified these access constraints were going to become bigger problems in the future for clients. Our vision was initially formed to deliver solutions for these niche challenges. The company was able to grow in line with our requirements gaining valuable experience in challenging circumstances and then in 2017 we were extremely proud to have successfully passed our first audit for the RISQS qualification scheme to complement our previously acquired ISO9001 / 14001 accreditations and UVDB assessment, again propelling us forward as a business onto various tender platforms. What expertise do you employ within your business? We have a diverse workforce with a strong background in civil engineering, engineering geology and geotechnical engineering. We have extensive experience carrying out inspection work of various types of assets from earthworks, structures, buildings and coastal defences to wind turbines, transmission towers and underwater assets. Our senior management team come with multiple years of experience and project management skills both from a contracting and client background, coupled with extensive knowledge of the industry with Rail Professional