Case studies
Case Study: Fuel Communications
Fuel Communications offer marketing and PR, graphic and web design, sales consultancy and media planning. They moved into Formation Zone on the 1st of April 2008, the launch date of the company.
Here they describe how their business has been developing over the last nine months:
When we approached Formation Zone, we felt that our ability to access knowledge would be greatly enhanced by basing ourselves there. Now we perceive the main benefits of being in Formation Zone as:
Running our business from such a landmark building has given a real boost to our brand
Access to knowledge and students
Working alongside other creative businesses, a good atmosphere and referral opportunities
We have had three national organisations in who have been absolutely blown away by the facilities. In each case this has helped us in the sense that we look big enough to do the work.
Fuel is growing, since we’ve been in Formation Zone we’ve added over a dozen new clients to our client list. Also we are ahead of schedule in terms of staff numbers; we anticipated four staff by the end of 2008-9 financial year and we will have five.
Case study: Aardvark Consulting
Aardvark is a recruitment company specialising in IT and digital media. Director Sarah Symonds moved into Formation Zone in September and here she describes her experience so far:
When I approached the Formation Zone, I thought it would help me with:
A supportive structure with help to facilitate and refocus
Constant monitoring and reviews
Facilities in the university
Networking opportunities and being in a positive business environment surrounded by like minded people
A creative, inspiring work space
To date, it has delivered on all of these things and I can add that the environment is very friendly, welcoming and adaptable to each business.
Working in a shared environment:
This has benefitted me immensely. Previously I was working from home and rather isolated from the facilities and people that could help me in my business. Working at the Formation Zone allows you to be in a ‘networking environment’ and has allowed me to use the facilities and workshops available that are relevant to my business.
Recently I attended a workshop on ‘Media’ which was both informative and an excellent networking event, where I met like minded people who will be able to add value to my business. The office is also in a fantastic location in the centre of town with great views from huge windows looking out over Plymouth, so you actually enjoy working from this location.
As one of the newest clients to Formation Zone:
I found it a very smooth transition in terms of getting set up and working from the Formation Zone. Everyone has been extremely welcoming and accommodating. Eleanor has worked very hard to find IT solutions to help my business set up and the environment is very open and accepting of all natures of business and creative work. The Formation Zone gives you the opportunity to work from a shared office environment, and you can have as much support and mentoring as you feel will work for your business and at the right level.
Where do I see my business (Aardvark) going?
Aardvark Consulting are specialists in finding highly skilled IT/Media staff at short notice for a broad section of SMEs in UK and Europe in varying industry sectors.
Currently three pronged attack: -
Digital Media
General IT/Media
SAP/ERP
My Goals are to:
Refocus and develop sustainable business with supportive structure
Form goal orientated business plan with short and long term goals which need to be monitored
Links with University business courses
Growth in terms of sales - turnover - ambition to turnover £1million in 2009/2010
Structure made more sustainable
Staff - once sustainable and organised, look to recruit business developer or PA short term, long term ambition to have motivated team of self managing staff within 5 years. Will be recruiting for staff locally in Plymouth.
Client base - nurture existing client base and win new clients business
Database of candidates - life blood of company look to grow, manage well and use efficiently on a database
Expansion of business will offer opportunities to young motivated people locally, possible links with university
Case study:Motion Plymouth
Motion Plymouth is a celebration of the city’s digital culture and a competition to find the digital-film-making talent of the South West and beyond. Motion Plymouth shows off Plymouth’s screen-based and digital talents with unusual film shows, performances of moving image and strange city visions. There is also a competition to find film-making talent and a spin-off contest for the city’s schools called Young Motion Plymouth.
Motion Plymouth have been supported by Formation Zone since February 2008, and here Director Dawn Melville describes her experience so far:
I thought Formation Zone would me with:
Legal and business support as well as providing a strong network of like minded creative businesses in one place.
The main benefits of the support I’ve had in Formation Zone are:
It’s been great to have managed facilities and a secure base with low overheads - this has been a major plus.
I attended a workshop to develop skills in putting together funding applications and:
It pointed us in the direction of new funding pots we hadn’t considered and provided us with ideas on how to best approach them. So yes, it has had a positive effect on our work.
Motion Plymouth plans for the future are:
We are looking to expand Motion Plymouth so it has an all year round offering rather than just a one off event. We have several partners lined up to work with to achieve this.
