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E is for education at leading web company
Peterborough firm grew 69 per cent last year – it makes an eye-catching headline in these days of recession and confirms the business's success.
Peterborough firm grew 69 per cent last year – it makes an eye-catching headline in these days of recession and confirms the business's success.Not that you'll hear the company in question, Bluestone Creative, shouting from the rooftops, taking out full-page adverts in national media or the like. It gets on with business – designing and building websites within the education and health sectors – quietly and efficiently, from its site in Lynch Wood, Peterborough. Word-of-mouth recommendation is the usual key to unlocking new clients.
The company has a portfolio of more than 800 clients nationwide, the majority of which are in education. Its brand identity within this sector is e4education, which is the country's leading player in its field.
There is no let-up in the growth of the company, with lots of new and innovative web-based initiatives.
"We achieved 69 per cent growth in 2008 and we're on course to achieve our budget of 36 per cent growth for this year," said managing director John Roach.
It's a figure that sits nicely with the 30 per cent plus average yearly growth since Bluestone's creation back in 2001. The explanation behind the success?
Mr Roach said: "There are several, including our investment in these modern new premises, investment in top-notch staff – our greatest asset – and, clearly, the care we take in looking after our customers.
"We are very proud of our reputation for fast, efficient and friendly service. We are also regarded as innovative and flexible, and we are known for the high quality of our products."
Realising the success of the company, Mr Roach and his business partner, Chris Banks, are keen to "give something back." As a result, it is launching a new product, its My School websites, at the end of the month.
These sites, priced at 199, are geared to infants and primary schools, or after-school clubs, that operate on a low budget. There has been tremendous interest, with more than 100 applications to date.
The company has also "donated" a website to humanutopia, a "people first development company" which works with pupils in schools such as The Thomas Deacon Academy.
Mr Roach, whose background is in media marketing, worked for EMAP and Westminster Press, and developed the idea of self-generating websites for schools.
His company co-founder and good friend is fellow director Chris Banks, who works as a senior manager within the NHS. In the early 2000s he was financial director at Peterborough District Hospital and governor at Peakirk-cum-Glinton Primary School.
Mr Roach approached Mr Banks with the view of tapping into the business opportunity presented by the more than 25,000 schools in the country.
They designed and created websites for Peakirk-cum-Glinton Primary School and nearby Northborough primary School. Those first two schools soon developed, through word of mouth, into some 30 schools.
Then, according to Mr Roach, came their first big break.
"It was a contract to build a significant website for Peterborough City Council," he said."It helped establish the company and enabled us to grow, allowing us to market our business nationwide."
The number of school websites grew to 100, but it was still a home-based operation.
That is until 2003, when Bluestone moved to The Old Chapel, Northborough, near Peterborough. There was a staff of six and, according to Mr Roach, "we had a great time and managed good growth".
In 2006, it was time for a step-change – maintain the status quo or continue the expansion. They chose the latter.
As such, the company bought premises in Peterborough Business Park, described as a "huge investment". Before long, staffing had grown to 20.
Bluestone employs a team of highly talented designers and software engineers. In 2004, the education arm of the business, e4education, became an accredited curriculum provider via the British Education Council and Technology Association (BECTA), in 2006 achieved the ISO9001 quality accreditation and in 2007 e4education became a registered trademark.
Its vision is for the company to grow its brand identity within the web design and development arena.
To that end, it has a highly-motivated and ambitious team in development, design, sales and marketing, customer care and media production.
Typical of the company's enthusiasm and zest for innovation is Tina Roach, John's wife and head of customer care.
"At e4education we are passionate about providing excellent customer service. We give good sound advice when we feel schools need to upgrade, and we help them with their existing websites too – be it training, developing ideas, anything they need," she said.
"The project I enjoy the most is developing podcasting clubs. I have already worked with Braybrook, Werrington, John Clare and Nene Valley Primary Schools. Next week the Heritage Park podcaster first release will be available on its new website. I have great fun with the children doing this and, thereafter, they are able to add to the series and so enhance their website themselves.
"We provide an oak tree to every school which purchases a website from e4education."
As well as podcasts, e4education can assist in streaming videos such as YouTube, develop web blogs, web forums, e-shops and more besides.
The company's portfolio includes the Ministry of Defence, for whom it provides websites for the service schools around the world, the NSPCC, The Children's Hospital School at Great Ormond Street and The Sylvia Young Theatre School, among many others.
For more information, contact:
Bluestone Creative Ltd
29 Commerce Road
Lynch Wood
Peterborough
PE2 6LR
Tel: 01733 364 098
Fax: 01733 808 424
E-mail: info@bluestonecreative.net
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