“Finance is at the heart of any business, and so having a complete, accurate and timely understanding of the key numbers is a vital step towards the continuing success and development. What’s almost more important is that business owners and managers have a real understanding and clear visibility of the key drivers of their business; that relatively small number of not necessarily financial measures that reveal what really makes a business tick – sometimes a fresh pair of eyes is all it takes. All of this of course needs measuring against a detailed operational and financial plan which reflects the strategic course that’s been set.

“I’m genuinely fascinated by businesses; by their variety, by the intellectual challenges they present, by their personalities and that of their owners and managers, and by the challenge of finding ways to add real value.”

WEST CORNWALL PASTY COMPANY

West Cornwall Pasty Co. Ltd was a £25million turnover national food retailer with 58 outlets and continues to be the largest specialist retailer of pasties, along with snacks and drinks, in the UK.

The owners and founders were looking to exit the business and understood that preparing the business both financially and operationally for sale was going to add substantial value to the shareholders.

The operational and financial systems and processes that supported the 58 outlets required a complete overhaul and the ability to provide stakeholders with the transparency and management information they needed to run the business effectively as part of the Board of Directors. Significant contributions were also made to all other aspects of the business’s branding, positioning, product offering, pricing and supplier negotiation – margins, for example, were improved by 8%.

LOBSTER PICTURES

Lobster Pictures Ltd designs, builds and manages high-quality cameras and software for remote site monitoring and time-lapse photography. The company’s innovative products let client organisations view, share and document any site – from anywhere in real time. It can offer its clients low-cost but high-quality time-lapse cameras or constantly monitored, off-grid cameras anywhere in the world.

The business sought and was provided with a detailed business and financial plan for growth, in addition to a thorough review of the financial and operational controls of the business.

ATLAS PROJECT TEAM

ATLAS Project Team Ltd is a specialist care organisation that provides dedicated rehabilitation to those with severe learning difficulties and associated behavioural problems. The expert and professional nature of their team allows them to take on individuals with dispositions deemed too challenging by other care establishments. Established in 1989, ATLAS has built a substantial business upon its reputation for excellence, and now operates 15 residential care homes across the south of England.

The ATLAS team contacted Bluestone360 when it became clear that they needed to significantly improve their financial management, management information and financial planning. They also sought a ‘fresh pair of eyes’ in a number of other areas of the business including its branding and web presence.

For those of you who are looking for a cash injection to boost your business or bring a new idea into fruition, you may well be interested in the news that a £5 million European match-funded business development scheme is due to open this autumn.

The scheme will make a 50% investment grant towards projects that will help you exploit your competitive advantage and grow your business! It is likely to be highly competitive, seeking a high level of return for the Cornish economy, and only the very best project proposals will attract this investment support.

The scheme presents an exciting opportunity for Cornish business but, with the planned closure of Business Link in November 2011, advice on how to best attract these funds will be in short supply.

If you consider your business to be a suitable candidate, we can draw on 25 years of combined experience of European Funded business development to help support you in your application for this funding and give you real ‘first mover’ advantage.

We can develop the financial plans that support your overall business strategy, whilst delivering an understanding of business that shows how, instead of being a burden, finance can become a driver that moves your organisation onwards and upwards. Simply give us a call to arrange a no-obligation consultation.

We know that the words ‘Business and Finance’ can be seen as somewhat generic and ambiguous but, in all fairness, they have to be. The term is an umbrella that covers a whole host of services and we wouldn’t want to pigeonhole ourselves by being too specific. As is true with all our offerings, the way we respond to your business’s needs is completely dependent upon your individual circumstances.

The first thing we recommend is for you to take a look at your business. How does it compare with your original vision? It may already be successful and have real value but it’s always good to ask yourself if it is what you’d hoped it would be. It can be easy to find yourself working in the business, rather than on it, which is where vital time and energy can get swallowed, preventing you from achieving your ultimate objectives.

It’s important to remind yourself that you’ve got your business to where it is today, so the skills and resources you need to generate success are not lacking – they are just perhaps not being maximised. Getting back into the driver’s seat is fundamental to getting back on track towards your original vision.

Essentially, we work with you to help you gain financial control and a better understanding of your business and ensure you maintain it. The major benefit of using an external organisation to assess your company’s infrastructure is that you will be offered a professional, objective viewpoint and realistic improvement and development options, without the information being clouded by internal politics or concerns about change.

Bluestone360 Business & Finance offers hands-on, proactive business and financial management services – we like to think that we act as a ‘venture catalyst’. We advise both entrepreneurial owner-managed businesses and start-ups, as well as small and mid-size businesses across all sectors looking for an involved, creative and enabling partnership that will help ‘get business going’. The range of services are tailored and integrated to suit each opportunity but cover:

• Business Modeling & Planning
• Business Analysis
• Financing & Fund Raising
• Financial Management
• Business Management Systems
• Business Turnaround
• Growth Management & Exit

We like to think of ourselves as entrepreneurs as well as professionals in our own field, and look to work with like-minded people with good ideas. We have no typical client, but what they tend to have in common is a desire to grow and develop their business and a dedication to making the changes necessary.

Well aware that the idea of fundamental business and financial change can be complex and daunting, we always offer to meet with you for an initial chat, with no obligation, so that we can determine which parts of our offer would be most valuable to you.

We eagerly watched two of our team on television last night after our agency played its part in helping young people find employment in the city.

Ian Gunningham, our director, and Steve Watson, our design manager, appeared on BBC1’s regional documentary series Inside Out after being approached by the show’s staff who suggested that Plymouth artist Sean Eveleigh join Bluestone360 for a work experience placement which would be documented.

The documentary followed Sean, an out-of-work graduate, who was seeking to gain experience in the field in which he is qualified in order to make himself more employable. He came into our studio and was mentored by members of our team, who showed Sean how to achieve the most he could using his knowledge and skillsets.

Steve Watson said: “This is a really encouraging way for graduates to get to know the sectors they wish to work in better. We were delighted to guide Sean and help prepare him for finding work in the industry.”

The show aired last night on BBC1 at 7.30pm and can be watched online here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00xlvhb/Inside_Out_South_West_17_01_2011/

After realising that gammon was losing its strength in the UK food market, Danish pork specialist Tulip wanted to create a brand that would position the family favourite as a contemporary, versatile meat that could offer simple meal solutions throughout the week for families, couples and individuals alike.

We were commissioned to craft the brand’s identity from scratch, creating a brand language, both visual and written, that would reach audiences outside traditional parameters. The end product was a vibrant, engaging and accessible identity, built around a ‘cook eat enjoy’ message, that could be adapted to all future products in the range and would appeal to the Gammon Company’s broad target market.

We are pleased to announce the first of the Gammon Company’s products are now available in Tesco stores nationwide!

Recently, Amie Jones joined the team as our new Receptionist. Sitting front of house and bringing to the agency her six vital years of experience, Amie has shown passion for creating great first impressions for all who visit the Bluestone360 office. She is also becoming a key component of the administration team, dealing with many of our essential daily operations.

OUTSTANDING individuals, businesses and organisations who have survived the recession have been honoured at the Plymouth Bites Back Celebration Awards Day.

City businesses packed the exciting event at the Guildhall, where winners in 10 categories were announced yesterday.

And organisers now want the awards to be run again every year.

Kevin Kelway, regional media co-ordinator for one of the organisers, A4e, which helps jobless people, said: “The city deserves this event and we should look at it as an on-going event next year.”

Council leader Cllr Vivien Pengelly said: “It’s a fantastic event. Plymouth City Council is proud to support it.”

She added: “I hope it will be an annual event where we can get together and celebrate business.”

The awards, each of which is sponsored by a city organisation or business, were organised following The Herald’s successful Bites Back campaign, championing groups, businesses and organisations defying the recession.

The event was organised by the Plymouth Bites Back steering committee, with other city education providers, including the University of Plymouth and City College Plymouth.

It received support from Plymouth City Council and the 2020 Partnership.

Winners received £100 and a trophy provided by city business Plymouth Trophyman. Runners-up received a certificate.

All awards were announced by Bill Martin, editor of The Herald, and were presented to winners and runners-up by Lord Mayor Cllr Ken Foster.

Mr Martin said there had been many strong nominations in all categories.

He said the awards “celebrate all that is good about our city” and gave a flavour of the “diversity and spirit” found in Plymouth.

The breakfast awards ceremony, which also featured musical performances by performing arts students at City College Plymouth and music student Sarinity Powell, was only the opening event in an entire day offering support, guidance and advice for people looking to find jobs.

This included information on how to find funding for training and how to start a business.

Inspirational case studies were placed on presentation panels provided by Jobcentre Plus.

These will then form part of a roadshow which will later tour Plymouth.

Mr Kelway said: “We are really proud to have put such a good event together, and proud to tie it to The Herald’s Bites Back campaign.”

Sharron Robbie, employer liaison officer at City College Plymouth, said Plymouth’s ‘resilience and entrepreneurial spirit’ had helped shield it from the worst of the recession.

Martin Darby and Andy Russell, of computer games firm Remode, which won the Enterprise and Innovation Award, said it would be “fantastic” if the awards became an annual event.

Mervyn Orchard, director of brand consultants Bluestone360, which picked up the Education and Business Award, said it was for his firm’s policy of employing graduates on three-month projects to help charities with their websites. He said he was “shocked and honoured” to win and added: “I believe in working with the education sector to help the creative sector, which will be one of the future sectors for Plymouth.”

Jay Morrish, director of Security Management South West, which won the Creating Futures Employers Award, said his firm was proud to have won an award for helping unemployed people into work.

Alan Beal, of valetting firm 2G Services, who won the Entrepreneurship Award, said: “I’m over the moon.”

Article courtesy of Plymouth Evening Herald

A new Academy formed by one of the South West’s top creative agencies, Bluestone360, is set to attract the best young design and digital talents in the region.  The Academy will offer a talented student or graduate the opportunity to gain valuable work experience from within Bluestone360’s offices in Royal William Yard, Plymouth.  They will be exposed to the creative and digital arena working on live projects and adding an extra layer to their CV.

There is high interest and buzz surrounding this exciting new innovative venture.  Only one place is available, so the Academy is open purely to the best talent.  Students who are interested will be sent a full, authentic creative brief.  They will then be required to submit their initial creative concepts to the agency for consideration.  The best six will be invited to present their concepts to a panel made up of the agency, client, trustees and media including Alexis Bowater, journalist and former Westcountry news presenter.  The winning student will then join the Bluestone360 Academy for an initial three months with the opportunity for a full time contract if they excel.

Crucially, one of the main projects the candidate will work on from conceptual idea to live venture is the national children’s charity, CHICKS (Country Holiday for Inner City Kids) website.  CHICKS provides free respite breaks for disadvantaged children across the UK.  Aiming to give children the chance to be children and create happy memories that they can hold on to when they return to their difficult home life.  This task has a wide scope and will be both challenging and exciting for the candidate.

Gavin Braithwaite -Smith, Blustone360 director commented, “The Bluestone360 Academy will seek to attract and harness the south west’s best young design and digital talents.  Proving that the region can be a creative hotbed and that London alone doesn’t have to be the automatic choice for graduates or those seeking to further their career.  The CHICKS website represents the perfect opportunity to launch the Academy.  A live project, for a national charity, led by one of the region’s most established creative agencies. We are delighted that this Academy will offer one talented young person a fantastic opportunity to advance in this field.”

Alexis Bowater, Academy Panellist added, “It is vital to give people chances at any time of life. For students entering the rapidly changing world of media this is a golden opportunity. The winning candidate will not only have to have innovative ideas, flair and imagination but also to be able to work as a team. CHICKS is a life-affirming organisation which changes lives in a positive and permanent way. Giving young students the chance to take part in a project like this continues that philosophy.  It will bring cutting-edge ideas to the charity’s website enabling them to communicate their important message more effectively to an ever wider audience.”

If you are a student or recent graduate and would like more information on the Bluestone360 Academy, please visit the Academy website at http://www.bluestone360.co.uk/theacademy/ The closing date for entries is 7^th May 2010.

Bluestone360 have a new office space in the stunning Mills Bakery in Royal William Yard Plymouth.

“We truly feel this is a world-class office space” commented Steve Kyffin, director at Bluestone360.

“Urban Splash has created something very special within the historical context of the collection of buildings that make up the Royal William Yard – not just the Mills Bakery. The architectural interpretation and vision just blew us away!”

Bluestone360 moved at the end of August 09 after months of organising and planning as it was essential to have minimum downtime for their clients. It was a challenge for all concerned as the first new tenants, especially with new systems and infrastructures to create and bed in. The hard work has paid off as it has already proven to be beneficial for all concerned.

Chris Nicholls, Creative Director at Bluestone360, comments “We feel energised by the new space – it has real soul as well as looking great. The surrounding environment from the waterfront to the galleries, pubs and cafes all contribute to making this a special place. It can only be good for our clients if we feel free to think and create with no hindrance.”

Some key clients have already booked the Bluestone360 conference room for their own regular monthly board meetings after being inspired by the space.

Steve Kyffin continues, “The move to the new space is part of a clear direction for our business.”

“We have been working hard on our 5 year plan during this challenging economic period. The move was not just about how inspirational the space is but also had good solid business rationale behind it. We have room for growth and believe that Plymouth can and does offer a world-class platform for us. This space reinforces that. It really has soul and echoes our ethos of inside out thinking.”

Mills Bakery has recently been shortlisted for a RIBA award and the RICS award.