COULD this year prove a hat-trick for Welcom, the huge Harrogate bespoke software provider?

It won the Progress Through People title in The Press Business Awards in 2005; and again last year.

Now its 50 staff at The Exchange, in Station Parade, are rooting for it to win the same category this year - victory three times running. And if that has other entrants quaking, there's more.

Welcom is also attempting to retain its title also earned last year as the Large Business Of The Year. In 2006 turnover stood at £3.7 million. This year joint managing directors Nigel Corp and Nigel Welch are hoping to hit the £6 million mark, with gross profits doubling to £4.8 million.

These projections are based on the results of Welcom's acquisition in April of E-in business Ltd, a Maidenhead firm with 36 staff, which develops integrated websites for the retail sector.

The surge is also hitched to emphasis on customer service plus new strategies in staff motivation and empowerment through multi-skilling, with individuals receiving an average of five days' training in new skills; and the creation of project "wizards" to learn project management skills.

A quarterly quality survey helps management to identify staff concerns and needs, which has triggered new ways of ensuring greater visibility in career progression through the company "to ensure that no one reaches a cul-de-sac".

Other features of staff development which have earned those two Progress Through People awards are still in place, including signing up to a Relationship Agreement, designed to promote mutual respect; and empowerment of staff to find problems and solutions through "Don't Worry, Be Happy" forms.

There are also "mind, body and soul" reviews for each individual.

Print

Email this