StepChange Case Study
Biz for All TM
Stepchange - Case study 1
“From the beginning it was obvious that Stepchange is passionate about providing bespoke recommendations and advice to businesses like mine”
“Our new online ordering facility helped us us to secure new business expand through our existing customer base and increase our turnover and profitablility”
“I would highly recommend stepchange to other small businesses and consider what the internet can do for them”
Stepchange small business clients, extracts from step-change.org.uk 2007
Between 2005 and 2008 over 1000 Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Tyne and Wear, UK were assisted to use internet technology to improve their access to new markets and sales and productivity growth. Over 90% were very satisfied and identified significant improvements in performance.
Over 50% of the 1000 SME’s which engaged in the programme were persuaded to invest their own money to effect changes in behaviour and improvements in performance. These were difficult to reach small businesses, which Business Link and the other public and privates sector professional intermediaries had been unsuccessful in engaging on this scale previously.
The small management team positioned the project strategically within the region and designed a unique and cost effective delivery process. Evidence based customer relationship management systems were created and deployed. It ensured effective communication and evaluation linkages between strategy and operations and had the effect of continuously improving services.
The programme secured:
- extensive private sector client and supplier participation
- sponsorship from Tyne and Wear sub-regional partnership
- funding from the Regional Development Agency, One North east
- the services of an independent chair from business
- direction of a multi-institutional partnership board of councils, the Chamber of Commerce, Business Link & Regional Centre of Excellence
Expertbiz senior staff have been instrumental in the leadership and development of the programme throughout its life from its initiation. They have developed a transferable model based on this tested process.