1. In association with
8 www.business7.co.uk Incubator Friday, May 14, 2010 B7
McComish’s Coaching
firm turns
In brief...
Smart move Full Circle THE founder of New-U Coaching is
launching a corporate development
Rebranding strategy helps construction consultancy.
Gillian Brown has set up Full
Circle Development Consultancy to
company build on business expansion provide bespoke company training
programmes with a coaching
element.
PAUL McComish is in his second spell aftermath of the bad weather. She said: “No matter what level of
with Paisley-based Smart Construction support and development a
company is looking for, we can offer
and is now its chief executive. Here he Do you have any non-executive a package to fit individual objectives
talks about how the business has grown directors, mentors or key advisors? and budgets.
since it was founded and how it keeps Who are they? “We have a team of 10 on board to
winning business. Our chairman and company founder John focus on the corporate market
Palmer is the closest we get to a mentor. enabling us to fully adapt and
How and why was the business He provides great insight and strategic adhere to a client’s brief.
“New-U Coaching has enjoyed
formed? leadership. Business Gateway also provide significant growth over the last year,
The business started trading in 1980 me with real tangible support. with a 191 per cent increase in
providing glazing services. bookings, and we have plans to
In 1999, the business was rebranded to How does the company use open offices in Brussels by the
Smart to provide a clearer proposition. technology and IT? middle of 2010. This success has
We rely on sophisticated IT systems to drive enabled us to launch Full Circle
Since then the business has provided Development Consultancy and we
insurance reinstatement and other property the business. These are a real differentiator hope to replicate this success within
repair services to UK property insurers and for us. the corporate market.”
managers.
Who are your key customers? What
Who are the key people in the
business?
are your key markets?
Property insurers and intermediaries in the
industry such as loss adjusters.
READ Well
The main people in the business are myself
and Tom Keegan.
I deal with generating new business and What has been the best
takeover
Tom delivers it. I wish it was as simple as this. achievement so far? AN oil and gas technology company
Securing a recent contract with a has been taken over in an
£18.5million deal.
What is unique about what the tier-one insurer. READ Well Services, which
company does? specialises in downhole services,
We recognise that we deliver two products – What has been the biggest hurdle was snapped up by a Norwegian
the reinstatement and repair services and which has been overcome? consortium led by venture capitalist
also the communication that encapsulates it. The long sales cycles associated with our firm Energy Ventures.
No other business delivers both to the industry. The new owners, which include
Viking Venture, KLP and the
same standard as us. management team of RWS, are
How do you interact with the wider taking charge of a business with 67
What has been the single biggest business community (networking employees and turnover of £8.6m.
investment? etc)? Helge Tveit, partner with Energy
People – getting the right people with the Prolific online and offline networker using Ventures, said: “RWS’ high-quality
products like Linkedin. service combined with their unique
right skills and behaviours at the right price. product portfolio and a strong
management team creates a great
What is the business plan and how I Through a comprehensive support platform for growth.”
does the company intend to grow? programme Business Gateway is helping Fraser Louden, CEO of RWS, said:
Our industry is being challenged. Firstly there new and existing businesses across “This investment is ideal timing for
is the pressure of the economic environment Scotland grow and prosper. To find out how the company and I look forward to a
dynamic and rapid future growth at
I FOCUSED: Paul McComish, CEO of Smart Construction and clients demanding more for less. the servicecan help your business visit READ Well Services.”
Secondly, we are still experiencing the www.bgateway.com or call 0845 609 6611.
Julie MacLeod, store manager at Black and Lizars in Edinburgh
My working week...
AFTER spending her early career in as many of their ideas into the Working closely with our company
hairdressing and the cosmetics running of the business as buyer, we ensure we have the latest
industry, Julie MacLeod knows a bit possible. trends available.It is essential that
about fashion and style. “Customer service is one of my key we are up to date with the latest
Now she is in charge of running the priorities and my team and I work products hitting the market.
flagship branch of Black and Lizars hard to ensure that our patients “For people who wear glasses,
which opened on George Street in receive the best possible care and they are a huge part of who they are.
Edinburgh earlier this year. attention.” “They want a pair that will fit their
In charge of a team of six, including While dealing with the public forms, lifestyles and also reflect their
optometrists and dispensing a large part of MacLeod’s role, there personalities.
opticians, she is enjoying the city are lots of other aspects she looks “It is important that we can tailor
centre retail environment. after. their glasses to ensure they feel
She said: “The atmosphere and “I am also responsible for good about themselves and leave
buzz in the store is fantastic. coordinating staff meetings. feeling confident when they step
“The team are all really keen to “We work together to plan ahead outside.
make a big impact.I try to encourage and make sure everyone is up to “This is a huge part of our service.
them to be as proactive and channel speed with what has to be done. We want to make people feel good.”