Building Blocks Duo Eyes Up International Growth
Building Blocks - the Portland Street-based consultancy that delivers large-scale web technology projects for major global organisations - is gearing up for international expansion after announcing record growth.
14/06/2010 - Over the last twelve months, the company - which
was established just three years ago - has grown 15 per cent to its
current £1.5m turnover, thanks to contracts with Italian airline
Alitalia, pan-African mobile telecoms company Vodacom, Australian
accounting body CPA and the world's largest supplier of mineral
fertilizers Yara International ASA.
Closer to home, they continue to work with Warner Leisure Hotels
and Butlins to further enhance their websites in preparation for
customer marketing campaigns this year, while the British Dental
Association is now driving up online membership and renewals thanks
to a recent website overhaul.
Building Blocks co-founders Jonathan Whiteside (28) and Andy Iddon
(34) each worked in digital communications agencies before deciding
to join forces in 2007.
They spotted an opportunity to establish a consultancy capable of
responding to the increasing needs of marketers and IT directors
for business critical web solutions, designed by technical experts
with a firm eye on user experience and a reliable deployment track
record.
Over the last six months, Building Blocks has appointed six project
managers and technical consultants to its 20-strong team and thanks
to its healthy new business pipeline is in the enviable position of
being in constant recruitment mode.
After investing £250,000 in installing the very latest IT equipment
and refurbishment of the Manchester headquarters at 131 Portland
Street, it is now looking to open up a second office overseas to
capitalise on its growing international client base.
Jonathan Whiteside explains: "Over the last three years, we have
secured a number of coveted international projects that have since
snowballed.
"Our work with Alitalia, the Italian national airline, for instance
has opened doors with a number of well-known carriers.
"We have also earned our reputation for completing intricate
projects on time and on budget - earlier this year, we delivered
our biggest assignment yet for Yara, which included launching
websites in nine languages in eight weeks.
"We are now looking at opening a second office in the US, where
we're seeing high demand for our expertise in Microsoft
technologies. Our skills in using the latest web content management
systems to take advantage of trends in online communities and
collaboration technologies that help employees working around the
world easily share information are also sought after.
"Key to our growth here in the UK and internationally will continue
to be our focus on strong processes and growing partnerships with
major technology providers, who are recognised by multinational
corporations looking to commission extensive web schemes.
"These technology providers require extremely rigorous standards, which we have taken great care to respond to. Thanks to our recent work and faultless project delivery record, Microsoft has made us Gold Certified Partners and this is already helping to influence companies around the world currently looking for trustworthy web development partners."
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