Business Link hat-trick in Weardale

Apr 6 2010 Business & Enterprise North East

Serial entrepreneur Mark Armstrong has established three successful businesses in Weardale due to the support he received from Business Link.

Two years ago, he set up Armstrong Environmental Ltd, a consultancy specialising in occupational hygiene, asbestos management, and health and safety management.

Now the business has an annual turnover of £100,000, clients all over the UK and plans to take on another member of staff imminently.

Not content with that, Mark has also set up – with business partner Chris Bale – Job Boards International Ltd, to bring together employers and job seekers in both the asbestos and safety industries, and Which Oil Supplier Ltd, a price comparison site for domestic heating oil.

Job Boards International Ltd was formed to launch two specialist job boards, SafetyJobBoard.com (SJB) and Asbestos-Jobs.com. SJB focuses on health & safety, environmental and occupational hygiene jobs and Asbestos Jobs focuses on asbestos consultancy and asbestos removal jobs.

Mark is a Chartered Safety Practitioner and Chris has a background in recruitment and developing niche job boards, so their combined experience was ideal for this venture.

Mark explains: “As for Which Oil Supplier Ltd, both Chris and I live in rural locations in Weardale and rely heavily on kerosene to heat our boilers and Agas.

“Frustrated by having to constantly ring around suppliers for the best oil price, which can vary significantly, we searched the web for a heating oil comparison site, without success. We therefore decided to create an online tool that would speed up the process of comparing prices and ordering oil. The site is free to use for both suppliers and consumers and is funded through sales of associated products via the online shop.

“The company has achieved accreditation by one of the UK’s leading Co2 offset companies, AllianceCO2. If you order your heating oil through WhichOilSupplier.co.uk then you have the option to offset your carbon by ordering trees to be planted in the UK on your behalf.”

The company now has an office at the Durham Dales Centre in Stanhope and has already hired a marketing officer.

Mark admits that none of this would have been possible without the help of Business Link. When starting Armstrong Environmental Ltd, he was helped by Business Link adviser Bryan Harding and, through him was able to secure funds through the North East England Investment Centre (NEEIC). Armstrong Environmental Ltd also used Business Link’s brokerage service, the North East England Service Provider Register (NEESPR), to identify and select a suitable marketing consultant.

Funding streams were identified for website design and a solutions funding application to support the development of an on-line asbestos management system. Mark also received Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) support towards the cost of hardware and software to enhance his services and reach new markets and he received funding towards paying for training in the management of occupational exposure to hand-arm vibration.

Bryan Harding says: “The design of the website and a marketing consultancy helped to raise the profile of the business with particular reference to attracting contracts from the public sector.

“The supply and installation of an asbestos tracker project management system, including hardware has enabled the business to attract new clients in both the public and private sectors with significant property portfolios. Competitors in this sector have asbestos management systems and, increasingly, prospective clients require this as a qualification to shortlist for projects. They were already in talks with potential clients and this system enabled them to win very lucrative contracts and enabled them to expand the business.’’

Job Boards International and Which Oil Supplier have also secured funds, with Business Link help, through the NEEIC.

“Bryan has been a tremendous support and he really understands our businesses, which are all very different. Each time we approach him with a new idea he gets on board with it and points us in the right direction,’’ says Mark.

He adds: “From an entrepreneurial point of view, it has been fantastic to have that support from Business Link; we are showing that these ideas are viable and are working in practice and, if you can go to them and demonstrate that you have a sound idea, you’ll be able to get that support to get the business up and running. I would just not have been able to do it without them.’’

Bryan Harding says: “It has been very rewarding to work with Mark. He and Chris have the right entrepreneurial instincts, the enthusiasm and the experience to make a success of their various businesses. It is particularly gratifying that they demonstrate that businesses and entrepreneurialism can thrive in rural areas. I look forward to continuing to work with them as their businesses grow.’’

Business Link has a team of expert advisers who offer advice, help and information to individuals and companies across the region, giving them access to the ‘business brains’ who will help to get their business idea off the ground, or grow their existing company.

For further information about Business Link visit www.businesslink.gov.uk/northeast  or call 0845 600 9 006.