Two stories to inspire you - case studies from Business is GREAT
30 Apr 2014 03:55 PM
Great businesses don’t just stick to one
plan, they refresh and renew them. Two companies tell their stories of
growth.
When you are growing and running your business, you
never have enough resource. It always feels like that. This is where Business is
GREAT comes in. If your business is planning to grow, hire, export or find finance, we can
help.
There is a wealth of support, advice and expertise
available through government services and agencies. And much of it is free. Our
first story is about Minicabit, a price
comparison site for licensed mini cabs. The second story features Hybrid Air Vehicles
(HAV) that is the world’s leading developer of the next
generation of lighter-than-air craft.
The
cab fare to growth
To
show how much the environment for raising equity finance for start-ups has
changed, you need only look at the story of Amer Hasan and Minicabit. The
company has secured funding from a top technology
accelerator and from a group of business
angels.
The
business is a price comparison site for licensed minicabs nationwide. Customers
get quotes from minicab operators from both their pick-up and destination
venues. The cab operators set their rates with minicabit taking a 10%
commission on the fares booked. Read the full story
here.
A
big idea takes flight
The
helium-filled Airlander is the creation of Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) and can
carry up to 10 tonnes and stay airborne for up to 5 days; it could be used for
surveillance and communications. Plans are afoot to build a much larger craft
that will be able to carry 50 tonnes – the Airlander 50. This enormous
construction will be able to transport goods and equipment to all corners of
the earth. It can land on water, desert or ice, enabling access to remote and
inaccessible places.
It
is for the development of the larger craft that HAV has secured
£2.5 million from the Technology
Strategy Board (TSB) alongside investment from a group of private
investors. This really is a British small business with the potential to lead
the world in its field. Read the full story
here
The GREAT Business
campaign has a wealth of information for employers about hiring
apprentices, and about the government support available. There are also some
terrific case studies on the GREAT
Business websitedemonstrating the vital role that apprenticeships play in the UK economy.