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Hi-tech Truro manufacturer is planning for future growth
06.03.09
A market-leading Truro-based company is seeking to move even further ahead of the competition as one of the first clients of Business Link's new Convergence service, designed to help the most innovative and ambitious businesses in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to achieve their full potential.
Silvertree Engineering is a truly excellent business, as a quick glance at its customer list is enough to show: from the NHS to Coca Cola, Tesco to Manchester United, the company works with them all and many more. For over 20 years (18 of them in Cornwall), this hi-tech development and manufacturing company has been a national and international leader in the field of wireless temperature monitoring and data-logging, making a major contribution to public safety in healthcare, food, pharmaceutical, bio-tech and other sectors.
According to Sales Manager Robin Proctor, "By enabling them to monitor and record the temperature of their critical products at any time, we help our customers ensure that these are of a high quality and safe to use - from blood in the NHS, to drugs in pharmaceutical companies, and to food at every stage of the processing, distribution and retail processes.”
Now, based on the software and electronic engineering expertise of its 15-strong (and predominantly Cornish) workforce, Silvertree is looking beyond the recession to future growth, based on a determination to be more competitive and successful than ever.
For this reason, it has become one of the first businesses to benefit from the enhanced Convergence service from Business Link. The company had already successfully worked with Business Link in 2007, when it helped Silvertree carry out research and development in a knowledge-sharing project through the Combined Universities of Cornwall Programme.
"When our Lead Engineer, Anil Bunoomally, and I were looking for input with formulating clear strategies for the future, it made sense to link this with the earlier work,” says Robin. "So we asked Business Link for help in enabling us to continue to thrive as a specialist manufacturer that provides excellent career opportunities for skilled people in Cornwall.”
Highly experienced Convergence Innovation Adviser John Tregaskes led the Business Link response, starting with a full-day meeting in November last year to examine closely Silvertree's long-term strategy, covering everything from product differentiation and markets, to the corporate vision and mission. This was followed up by further intensive meetings and workshops, which included support in creating the implementation plan that will help realise the revised strategy.
According to John Tregaskes, "Working with Convergence clients is a real pleasure, because we can spend so much time with them getting deep into the issues and trends that most affect their business. Silvertree is an excellent business, with excellent people, customers and products. It’s just the sort of company that the Convergence programme was created for, that will help pull the Cornish economy as a whole through the current downturn.”
Says Robin Proctor, "We were very satisfied with Business Link’s input. They spent a great deal of time listening to our needs, before using their diagnostic expertise to help us gain the understanding we needed to define the clear strategy that will take the business forward.”
Robin is happy, in fact, that the future looks encouraging for Silvertree, its customers and its employees. As he says, "There’s no doubt that the current downturn will have an effect, but we’re confident that our strategic approach combined with our strong reputation and history of success will ensure healthy long-term growth.”
To find out more about Business Link's Convergence programme and the aligned services it delivers for small to medium-sized businesses throughout Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, should call 0845 600 9966 or visit www.businesslinksw.co.uk.
For further information:
Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager for the Convergence Partnership Office
01872 223439 / 07973 813647
cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk
Ron Dyson
01308 485707
David Wilford
01672 564529 / 07790 774284
Editors' notes:
Business Link
Business Link is a Government funded service to help people start, run and grow businesses. The service provides free information, advice and support through a combination of a local telephone enquiry service, an extensive regional website, www.businesslinksw.co.uk and experienced business advisers. It is the primary single ‘access point' to link businesses to the local and national business support network
The Business Link service is delivered by Peninsula Enterprise throughout Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Devon and Somerset, and has supported well over 43,000 people starting or running businesses in the region over the past year, achieving a satisfaction rating that approaches 90% and is continuing to climb.
For more information, visit www.businesslinksw.co.uk or call 0845 600 9966
ERDF Convergence Programme in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
With £6 million investment from the South West RDA and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Convergence Programme, Business Link has extended its support for the most innovative and ambitious firms or social enterprises in Cornwall and The Isles of Scilly. This additional enhanced service was introduced at the end of 2008 and fully complements Business Link's existing support activities for new and established businesses.
For more information, visit www.businesslinksw.co.uk/convergence or call 0845 600 9966.
