Start Software sponsoring the Big C Atlantic Challenge boat for sea trials off Whitehaven

e-Innovation Centre tenants, Start Software, is sponsoring Andrew Bedwell and his Big C Atlantic Challenge – an incredible World Record attempt to cross the Atlantic in the shortest boat, ever!  He is raising money for cancer charities.

Andrew is attempting to cross the Atlantic (unsupported!) in a sailing boat that’s only 1m long – yes that’s 3 foot 3 inches, give or take! Andrew’s Big C Atlantic Challenge is raising money for cancer charities and he hopes to shave nearly two feet (60cm) off the existing record held by American Hugo Vihlen (read about Hugo’s crossing here).

Andrew’s boat will carry Start Software, Alpha Tracker and Alpha Legal/Alpha Portal branding on the side pods. All of the Start team will be travelling up to meet Andrew and see the boat in action next month during the sea trials.

Follow Andrew’s news as he nears the start of his voyage in May by liking and following his Facebook page here or subscribe and follow our blog, here.

Watch a video of the day’s action

CQS Solutions Quantity surveyor company expands its business

Business & Technology Centre tenant company, CQS Solutions, has expanded with a business merger that will give it the potential to take its services across all of Wales.

CQS Solutions has joined forces with Bowen Consultants Ltd which has offices in Newtown, Powys and Conwy in North Wales.

The expanded team includes ten quantity surveyors headed by principal surveyor and company owner, Tim Lloyd, and backed by business support staff.

Tim Lloyd of CQS Solutions said that the move would expand the team and knowledge base on offer to clients whilst maintaining the ethos of personal service.

“The merger will give our clients more resources, wider services and expanded capacity. It brings together 20 years of public sector experience and means we can diversify our portfolio and take on more public sector contracts,” he said.

Bowen Consultants has been operating across Wales since 1984 offering a range of services including project management, quantity surveying, dispute resolution and CDM co-ordinator services to both public and private sector clients.

 

The new merged company has the capacity to offer quantity surveying and project management services to clients across Wales. It will also be using the latest Masterbill software to allow teams across all its sites to collaborate on projects using innovative digital technology.

Tim Lloyd is also planning to use the expanded company to support young people coming into the industry from all backgrounds.

“We want the merged company to be an incubator for new talent by offering a variety of roles for young people. The expansion will give us more scope to help those starting on their careers to experience different roles within the industry,” he said.

Find out more about CQS here

Co-founders of Scanning Pens Both Awarded an OBE

 

Business & Technology Centre Tenants have been honoured with an OBE.

Co-founders of one of the UK’s leading assistive technology companies, Scanning Pens, were both honoured with an OBE.

Jack Churchill and Toby Sutton received this honour as a result of ‘services to international trade, and to the dyslexia, and special educational needs and disabilities community’.

Read the full story here

Cloud Construct celebrates a decade in business

Business & Technology Centre tenants, Cloud Construct – a web and software development agency is celebrating 10 years in business.

Cloud Construct was established in August 2012 as PBS Creative. The company rebranded last year to reflect its focus on cloud-based services.

The company is now actively recruiting a web developer to support its growing business and customer base.

Peter Barfield, founder of Cloud Construct, credits their survival and continued success to a steady and systematic approach to growth and delivering high levels of service.

He said: “It’s very pleasing to reach 10 years in business, especially as we still continue to work with some of our first clients, including Boatshed, the world’s largest boat brokerage organisation. We’ve seen them grow and flourish internationally with the help of our bespoke software and technology.

“I’ve always been very mindful to grow the company at a pace where there was an equal balance of staff to the business. I’ve seen many agencies come and go over the years. They’ve become really successful and done well, but then they’ve been unable to sustain the amount of new work required to keep their staff employed. I didn’t want that to happen in my business.”

Last year Cloud Construct was awarded Select Partner Status by Amazon Web Services (AWS). They went through rigorous training and approval systems and it means they can access AWS services and cutting-edge technologies to build bespoke, next-generation software for their customers.

Peter Barfield continued: “It’s an exciting time for Cloud Construct. Alongside our client work, we have lots of ideas for software products and services, so we’re looking for an experienced developer to join the team.

“We’re looking for someone who is a natural problem solver and has a level of commercial awareness i.e. they understand how software fits in within a business to help them to achieve their goals.”

Cloud Construct is now planning an event to celebrate its 10-year anniversary for clients and business connections.

Visit CloudConstruct.co.uk