Aycliffe Today Business #2 | Page 6

Collaborative working, at its very best Sharon Hutchinson from Splash Print Management reveals how collaborative working helped to make 2012 their best year yet... Organisations of all sizes are realising the benefits of outsourcing non-core business activities, as they get experts working within their team without the commitment of salaries to pay. The management and buying of print is perfectly suited to being outsourced as substantial savings can be made, often significantly more than the print management fees charged, effectively meaning a business can benefit from having a dedicated print-buyer working in their business for free. Collaborating with other businesses operating in similar markets has had many benefits. As well as having numerous service providers that we can use ourselves and confidently recommend to our customers, we have had a continuous stream of good quality referrals. Working together in this way, is very cost-effective. Our only investment is the time it takes to build relationships and facilitate introductions. Photography All businesses need good quality imagery - potential customers usually form their ‘first impression’ from images of your team or products before you have the opportunity to meet them. Burns Rowatt Photography provide our customers with professional and eyecatching photographs that they can use in printed and online marketing materials. They are happy to offer advice at the concept stage too, enabling you to make the most of their expertise and show your business off in the very best light. Whether we love it or hate it, very few businesses can operate effectively without reliable IT systems. Tomorrow’s Office provide an affordable service to minimize the disruption to your business caused by computer failure. They are Sage specialists and provide bespoke software and network solutions that save you time and money. Despite their technical expertise, they haven’t lost the ability to talk in plain English! www.newpc.co.uk 0113 236 2626 www.burnsrowattphotography.com 01325 482985 Graphic Design Strategy Consultants www.youareneon.co.uk 01325 520 462 When you want advice on building a business, it is great to have the support of people that have already done it. As well as acting as a sounding board, Carlton and Co have provided us with business planning and strategic advice, enabling us to map out a clear route for our business. Driven by their genuine desire to help businesses thrive, they have recently launched Growthfunders, an online platform which provides entrepeneurs access to support and funding. www.carltonandco.com 0845 805 7442 Having accurate financial information and advice is crucial to any business that wants to thrive. Stuart Hall & Co are fully qualified and offer all of the services y