NEWS
ADVICE
Aspect Facades managing director Dan Parker ( right ) with business coach Ian Kinnery ( left ) and some of the tean at its new Aycliffe premises .
A NEW FRONT
Façade firm sees sales triple to £ 3.3m
A
Newton Aycliffe façade company has tripled turnover in a year , with plans to double that figure over the next 12 months . Aspect Facades , which is based on Long Tens Way on Aycliffe Business Park , has also recently moved into new premises , doubling its available space .
Managing director Dan Parker said : “ We recorded turnover of £ 3.3m in the year ending March 2021 , up from £ 1.1m in the previous 12 months , and I would say we ’ re on track for turnover to reach £ 7m by the end of this financial year .
“ Since the start of the pandemic , we ’ ve also taken on nine new members of staff to help deal with increased demand , taking the total team members up to 21 , and moved to our new 12,000sq ft site in Newton Aycliffe .
“ All of this is as a result of our organic growth over the past 12 months , as clients give us more and more work .”
As well enjoying a remarkable year of growth with Aspect , Dan was also the winner of the emerging talent category at the recent Entrepreneurs ’ Forum North East awards .
He said : “ When you ’ re involved in the business , you don ’ t really sit back and take in what it is you ’ re achieving .
“ But when something like this is presented to you , it makes you realise that you ’ re making a difference , which is an amazing feeling .”
E-VEHICLE LOANS LET BUSINESSES TRY BEFORE THEY BUY
Small businesses in County Durham are being invited to borrow an electric van , to experience for themselves the benefits of going green .
Durham County Council ’ s low carbon economy and fleet teams are offering short term loans of electric vans to small and medium sized businesses , to help reduce their carbon emissions and fuel costs .
The vans , which will be free to loan for up to three weeks , are being funded by the council as part of its response to the climate emergency .
The scheme aims to encourage smaller businesses to cut their carbon emissions , a task which they typically find more difficult than larger businesses , as they do not have the resources to employ specialist energy advisers .
To access the electric vehicle offer , businesses need to apply to the council ’ s Business Energy Efficiency Project , which can also help businesses to identify further energy efficiencies , resulting in reduced carbon emissions and financial savings .
Interested businesses should email trybeforeyoubuyscheme @ durham . gov . uk .
MARKETING TIPS TO PROMOTE YOUR SITE
Websites are the shop window of your business , whatever business that is . It ’ s usually the first thing that a potential customer navigates to . If a customer doesn ’ t know about your business , how will they find your ‘ shop window ’?
There are many ways you can increase the visibility of your website … 1 . Social Media It might seem complex if you ’ re not using social media for personal reasons but in 2022 all of us will have someone in our lives that is more than accustomed to Instagram , Facebook … even TikTok ! Choose platforms relevant to your audience , and consider our longstanding , but still relevant , top tips for managing a business on social media . 2 . SEO Get started by using the Google Keyword Planner to research relevant terms that your potential customers are already using to find solutions like yours , then use SEO plugins to adjust your meta description , page title , et al . It is a longterm but rewarding task for any business hoping to improve its search visibility . 4 . Google My Business Register your business information , including your location , services , contact information and opening hours , as well as photos and reviews . It is linked to your website in search results and strengthens your search rankings and visibility . 5 . Content You need to provide value to your reader with the information you create , and it needs to be in a format that they will be interested in . A consistent , solid strategy and a strict approach to maintaining this stream of content is key !
Sarah Burns Digital marketing manager , Thrive Marketing
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