Southern Enterprise Awards 2021

128 | Southern Enterprise Awards 2021 Aug21322 Helping businesses streamline their operations is the remit of Futurum Consulting. Launched during the COVID pandemic to give SMEs and charities the help they need to operate more efficiently and get best use of their digital technology, today the firm provides an all-round consulting service focused on improving its clients’ performance and profitability. Wiltshire based Futurum Consulting has come to the fore during the recent pandemic. Instantly realising the difficulties that many smaller businesses and charities would face, Futurum began to take on clients to help them navigate the difficulties and changes they faced during the unprecedented time. The company’s aim is to help businesses become more efficient, agile and sustainable. By improving internal processes, and getting the best value for money from digital technology, both time and money are saved. Futurum founder and director, Andrew Longland, has over 20 years of experience in business leadership. Having started out in software development, Andrew then moved on to leadership roles in a variety of industries. His experience at board level, both in business and with registered charities, is invaluable in understanding how clients can improve their current processes. Bringing together business and technology consulting is what differentiates Futurum from its competitors. Andrew tells us: “Many consultancy practices specialise in one aspect or the other. It’s vital that the two aspects are brought together and aligned to get the best results.” Offering a wealth of core services including business application implementation, process reviews and system integrations, the company was founded with three aims: to help SMEs and charities become more agile and efficient; to provide services specifically aimed at these sectors; and to offer professional, independent advice in plain language that all clients can understand. Futurum specialises in digital transformation. Before embarking on a transformation project the company begins with a discovery mission to fully understand the needs of the client. Best Business & Technology Consultancy 2021 Business processes are then refined either by adapting existing technology, integrating systems to remove administrative overhead, or sourcing, selecting and implementing completely new solutions. With a wide selection of complementary services, Andrew finds that a client will often engage with Futurum on one project but then expand the engagement when they begin to see the benefits of working with the company. Futurum is currently working with clients that implemented eCommerce platforms in 2020. Most have realised the value of retaining an online presence going forward. Futurum is helping these companies to integrate their eCommerce platform with their back-office systems such as ERP, CRM, inventory and accounting systems. Recently, Futurum completed a digital strategy and transformation discovery project for Hampshire charity, Rose Road Association. The charity, which provides care services for children and young adults, was looking to streamline processes and make its operation more efficient. Futurum identified potential improvements and areas where digital technology could make a positive difference. The charity now has a roadmap for the future to enable them to make cost savings and improve efficiency. Speaking of the project, Rose Road Association’s CEO, Juno Hollyhock, said: “Engaging Futurum Consulting to lead on the initial discovery work for our digital transformation project was the best decision we could have made. Futurum worked hard to understand the nature of our business in depth and also to understand the organic processes that had led to our current position. I was concerned that the final report would be dense, lengthy and hard to translate into a workable roadmap but that was not the case at all. The report was succinct, relevant, clear and did not use jargon or tech language that would have left us confused.” Andrew’s company does a lot of its work remotely, working with clients as far afield as the USA and Australia. Even so, the company has built strong relationships with many local businesses and charities based in the South of England. Andrew’s passion for volunteering and charity work is also paramount within the business. As it grows, all Futurum staff will be encouraged and given the time and opportunity to give back to the community. Futurum was founded on the principle of investing in people. The company ensures that training and development opportunities are given, and to that end the firm is set to embark on a recruitment plan using the government KickStart Scheme. This provides young people with the opportunity to learn and gain experience in the workplace at the same time. In the future, Futurum hopes to offer apprenticeship places too. Contact: Andrew Longland Company: Futurum Consulting Ltd Web Address: www.futurum-consulting.co.uk