SecureAck: Most Innovative Cybersecurity Start-Up 2024 SME News- Southern Enterprise Awards 2024 OutBACE Limited: Most Innovative Digital Transformation Consultancy 2024 Peter Miles Broadstone Risks is a global leader in security and intelligence, offering bespoke solutions that safeguard high-profile individuals, events, and organisations worldwide. With headquarters in the UK and strategic bases in New York and Los Angeles, Broadstone Risks’ global presence allows it to deliver world-class security services tailored to the unique needs of its clients. Events & Tech Security Business Leader of the Year 2024 (South East): Peter Miles & Best Corporate Security & Investigation Firm 2024 – South East
SME News- Southern Enterprise Awards 2024 Go-Forward Associates Ltd At its core, Reading’s Go-Forward Associates Ltd is all about people, and, as its name suggests, helping them to move ahead in both their careers and their lives. With an equal focus on individuals and teams, the company offers a series of bespoke development solutions that focus on a person’s journeys and their development. Best Bespoke Coaching & Leadership Development Company 2024 – Berkshire & Client Service Excellence Award 2024
About the SME Southern Enterprise Awards Phone: +44 (0) 203 970 0010 Website: www.sme-news.co.uk Sofi Parry Senior Editor No information contained on or in this website constitutes investment advice or an offer to invest or to provide management services and is subject to correction, completion and amendment without notice. Neither AI nor any of its associated entities are authorised to give financial advice of any nature nor are they regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Prior to making any investment, AI recommends that any prospective investor should consult with its own investment, accounting, legal and tax advisers to evaluate independently the risks, consequences and suitability of that investment. AI Global Media, Ltd. (AI) takes reasonable measures to ensure the quality of the information on this web site. However, AI will not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any information that is available through this web site. If errors are brought to our attention, we will try to correct them. The information available through the website and our partner publications is for your general information and use and is not intended to address any particular finance or investment requirements. In particular, the information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by us or any of our partner publications and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making or refraining from making any investment or financial decisions. Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Any arrangement made between you and any third party named in the site is at your sole risk and responsibility. Welcome to the Southern Enterprise Awards 2024, the prestigious accolade programme presented by SME News, celebrating the vibrancy, innovation, and growth of the business community in Southern England. Returning for its seventh instalment, this annual awards programme recognises the remarkable contributions of firms that have excelled in their respective sectors, driving economic growth, and setting benchmarks in this dynamic region. Targeting a broad spectrum of enterprises, from flourishing start-ups to wellestablished family businesses, the Southern Enterprise Awards 2024 aims to showcase the diversity and enterprising spirit of Southern England. The programme is tailored to shine a spotlight on businesses of all sizes that are innovating, evolving, and contributing to the thriving commercial landscape of the South. In 2024, Southern England’s business sector is a landscape of resilience and progress. The South Coast defies national mortgage rate challenges, enticing property investment, while the South East boasts a surge in high-growth mergers and acquisitions, coupled with a robust office market. EY predicts cities like Reading to eclipse national economic growth, with employment rates peaking in the South East, driven by key sectors such as professional services and tech. Despite a decline in tech investments, the region’s tech ecosystem maintains its stability, with the South East remaining a powerhouse, especially in emerging sub-sectors like CreaTech and Med-Tech. However, the region faced a rise in business administrations in 2023, especially in retail and construction. With the highest employment rate in the UK, the South East’s economy is dynamic yet faces contrasts, as business confidence wavers amid broader challenges. Nonetheless, the tech industry and a positive revenue trend among firms signal a continuing economic vitality. Projections suggest that while economic momentum will resume UK-wide, the South East is set to outpace other regions, highlighting a persistent economic divide. In sum, Southern England heads into 2024 on a wave of cautious optimism, navigating through uncertainty with an eye towards sustained growth and sectoral strength.
Subscribe to SME News Magazine www.sme-news.co.uk/subscribe
Contents 6. Best Bespoke Coaching & Leadership Development Company 2024 - Berkshire & Client Service Excellence Award 2024 Go-Forward Associates Ltd 7. Most Innovative Cybersecurity Start-Up 2024 - SecureAck 8. Most Innovative Digital Transformation Consultancy 2024 - OutBACE Limited 10. Excellence in Domiciliary Care 2024 – Devon & Most Nurturing Family-Run Care Company 2024 – Devon 12. Best Enterprise Pet Waste Removal Service 2024 Pet Waste Solution 14. Best Renewables & Plumbing Company 2024 - Surrey New Heat Solutions 16. Best eCommerce Fulfilment & Shipping Solutions Portal 2024 - South East Eq8tor 18. Events & Tech Security Business Leader of the Year 2024 (South East): Peter Miles & Best Corporate Security & Investigation Firm 2024 – South East Peter Miles 21. Best Family-Run Bathroom Retailer 2024 - Hampshire The Bath Works 22. Best Custom Golf Club Fitting Service Provider 2024 - South East Eclipse Golf 23. Best Enterprise Coaching Provider 2024 - South East & Client Service Excellence Award 2024 CAP Enterprise (Kent) CIC 24. Best Bathroom Design Company 2024 - Dorset ARNO Bathrooms Ltd 25. Best Family-Run Electrical Services Company 2024 – Kingston upon Thames JAW Electrical 7 26. Best Nationwide Specialist Construction Products Supplier 2024 & Client Service Excellence Award 2024 Resapol Ltd 27. Most Creative Men’s Online Fashion Accessories Store 2024 Dapper & Suave 28. 2024 Quantity Surveying & Project Management Firm of the Year and Excellence in Block Management – London Mime Consultancy Limited 29. Best Specialist Yoga Studio 2024 – Kent Seven Chakras Limited 30. Tattoo Studio of the Year 2024 - Essex CoCreate 31. Best Automotive Recruitment Specialists 2024 Silcom Recruitment Limited 32. Bridalwear Alteration & Restyling Business of the Year 2024 – East London OneOffLondon 33. Hair Salon of the Year 2024 - Exeter FUTURA HAIR 34. Fresh Produce Wholesale Company of the Year 2024 – Wiltshire Four Seasons Fruiterers 35. Best Regional Renewable Energy Installation Company 2024 – South West Sulis Electrical Services Ltd 36. Real Estate Agency of the Year 2024 - Hampshire & Client Service Excellence Award 2024 White & Guard 37. Best Surface Repair Specialists 2024 Foreman Snags Ltd 38. Dog Training Facility of the Year 2024 - Devon Jaws Paws & Claws 39. Best Primary GCSE Tutoring Provider 2024 – Greater London Chalk N Duster Tutors 40. Best High Net Worth Wealth Planners & Investment Management Firm 2024 HFMC Wealth 41. Best Construction Marketing Specialists 2024 - South East Bright Thinking Marketing 42. Best Plumbing & Drainage Company 2024 United Drains 43. Best Real Estate Agency 2024 - Wiltshire Home Finders (Swindon) Ltd 44. Cattery of the Year 2024 - South East Mayfield Cattery 45. Best Home Improvements Company 2024 - South West & Excellence Award in Resin Bound Surfacing 2024 - South West England Bound2Impress Ltd 46. Best Business Insurance Brokers 2024 - Devon LMB Insurance Services 47. Web Design & Development Agency of the Year 2024 - South East WebDynamix 48. Specialist Business Management Company of the Year 2024 - London Spaya Ltd 49. Lifestyle & Entertainment TV Producer of the Year 2024: Michael Connock Michael Connock Ltd 50. Best Social MediaCommunity Management Agency 2024 - South West & Best Brand Strategist Marketing Agency 2024 - South West 3sixfive 51. Best Water Hygiene & Treatment Company 2024 & Client Service Excellence Award 2024 Pure Drop Water Systems Management Ltd 52. Pig Rescue Sanctuary of the Year 2024 & Best Porcine Assisted Therapy Provider 2024 Curly Tails 53. Paint Shop of the Year 2024 - Buckinghamshire Paint Stop Ltd 54. Best Traditional & Organic Butchers 2024 - Surrey The Surrey Butchers Limited 55. Bespoke Matchmaking Service of the Year 2024 Sara Eden Introductions 56. Best Residential Surveying Company 2024 – South East Your Surveyors Ltd 57. Best Landscape Design & Installation Company 2024 - Berkshire Pretty Green Landscapes Ltd
SME News Southern Enterprise Awards 2024/ 6 Events & Tech Security Business Leader of the Year 2024 (South East): Peter Miles & Best Corporate Security & Investigation Firm 2024 – South East Peter Miles Broadstone Risks is a global leader in security and intelligence, offering bespoke solutions that safeguard high-profile individuals, events, and organisations worldwide. With headquarters in the UK and strategic bases in New York and Los Angeles, Broadstone Risks’ global presence allows it to deliver world-class security services tailored to the unique needs of its clients. We learn more, below. Since its inception, Broadstone Risks has set new standards in security by integrating physical security with advanced social media and protective intelligence, supported by a 24/7 Global Security Operations Centre. This innovative approach ensures comprehensive, real-time threat monitoring and response, offering unparalleled protection to clients. Whether safeguarding international music tours, protecting corporate assets, or overseeing multi-city events, Broadstone Risks delivers unmatched expertise and flexibility. The company’s Social Media Threat Intelligence Platform, originally developed in response to the Manchester Arena bombing, has become a cornerstone of its security operations, allowing real-time detection of threats. This platform has proven essential in protecting clients and audiences at high-risk, large-scale events and currently shields some of the world’s most famous names and high-level government entities. Broadstone Risks’ commitment to excellence has earned it numerous prestigious awards in 2024, both in the UK and USA, highlighting its leadership, innovation, and unwavering dedication to security. These awards reflect the depth and quality of Broadstone Risks’ services across various industries. Notable accolades include: • International Security Company of the Year 2024 • International Business Leader of the Year 2024 • Best Independent Security & Intelligence Company 2024 UK • Global Recognition Award 2024 • Best Luxury Security Concierge Service 2024 • Problem Solver Award • Business Disruptor of the Year 2024 • Excellence in Risk Management 2024 • Security Company of the Year 2024 Additionally, Broadstone Risks has been honoured at the Southern Enterprise Awards 2024, receiving two prestigious accolades: Events & Tech Security Business Leader of the Year 2024, awarded to CEO Peter Miles, and Best Corporate Security & Investigation Firm 2024. These awards underscore Broadstone Risks’ dedication to providing cuttingedge, innovative security solutions across multiple sectors, affirming its status as a leader in the field. Broadstone Risks’ elite client roster is a testament to its global reputation. From protecting media giants such as Apple TV, Netflix, Amazon Movies UK/USA, and Sky Movies, to securing world-renowned music artists like Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Ariana Grande, and Lionel Richie, Broadstone Risks consistently provides comprehensive security solutions that allow these figures to operate safely, even in the most challenging environments. This diverse client base reflects the trust Broadstone Risks has built across multiple sectors, making it a go-to security provider for high-profile individuals and corporations alike. One of Broadstone Risks’ hallmark achievements has been its involvement in securing some of the world’s most significant events, including global music tours, international press tours, and large corporate gatherings. Broadstone Risks is now a recognised leader in delivering security for high-profile events that demand constant monitoring and dynamic response strategies. What sets Broadstone Risks apart is its ability to anticipate and respond to emerging threats, particularly in today’s digital landscape. In a world where security threats extend beyond physical spaces to digital channels and social media platforms, Broadstone Risks has developed solutions to address both. The Social Media Threat Intelligence Platform allows the company to detect, monitor, and mitigate digital risks in real-time, ensuring that clients are protected from both known and evolving threats. This comprehensive approach to security has transformed how organisations and individuals protect themselves, their assets, and their reputations in an increasingly interconnected world. The digital aspect of security has become as critical as physical protection, and Broadstone Risks’ ability to adapt has been a gamechanger in the industry. This proactive, holistic, and intelligent approach to managing security threats has placed Broadstone Risks at the forefront of the sector, especially in securing major entertainment and corporate events around the world. As Broadstone Risks continues to grow, the company remains committed to pushing the boundaries of security and intelligence services worldwide. The ever-evolving nature of global threats, particularly in the digital domain, drives Broadstone Risks to continuously innovate, ensuring it remains at the cutting edge of security solutions. Future plans include expanding their global footprint to offer its unmatched security expertise to new markets across the world. For Peter Miles, leading Broadstone Risks into the future is both a challenge and a privilege. “We are passionate about protecting what matters most to our clients,” he explains. “Whether it’s their people, their brands, or their events, our goal is to provide security solutions that allow them to operate confidently, no matter the circumstances.” Contact: Peter Miles Company: Peter Miles Web Address: https://www.broadstonerisks.com
At its core, Reading’s Go-Forward Associates Ltd is all about people, and, as its name suggests, helping them to move ahead in both their careers and their lives. With an equal focus on individuals and teams, the company offers a series of bespoke development solutions that focus on a person’s journeys and their development. Although Go-Forward is comprised of a small team, its expertise enables it to have a huge impact on others, something we explore in more detail below. Best Bespoke Coaching & Leadership Development Company 2024 – Berkshire & Client Service Excellence Award 2024 The lasting transformation ushered in by Go-Forward is achieved through the dual process of personal referrals and the meticulous creation of bespoke solutions, all of which are done so as to align seamlessly with the goals and values of a partner organisation. This is a team comprised of educators and therapists, and the common thread that unites them all is this intrinsic desire to help other people. Such a service is provided across both the educational and corporate spheres, as well as for charities and non-profits where possible. “We hope to equip leaders to lead well, with sustainability and clarity”, explains Jonathan Curtis, who leads the team here. It is for this reason that the range of coaching and leadership development services offered by the company are expansive and span pastoral coaching through to executive coaching. Jonathan adds: “Much of our delivery centres on the client’s needs, enabling conversations with a purpose and a space where someone can think through what is going on for them, the obstacles and the opportunities.” In order to consistently achieve its aims, Go-Forward leverages a trio of umbrella core values – encouragement, challenge, and curiosity – which themselves encompass secondary principles such as kindness, authenticity, and integrity. By deploying these right across its operation, the company is able to have the intended cascade effect on both its clients and their businesses – first driving impact with the individual, then with the wider team, and finally, across the whole of the organisation. On the back of the inherent strengths of this approach, Go-Forward is incredibly proud of the fact that 100% of its clients are sourced through referral and personal recommendations. Such an impressive statistic highlights the effectiveness of this holistic approach, something corroborated by clients in the outstanding feedback that they give. Testimonials often highlight the empathy showed and the cornerstones of trust and confidentiality which define every partnership and serve as standout features of the experience. “Relationships are cherished and valued at Go-Forward”, explains Jonathan. “When leaders and teams trust their coach we see significant change in culture, effectiveness, and outcomes.” Trust is delivered as standard across Go-Forward, with the experienced nature of its coaches meaning that they rigorously adhere to ICF standards of ethical coaching, in addition to the team also pursuing relevant continuing professional development (CPD) themselves, ensuring they remain fresh and curious. Aiding this team is the fact that the nature of their work affords them unprecedented access to the inner works of organisations, giving staff members ideas and methods that they can adapt and then apply to their own culture. Moreover, Jonathan explains: “Understanding our individual appreciation languages (based upon Appreciation in the Workplace by Dr G. Chapman) and utilising the insight of knowing our Gallup Strengths [CliftonStrengths], gives us a huge leverage to maximise our effectiveness.” With these strengths to boot, Go-Forward is winding down 2024 by being grateful for the longevity of the relationships it has forged over the years with its client base, and remains especially proud of the instrumental role it has played in allowing companies to thrive and expand their teams. As it moves into 2025, the business remains committed to investing in people, identifying and developing remarkable coaches, and giving back to local communities by working with charities and other such non-profits. Diving deeper into these future plans, Johnathan tells us that Go-Forward has recently launched a course that focuses on growing and equipping emerging leaders, particularly middle leaders who play a critical role in an organisation’s success. “These middle leaders are huge culture carriers and are often placed in leadership roles without experience”, says Johnathan, and this is why this course exits – to offer them the foundational understanding they need to thrive. Be it for wellbeing support, increasing job satisfaction, or helping to find the rhythm in working relationships, Go-Forward Associates Ltd has all of the team coaching and leadership development skills necessary to take a business to new heights – combined with an unflinching commitment to client service – making it a worthy winner of these two awards. Contact: Jonathan Curtis Company: Go-Forward Associates Ltd Email: [email protected] Web Address: go-forwardassociates.com Go-Forward Associates Ltd
SME News Southern Enterprise Awards 2024/ 8 Today, cybersecurity teams are facing an uphill struggle, dragged down by increasing numbers of threats, skills gaps, and tool sprawl. As a result, they are forced to work like machines. This situation isn’t sustainable, it increases the risk of human error, and it results in cyber incidents that are actually avoidable. Enter SecureAck, born out of the need to do cybersecurity differently. The developer of the cutting-edge A-Ops platform, this solution enables organisations to build limitless automations, eliminating the risks that come with working cybersecurity professionals like machines. In light of SecureAck’s success within the Southern Enterprise Awards 2024, we discover how its revolutionary work is transforming the world of cybersecurity as we know it. SecureAck is the go-to partner for cybersecurity teams when it comes to pushing the boundaries of what they can accomplish, with its intelligent SaaS automation platform, A-Ops delivering the speed and scale needed in order to secure entire IT systems. Whether through A-Ops or its Managed Automation-as-a-Service (MAaaS), SecureAck’s specialist tailored solutions meet its clients’ unique needs, empowering them to boost their efficiency, reduce risk, and optimise their security stack with truly limitless, intelligent automations. A-Ops is infinitely scalable with intelligent automations that maximise the efficiency of automating IT, operational technology, and infrastructure technology environments. Using A-Ops, critical security functions such as incident response can detect cyberattacks and automate patch compliance. Boasting 48-times faster incident response times, A-Ops has 100-times more power than legacy security automation, and allows complete visibility across an organisation’s entire IT estate. An intuitive self-service platform, the platform relies on logic to build workflows, lowering the barriers to entry for automation. Then, for those customers needing additional support, SecureAck’s MAaaS can provide this at any stage, whether in setting up the initial automations, managing business-critical workflows, or delivering a fully managed service. An industry-first, this MAaaS offering allows organisations to achieve fully automated security operations that are backed by 24/7 monitoring and incident response. This comes as an automation-first solution to what would otherwise be a highly skilled and resourceheavy task, and it also significantly reduces the cost of entry, making it an affordable solution for small businesses. SecureAck partners with a range of businesses operating in industries from retail to manufacturing to everything in between. For its smaller customers, it offers a fully managed service that allows them access to all the benefits of cybersecurity automation, but without the need to invest in an internal team. All customers are assigned technical support managers for their entire product lifecycle and the level of support has been applauded by customers, including rail industry provider, Lur, who praised SecureAck as “very professional and efficient in all my dealings with them. The customer support has been great with any questions answered quickly”. “SecureAck and A-Ops brings limitless intelligent data driven automation to security teams who often describe A-Ops as a Swiss army knife due to its versatility. With A-Ops, you define how you want to work, and it supports you in achieving the objectives of security for your business.” Notably, UK sportswear brand, Castore turned to A-Ops with the need to improve its security measures in a way that was budget-friendly and reliable on a long-term basis. A-Ops has since significantly improved Castore’s cybersecurity by, first of all, enabling critical use cases, including out-of-the-box integration across SaaS services to ingest log data. Using A-Ops, Castore have been able to setup and prioritise high-priority events, enhancing operational security through improved monitoring and response capabilities. Also, Castore has found that A-Ops drives tangible results, allowing it to now run over 500 security automations monthly, streamlining processes that previously required manual intervention. The company is planning on doubling its automation usage over the next year, integrating more sophisticated workflows to handle emerging security risks. Finally, A-Ops has improved Castore’s incident response and operational resiliency, reducing the time to resolve security alerts by 40%. Castore reported that A-Ops massively reduced the time its teams have spent on repetitive security tasks, and it highlighted the platform’s ability to identify and respond to incidents quickly. Meanwhile, SecureAck has also worked with a multinational supply chain firm headquartered in Oxford that was going through a complex cloud migration involving multiple consultants and technology platforms. During this process, Most Innovative Cybersecurity Start-Up 2024
network user passwords were exposed in error – comprising the integrity of accounts and leaving them at risk of exploitation. Furthermore, the cybersecurity team uncovered that those passwords impacted weren’t compliant with the company password policy. The team needed to reset more than 3,000 passwords spanning multiple servers – which could take several weeks to months – and they needed to get users to agree to the company’s password policy and confirm compliance before they could receive their new passwords. They recognised the need for automation to complete a task of such scale and complexity in the short time required to assure the organisation’s security posture. By utilising A-Ops, the company was able to achieve run-away speed to deployment. Within just a couple of hours of executing automation, many non-system impacting accounts had been disabled. The team spent the next two days building, testing, and deploying automated flows for policy acceptance and password resets. It took just three days to build and deploy the workflow in A-Ops. From there, the client experienced minimised disruption, as implementing this automation meant its security teams weren’t waiting for endusers to complete steps to reset their accounts. Everything was rendered self-service with an emphasis on account owners to undertake actions. Additionally, A-Ops meant the company could scale without room for error. The dragand-drop interface reduced the barrier to entry for automation that could be scaled for future use cases, with minimal modification and no chance of human error in the critical task of securely managing and distributing passwords. “SecureAck allows skilled professionals to spend time working on value-add and implementing additional features, controls, and processes; meanwhile A-Ops is carrying out the mundane tasks.” Commenting on the abilities of SecureAck and A-Ops, the company’s Founder and CTO, Simon Phillips says, “At a time when teams are stretched and security professionals are forced to work like machines to defend organisations against a ferocious threat landscape, the ability to rely on intelligent automations that always work the way they are meant to reduces security risk and alleviates the pressure of defending against a highly volatile cybersecurity landscape. This is while the ability to integrate the entire security stack and negate the need for some bigger ticket purchases enables security leaders to meet the pressure to “do more with less” in a challenging economic environment.” Over the last 12 months, A-Ops has boasted 100% availability – meaning no downtime for any customers – and it is being used to run a staggering 115,000 automations each day, which totals at 3.5 million a month. Alongside this, 60% of SecureAck’s customers are benefiting from its MAaaS offering to enhance the potential of the platform. This isn’t all that makes the company stand out, for it also prides itself on the quality of its SLAs, which outperform industry competitors on metrics such as platform availability. Indeed, SecureAck’s offering is nothing short of exceptional – and at its foundation is of course its expert team and an internal culture that encourages learning and collaboration. Cybersecurity is a highly skilled profession, and it is an industry that is moving at such a rapid pace that it can be challenging to keep abreast with, but SecureAck nurtures a team environment that makes this possible. Consequently, its people can create and maintain such brilliant, technologically advanced solutions that its customers know they can completely rely on them. Looking ahead, the future is looking incredibly bright for SecureAck as it continues building innovative integrations within A-Ops to deliver core security functionalities at a fraction of the cost. An integration with AWS OpenSearch, for example, lets security teams carry out SIEM-like functions and negates the need for a costly investment in a dedicated SIEM solution. Additionally, SecureAck has expansion on the cards, with plans to branch out to North America, as Simon shares, “We are confident in SecureAck’s ability to penetrate the market, given its watertight SLAs, fast ROI, and simple integrations with popular enterprise apps and services to maintain the standards that have underpinned its rapid growth to date.” Contact Details Company: SecureAck Contact: Simon Phillips Email: [email protected] Website: www.secureack.com
SME News Southern Enterprise Awards 2024/ 10 OutBACE: Bridging the Gap for Business Transformation In today’s high-stakes industrial environment, traditional approaches to performance improvement often fall short. With increasing uncertainty and instability, leaders face mounting pressure to deliver efficiency and growth, optimize supply chains, and increase responsiveness—all while managing complexity and costs across their entire operational footprint. Adding to this complexity is a growing blind spot: the supporting consultancies increasingly operate at either end of a spectrum. They are typically either high-level strategy advisors or technology-only implementers. The critical gap between these extremes often leaves organisations stranded. Strategy advisors provide lofty goals but lack the means to execute them, while tech-only implementers typically deliver systems to their contract, without considering broader business outcomes. The result? Fragmented efforts that fail to deliver the promised value. “This gap is where we come in,” explains Pete King, Founder of OutBACE. “We provide the cohesion that businesses need— turning strategy into execution and delivering the outcomes clients expect when they embark on transformation. Whether it’s creating a vision, turning that vision into operational reality, or ensuring technology investments drive business outcomes, we guide and drive clients every step of the way.” Facing the Challenges of Modern Industry OutBACE’s clients, ranging from large multi-nationals to nimble high-tech startups, share a common struggle: increasing operational efficiency while adapting quickly to shifting market conditions. Insufficient cohesion across functions and disjointed technology implementations often leave organisations illequipped to face current and future challenges. Consider a typical scenario: • Strategic goals are set at the executive level, but these are diluted or misaligned as they trickle down through IT, Operational Technology (OT), and Process Excellence teams • Technology and vendor selection often focuses on deliverables, overlooking wider cross-functional impacts • Consultancies focus narrowly on the silo they’ve been asked to deliver—limiting their scope to their own accountabilities • The result? Organisations unknowingly commit to non-cohesive outcomes from the outset. From there, fragmented systems and processes don’t support hitting performance targets as expected, wasting valuable resources. The competitive gap widens, leaving companies with a tough decision: spend again or try to make the most of underperforming initiatives. OutBACE’s Unique Approach OutBACE provides services to overcome this siloed view. Its proven methods target systemic inefficiencies by fostering cohesion across an organisation’s entire ecosystem. Whether embedding within a client’s partner network or offering turnkey solutions with aligned third-party providers, OutBACE ensures that every initiative contributes to a set of unified, outcome-driven goals. What sets OutBACE apart is its ability to take an organisation from where it is now, chart a clear route to where it needs to be, and work across the entire landscape to get there. And it’s not just about technology. “Technology is only part of the puzzle,” King says. “True step-change and future-enablement requires cohesion across strategy, processes, people, technology, and data. Our passion is in helping organisations move towards their full potential by connecting these dots and making the change happen.” Success Story: Enabling a Step-Change for Rapid Market Growth One client, a global manufacturing firm, faced an enviable yet formidable challenge: massive market growth anticipated over the short to medium term. To seize this opportunity, the company needed a step-change across its entire end-to-end supply chain—from marketplace insight through strategic planning to operational fulfilment. The stakes were clear: meet surging demand or risk losing market share. Rapid growth required improved marketplace insights, long- and short-term capacity optimisation, production scaling, improved material provision, better resource utilization, and increased responsiveness to market demands via improved end-to-end operational cohesion—all while maintaining cost efficiency. Yet, the company’s existing processes and systems were not set up to handle such accelerated expansion. That’s where OutBACE came in. OutBACE rapidly developed a deep understanding of the organisation’s strategy, operations, and growth objectives. By developing a clear vision and specific targeted outcomes, re-engineering collaboration across all critical contributors—including technology vendors, business functions, process excellence and data teams— OutBACE developed a cohesive transformation roadmap and secured leadership buy-in. This strategy wasn’t just about technology upgrades. It addressed the full spectrum of supply chain components. People, Processes, Systems, and Data—every element had to be aligned to work in harmony. The result? The company significantly ramped up its supply chain capabilities, enabling it to meet surging market demand without compromising quality or efficiency. Beyond supporting its growth OutBACE Limited, a boutique consultancy, is redefining manufacturing and supply chain performance by enabling its clients to overcome modern industry challenges. As it wins the Southern Enterprise Awards' prestigious title, we explore how OutBACE transforms organisations with strong industrial heritage. Most Innovative Digital Transformation Consultancy 2024
targets, the client had now laid the foundation for sustained scalability and agility into the future. “We would not have done this without OutBACE,” said the client’s Operations Manager. “Their tenacity in understanding us—and their commitment to driving it through— has set us up for success.” “And it goes further than that.” King continues. “Imagine your CEO addressing a room full of major shareholders: ‘Yes, our industry is facing challenges, but here’s how we’re tackling them.’ Imagine their confidence increase as the CEO outlines each key component to an engaged and delighted audience.”. Now picture discussions with key customers who recognise your role in solving their challenges, bringing you further into their inner circle—with all the associated benefits.” This example highlights not only the importance of operational transformation but also the necessity of innovation. Innovation isn’t just about technology—it’s about applying it cohesively to achieve real business outcomes – whether that be top-line growth, cost reduction, competitive advantage or all of the above. Making Innovation Work for You OutBACE’s vision goes beyond solving today’s challenges. The consultancy helps organisations build the capabilities of a Responsive Organisation—one that can swiftly translate market signals into action – across the organisation’s key value chains. “Every piece of technology available to you is also available to your competitors,” says King. “The differentiator isn’t technology—it’s how you apply it to drive cohesive, business-wide outcomes. Emerging tools like AI, real-time analytics, and supply chain optimisers offer immense potential, but without the functions being able to use those new capabilities cohesively, they may deliver siloed gains but not improve the whole. At OutBACE, we ensure these tools work as part of an end to end cohesive approach, turning potential into meaningful results.” Passion and Drive What truly differentiates OutBACE is the team’s relentless passion for driving meaningful change. King emphasizes, “Our passion is helping clients see what’s possible—and making it a reality. We’re not just about delivering a service; we’re about transforming businesses. The demands on manufacturing and supply chain organisations are unrelenting. In today’s challenging landscape, with economic uncertainty and rising demands for rapid response, businesses must act decisively to stay ahead.” How OutBACE Drives Industry Transformation “The need—and opportunity—for transformative improvement has never been greater,” says King. “If your initiatives are falling short, it’s time to rethink your approach and act decisively to achieve the outcomes your business demands. So, step back and ask: is your approach truly cohesive? Are you confident you’ll achieve the outcomes you’ve invested in? If not – then it’s time to act.” “Organisations that understand and respond to moving goalposts better than the competition will recognise the value of that movement – it’s what lets them use their competitive advantage over those that can’t. Achieving this demands vision, intent, and clarity across every stakeholder and component. OutBACE is here to help you meet that challenge head-on.”. OutBACE’s tailored services—spanning advisory, turnaround management, and end-to-end programme delivery—are designed to help organisations not only recover lost ground but leap ahead. With its recent recognition as the Most Innovative Digital Transformation Consultancy 2024, OutBACE is poised to lead its clients towards a more efficient, responsive, competitionbeating future. Contact Details: Email: [email protected] Contact: Peter King Company: OutBACE Limited Web Address: https://outbace.com
SME News Southern Enterprise Awards 2024/ 12 Excellence in Domiciliary Care 2024 – Devon & Most Nurturing FamilyRun Care Company 2024 – Devon The domiciliary care sector has seen rapid growth in recent years, a rise driven by an increasing demand for in-home support. The No Place Like Home report from The Live-in Care Hub states that an astonishing 97% of individuals do not want to go into a care home if they fall ill or become less able to cope with their lifestyle. Instead, many now opt for live-in care services that enable them to retain their independence and receive treatment from the comfort of their own home. Below, we speak with Pauline McToal, Co-Owner and Manager of Southview Home Care, Devon’s leading provider of domiciliary care. Based in Holsworthy, Southview Home Care is a domiciliary care company delivering high quality services that protect and preserve the independence and dignity of its service users. The company lends its services to anybody over the age of 18, offering them personal care, medication, cooking, cleaning, and companionship services that enable them to maintain their routines and engage in the activities they love, whilst receiving the support that they need. Taking a holistic approach to providing care, Southview Home Care delivers solutions that address not only the physical needs of the client, but also their emotional and social well-being. From personal care and companionship to medication management and specialised support, Southview Home Care caters to a variety of abilities and illnesses. The company develops specialised care plans that are designed to adapt to the changing needs of each client, ensuring that they receive the correct level of support at all times. Southview Home Care was established by Co-Owner and Manager Pauline McToal, who kickstarted her career in care at the young age of 14. Completing her work experience in a care home whilst at school, Pauline fell in love with the industry. From there, she went to college to obtain her N.V.Q. 1 and 2 and took on part-time work to pay for her college books. Whilst in college, Pauline was exposed to many different aspects of care, such as cancer care, mental health, and care homes, before gaining her first experience in domiciliary care, where she found her true passion. “It has always been my dream to run my own care company, from a young age,” she recalls. “I started to give up on having my own company until the company I was working for decided to close down.” Pauline realised that she could open up her own care company, operating with love and care, and decided to share her plans with her husband. Together, they began to complete their registration for the CQC and establish an office, but unfortunately, time was not on their side. Pauline and her husband signed the contract for their office the very day that the UK went into lockdown for the COVID-19 pandemic and were forced to put their plans on hold for the time being. “I then failed my CQC assessment,” Pauline remembers, “which then gave me the determination to pass it the second time. It wasn’t easy, but it’s worth every tear and every grey hair I have gained since.” Shortly after, Pauline established Southview Home Care and has never looked back. She started the company based on her own personal experiences, having been responsible for a loved one in need of care. Pauline saw first-hand the unique challenges and worries that having such a responsibility brings. In addition to this understanding, Pauline was also exposed to what quality care should look like, and now strives to set this standard across the industry. “I started the company because I believe people deserve great care and love,” she tells us. “We always treat our service users with respect and love; the people we look after are somebody’s mother, father, brother, or sister – why shouldn’t we treat them like a family member?” As the Owner and Manager of Southview Home Care, Pauline juggles many responsibilities on a daily basis, but one of her favourite elements of the job is simply the happiness and gratitude she receives from her clients. “It is the best feeling in the world to know that we have helped someone to have a better life,” she says, “and to know that we have made somebody’s day, letting them live as independently as possible.” Of course, this attitude must be reflected across the entire team for Southview Home Care’s services to be successful. When hiring new employees, the company seeks those who share the same vision and passion for helping others, and those who will treat its service users with the utmost respect and care. By exclusively hiring like-minded individuals, Southview Home Care ensures both harmonious care services and a cohesive working environment for the entire team. “Some people think it’s all about personal care, but there is so much more to the job; it is passion, and it is love,” Pauline tells us. “It is knowing that we have achieved something special, knowing that we have made someone’s day and helped them to live a happier life. It is about holding someone’s hand whilst they pass away and supporting the family in their hour of need. So, when we employ someone, we look to see if they have the same values as us, would suit the people we look after, and if they would love the service users like we do.” As for the existing team at Southview Home Care, Pauline tells us that she is incredibly proud. Each member of the company pulls together every day to deliver top-tier home care services, overcoming obstacles and experiencing every emotion on their journey to facilitating independence for all clients. It is not an easy job, but the team excel in all that they do. “The staff know we are proud of them and that we have their backs,” Pauline states. “We are a family.” Such a positive working environment has certainly translated into productive, high quality services. Southview Home Care has received numerous five-star reviews and testimonials from clients past and present, praising the company for its professional, caring team and exceptional domiciliary care services. “Pauline, Mike, and the team gave me and my family so much support during a very difficult time,” writes Sue. “Their care, support, and thoughtfulness helped to make life more bearable for my dad and family. They gave dad his dignity and dealt with emotional needs, when sometimes my patience had run low. Wonderful people, thank you so much.”
“Southview Home Care has looked after my mum for over a year,” says K.W. “She was really struggling and found that the support and kindness of the careers really helped her through her cancer treatment. Mum found the carers to be helpful and really listened to what her needs were. Unfortunately, mum passed away but even after her death, the carers have stayed in contact and supported us as a family. Southview Home Care is a great company that really cares for not only their clients, but their families too. I would highly recommend this care company to anyone who needs support.” Looking ahead, Pauline tells us that Southview Home Care will be working on the expansion and enhancement of its services. “We would like to grow and open up more branches of Southview Home Care in different areas with more staff,” she divulges. “We would love to see our little company grow, and hopefully one of our children will take it on and grow it even further.” Such plans will enable Southview Home Care and the team to continue helping individuals on a broader scale, improving and enhancing the lives of many. Since its inception, Southview Home Care has successfully preserved the independence and dignity of its service users, establishing a name for itself as a leading provider of domiciliary care services. For its significant contributions, not only to its service users, but their families and the wider sector, Southview Home Care has been named the Most Nurturing Family-Run Care Company 2024, in addition to being awarded Excellence in Domiciliary Care 2024 – Devon. Contact: Pauline McToal Company: Southview Home Care Ltd Web Address: www.southviewhomecare.co.uk
SME News Southern Enterprise Awards 2024/ 14 Although pet waste removal may not be the most glamourous industry in the world, it is a service that millions of pet owners indirectly rely on every day, not to mention the likes of businesses and councils that provide services or spaces relating to our furry friends and require these sorts of solutions to streamline their operations and comply with local law. This is where the aptly named Pet Waste Solutions comes in, as a growing company with a number of depots in the South and across the UK, which allow it to operate efficiently and effectively in almost every corner. Be it removal from a business, an event, or disposing of the contents of dog waste bins in parks and other outdoor spaces – Pet Waste Solutions has the means to quickly and successfully eradicate offensive pet waste. Having spent almost five years as a fully-fledged limited company, with Director Tony Guillen sitting atop a decade of prior experience as a sole trader, the growth this business has undergone in a short amount of time has seen it today partner with an array of national councils, NHS trusts, and environmental agencies, as well has a host of private businesses spanning dog kennels to catteries. Running the business along with his partner, Tanya, and more than ten employees, Tony is exceptionally proud of the growth the team have experienced over the past five years, which has been made all the more difficult by the likes of the COVID-19 pandemic, the costof-living crisis, and other such factors that have had a considerable impact on small businesses across the UK. Nevertheless, by remaining agile, dependable, and operating a budget-friendly service, Pet Waste Solutions has become the leading businesses of this variety – capable of handling every need of a diverse client base up and down the UK. There are a number of reasons why Pet Waste Solutions is the go-to service provider for many, first and foremost being that it pledges to cover events, spaces, and businesses of all shapes and sizes, removing a customer’s worry about whether or not they qualify for the company’s signature brand of pet waste management and removal solutions – because they almost always will. Underpinning this is the fact that, aside from the more traditional clients discussed above, Tanya, Tony, and the team also operate in some more unusual settings, carrying out services on behalf of housing associations, schools, and even parish councils. Not only do the team here dispose of pet waste, but they also help their clients anticipate it, supplying, installing, and then – of course – emptying dog waste bins for events, be it a local dog show, a county fair, or even a pet-friendly music festival. When it comes to services in this area, Pet Waste Solutions takes immense pride in sourcing only the best bins, bag dispensers, and other such equipment that the market has to offer, all at a reasonable price and in a range of colours, styles, and combinations. It’s a small touch – but it reflects the drive of this business to constantly improve both its products and services. Other examples of how Tanya, Tony, and co. have achieved this ultimate aim of selfimprovement over the past few years include designing and implementing their own transport bins, with all of these being fitted with a robust lock-seal lid so that smell is minimised during the collection and transportation processes – something that is both thoughtful and beneficial to the local communities in which it operates. Beyond this, finding the most effective and eco-friendly waste disposal solutions has been another primary aim for the company, which likes to know that it is always being the best possible version of itself. Moreover, since Pet Waste Solutions has a waste carrier licence, public liability insurance up to the amount of £5 million, a keen willingness to share its risk assessment management statements, and is approved by SafeContractor, it is able to tick all of a client’s legal and ethical boxes with ease. Additionally, the flexible nature of the service provided sees the team here able to cater to changing requests with no questions asked, so whether it’s for more collections during the summer or to trial one or more of the products mentioned above, customers need only ask to receive this team’s consistently excellent customer service. Following on from this, Pet Waste Solutions’ standout nature has been noted by many. For example, an article on British Dog Fields’ website (https://britishdogfields.com/) – a company specialising in all things related to dog fields across the UK for owners and customers alike – called Pet Waste Solutions, “by far the most cost effective, reliable, and widespread provider” when it comes to pet waste removal. British Dog Fields particularly enjoys the low prices this provider charges, as well as the fact that Pet Waste Solutions provides both a 140-litre wheelie bin and a smaller 32-litre caddy for clients’ fields. Just like across the other areas that it services, collection from dog fields by Pet Waste Solutions usually starts at around £95 plus VAT per time. Considering this works at approximately £7 a day for a field that is busy, it is a minimal cost to solve what will, according to British Dog Fields, be the single most discussed topic from day one of a field opening its gates to the public. There are many reasons why it is a wise investment for dog field owners to have a professional waste collection firm, and those who wish to know more about this, or dog fields in general, should check out the company website listed above. Ultimately, the aforementioned article from British Dog Fields puts it best when it says: “Tony and his team really understand dog poo!” This may seem like an unusual compliment, but it is this knowledge that has resulted in Pet Best Enterprise Pet Waste Removal Service 2024
www.sme-news.co.ukRkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTY1MjM3