Q2 on the button for welfare reform

A SOLIHULL company has established an innovative joint initiative to support welfare reform across the UK.

Q2, based at the University of Warwick Science Park’s Blythe Valley Innovation Centre, works with organisations across the country to design and implement business change initiatives so companies can improve service delivery and save money.

The firm has established a working partnership with the Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation (IRRV) which will help collaborative working across local authority Revenues and Housing Benefits services.

The partnership will see the two organisations assist authorities in understanding how their future resource requirements will vary over time and allow them to compare their progress with each other using Q2’s QPredict Resource Modelling Service.

The partnership with the IRRV was signed at a launch event hosted at the University of Warwick Science Park’s Blythe Valley Innovation Centre.

Steve Taylor, managing director of Q2, said: “We’re delighted to have formalised this partnership with the IRRV.

“The collaboration will see us providing support to authorities across the UK, allowing them to benchmark their revenues and housing benefits services, regionally and nationally and by type of service delivery.”

BCC Platinum Group adds lustre to bosses

 
THE Black Country Chamber of Commerce is working with members of its Platinum Group to create an extensive programme of best practice and business support activities.

The programme is designed for senior directors, managers and team leaders, and enables them to share best practice and improve their business skills.

One of those taking part is Phoenix Calibration, a member of The Platinum Group, which specialises in materials testing technology.

Vicki Wilkes, managing director, Phoenix Calibration, said: “It was a great opportunity to be able to inform local manufacturers and businesses of the range and quality of innovative work we do here at Phoenix and to hear about the challenges they face – the only way the region will thrive and prosper, is if businesses work together to share knowledge and support the development of mutually beneficial technology.”

Sway getting into the swing of things

SOLIHULL-based professional services firm Sway Solutions is targeting further growth through 2016 following a successful first 12 months.

The company was set up last year by Gaynor Matthews, who spent 25 years advising business start-ups and small businesses about growth and internal procedures.

It was created to provide professional and outsourced business support to company directors and owner-mangers to enable them to concentrate on selling their products and services, rather than becoming too embroiled in the job.

Alongside Liz Henderson, who has 14 years HR experience in both blue-chip and professional service firms and Julia Hill, an experienced IT specialist in business analysis, programming and project management, the directors have seen the business move from strength to strength.

Following new business wins in 2015 including Totem Learning, Wambiz – the new online private social network and Forge SP, the firm has already expanded to handle its growth requirements.

Pictured from left are the directors of Sway Solutions, Julia Hill, Liz Henderson and Gaynor Matthews.