30 November 2011
Press ReleasesHead in the cloud; feet firmly on the ground
Taylor Made has come a long way from the bedroom of its founder Nigel Taylor 17 years ago, as have the IT demands of its many customers.
One of the first things that strike you as you arrive at Taylor Made's Fareham offices is the fleet of smart navy blue vehicles all emblazoned with the Taylor Made logo and all parked facing outwards, ready to spring into action.
This attention to detail continues as you enter its open plan offices where all members of staff from Board of directors to IT engineers, wear Taylor Made branded clothing. And on speaking with Taylor Made's Commercial Director, Ian Lockwood, it is clear that this attention to detail extends to the way the firm supports its clients and its staff.
"The SME market has generally not been well served by IT providers," says Ian. "The focus has traditionally been on shifting 'tin boxes' and fixing problems. The IT market changes so quickly that this approach simply does not serve us, our staff and our customers anymore."
Taylor Made takes great pride in its strategic, partnership, approach with its customers - primarily SME businesses in Sussex, Hampshire and Dorset. Its 106 staff takes time to understand their customers' businesses, how they use IT and how this need might change over time.
"It is about identifying IT strategies that support the way a business works now and in the future," says Ian. "Only then can we make recommendations."
And it is the 'cloud' that is at the front of everyone's IT strategy, but this may not prove to be the panacea that customers are looking for.
The cloud does offer businesses and other organisations tremendous advantages, but these can also be achieved through a fully managed hosting solution,' as Ian explains. "It removes the need for significant investment in a lot of kit, such as servers. It also offers flexibility to up or down scale your IT requirements also instantaneously, with the customers only paying for what they use."
"Perhaps the greatest attraction for many businesses is that it allows staff to work from anywhere in the world, as long as there is an internet connection."
But the cloud is not without its problems and might not be a suitable route for every business. Data security is one obvious risk, as Ian explains: "With many cloud solutions a business simply does not know where its data sits - it could literally be anywhere in the world and that is a worry for many businesses."
Taylor Made tells its customers that "cloud is not a solution, but a journey". This journey involves identifying those parts of a customer's IT that can work in the cloud and those that are best retained on client premises.
Where cloud computing might offer cost savings for businesses, it has meant a significant capital investment for Taylor Made. The firm has invested heavily in its own data centre presence allowing it to offer its customers a hosted solution with all the benefits of the cloud and little of the risks.
Ian explains: "This has been a significant and ongoing investment for Taylor Made, but one we think necessary. It allows us to offer a secure hosted system for our customers wishing to take advantage of cloud computing, without many of the risks."
Taylor Made also makes considerable investment in its staff, offering salary sacrifice and benefit schemes, two 'duvet days' a year and a day off for Christmas shopping. "It is a struggle to find good people," says Ian, "but those who choose to work for us tend to stay for a long time."
The future is looking good for Taylor Made; the company is growing at a rate of 10 per cent a year and breaking into new markets, particularly IT projects for larger organisations. Taylor Made may not have its head in the cloud, but its future is looking very sunny indeed.
For more information on Taylor Made Computer Solutions visit www.tmcs.co.uk
James Cowper Kreston’s Alex Nicholson says...
Taylor Made is a fantastic example of how a well run business with a strong local reputation can flourish and continue to expand even in these difficult economic times.
Like many businesses, Taylor Made took a knock when the recession first hit but rather than simply look inward at cost cutting measures, the management focussed on opportunities to win new business. This has been achieved in part by successfully demonstrating to potential clients that outsourcing their IT solutions not only carries many tangible benefits, but can save them money too. A great message in a downturn!
Continued capital investment is rightly seen as a key part in the ongoing success of the business. This can be sensibly funded through asset backed finance and by making the most of the tax breaks available through capital allowances.
The success of any business is, of course, largely attributed to its staff. Visiting Taylor Made it is evident that the staff are both proud of the company and feel valued. Many factors need to be right to achieve this, and it is good to see that all staff are offered a flexible benefits package. The package, coupled with salary sacrifice arrangements, allows each staff member to choose the benefits they desire in a highly tax efficient manner.
Alex Nicholson is a Senior Manager at James Cowper Kreston. He can be reached by email: anicholson@jamescowper.co.uk
