James Hawker CEO of Wolverton Mill based company Bluecube Technology Solutions along with Adam Balon, co-founder of Innocent Drinks shared their secrets for increasing sales and getting on top of cash flow at a national seminar programme hosted by Barclays bank.
Under the banner of Ignite Business Growth, Milton Keynes played host as one of ten locations nationally linked by satellite for an evening of discussion, debate and practical advice.
The assembled audience of local entrepreneurs learned through a Q&A session how Bluecube has managed to enjoy continuous growth since its formation nearly ten years ago whilst operating in a highly competitive market, providing cloud based solutions, business continuity, IT support, back-up and managed services.
“Knowing when money comes into the business is vital”, claimed James Hawker, “We undertake the normal credit checks as would most businesses but we ensure that our clients pay by direct debit to help us plan and forecast.”
“It is this forecasting which helps identify any issues, which can be resolved with our open and honest relationship with our bank.”
On the matter of increasing sales, how had the downturn affected the Milton Keynes based company?
“Yes it had been harder to grow than before as some of our clients have downsized or gone out of business. However, unlike some of our competitors who have cut back, we have invested in the business, attaining ISO accreditation and up skilling our teams to ensure our clients continue to receive outstanding service.”
“The affect of this has been twofold. Not only have we gained clients from our competitors, who have been cutting back, but we have been introduced to more clients from our existing customer base because of the quality of our service.”
So what top tips would James leave with the business audience?
“Go for growth by making the most of the opportunities that present themselves and crucially, invest in a downturn.”





