Young, expanding web development business Activ has been shortlisted in the prestigious Leicestershire Business Awards 2010.
Activ, based near Enderby in Leicestershire, is in the final three of the Awards’ New Business category which is sponsored by Midlands law firm Harvey Ingram LLP.
This latest high profile achievement follows hot on the heels of Activ’s national success in the 2009 Nectar Business Awards Small Business Awards’ in which the company made the shortlist of the Start Up category.
Founded by co-directors Simon Rickett and Dillon Boivin in March 2008, Activ has gone from strength to strength in a remarkably short period of time and now employs 25 people at its head office.
At a time when jobs are hard to find Activ continue to recruit. Specialist jobs in marketing will be available shortly.
Simon Rickett said he was delighted Activ had made the shortlist of the New Business category and was in with a good chance of securing an accolade in what have become Leicestershire’s premier business awards.
He added: “The Leicestershire Business Awards are very well respected among the Leicestershire and East Midlands’ business community so it’s quite an achievement to be shortlisted.
These awards always attract many high quality entries and it’s gratifying to have reached this stage.”
Open to businesses founded within the past five years, the New Business award category is designed to encourage and reward young Leicestershire companies and organisations.
To be considered for an award, entrants must show that they have continued to progress their plans and developed a clear commercial understanding of their products, competitors and markets.
They must also demonstrate that they have set and achieved objectives within business plans while establishing a position of sustainable future profitability and success. The judges will also look at obstacles that have been overcome in managing the business including managerial and financial performance and potential future for growth.
Activ, which through its network of franchisees offers website design, online marketing and search engine optimization to small and medium sized businesses across the Britain and overseas, achieved turnover of £900,000 in its first year.
And with over 100 franchisees now operating in the UK, the business is now attracting licence holders in Spain, Ireland, France and Australia.
The business has also recently expanded into larger premises – taking a second office at Narborough Wood Business Park which has increased its total office space to 3,500 sq ft.
Dillon Boivin said response to Activ’s business model from both franchisees and small businesses looking for a cost effective and user-friendly website had been phenomenal.
He added: “Our strategy of recruiting franchisees form a business background rather than from an IT environment has been very well received.
“By putting together a simple jargon free web development package our franchise holders have secured business with literally hundreds of SMEs operating in sectors as diverse as retailing, childcare, sport, construction, plumbing, hotels and leisure.”
Now in their 17th year, the Leicestershire Business Awards culminate in a gala dinner at which the winners in all eight categories will be announced.
The event – a highlight of the Leicestershire business calendar – takes place on Friday April 23 at Leicester Tigers.
This year’s judges in the New Business category are Mairi Watson, a senior lecturer at De Montfort University Business School and John Astill, a corporate sales adviser with Oval Insurance Broking.
