Birmingham Software Business Expands with Help from NatWest and the EFG
A successful Birmingham based supplier of Customer Relationship Management Software (CRM) has accelerated its expansion plans after taking advantage of the Government backed Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme (EFG) and in doing so has been able to announce a partnership with the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) to enhance their membership communications and customer service through the implementation of a new CRM marketing, membership and education management solution.
ProTech Computer Systems Ltd which is headquartered in Great Barr was formed in 1995 by Managing Director Mark Trouth and is well established as an independent specialist supplier of CRM Solutions to the not for profit and education sectors.
The company has built up unrivalled expertise and an impressive installed base of clients that includes the Institute of Charted Accountant in England and Wales, The Royal British Legion and the Liberal Democrats'. It currently provides employment for 28 people and is looking at increasing this by 30% in the short term.
To build on their success, the Company have been looking to expand their market share in the CRM market using their Pro-8 system and approached NatWest Business and Commercial Banking to discuss a financial package which could be tailored to meet their expansion needs. Through NatWest, ProTech were introduced to the EFG.
The Government-backed EFG Scheme aims to ensure that smaller businesses have the necessary working capital or investment finance in place to help them through the difficult economic climate. Under the scheme the government will guarantee 75% of any loans made.
With the NatWest supported financial package in place, ProTech has been able to expand and successfully compete against national and international companies for large CRM contracts. This expansion - which will lead to the company's work force increasing to around 36 people.
Mark Trouth, managing director of ProTech, said: "ProTech is a very forward thinking business and we have established ourselves as a specialist supplier of Customer Relationship Management software to the not for profit and education sectors. We are delighted with how our current expansion plans, supported by NatWest and the EFG, have gone and to have been chosen to supply our latest generation of the Pro-8 suite of applications to the CMI. We have worked closely with CMI's team to produce a detailed solution that will bring significant business improvements to their organisation. We see this as a clear indication of the real power and sophistication of this latest version of the Pro suite; Pro-8".
Ruth Spellman, chief executive of CMI, says: "With more than 86,000 members, how CMI develops effective customer relationships is critical, especially if we are to maintain our current trend of membership growth. We wanted to find a solution that, in one go, provides appropriate levels of information and enables CMI to improve customer service levels. In ProTech we have a found a partner that truly puts the needs of the customer first."
Matthew Hart, Senior Relationship manager for NatWest in Birmingham, said: "ProTech are a long standing customer of the bank, and it is great to see the way they are growing and gaining new business. Mark and his team are very focused on developing the business and I was delighted to put in place a financial package, using the EFG, tailored to meet the Company's needs. ProTech are very forward thinking and I am sure the partnership with CMI will be the first of many."
Matt added: "To date NatWest and RBS have led the field in taking applications for the Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme, with over £417 million worth of loans already agreed or in the pipeline. Recent BIS figures also confirm that of all EFG lending across the industry, NatWest and RBS have provided nearly half of all loans drawn down."