30th October 2020 - As we approach the end of 2020, one of the most challenging years in living memory, I am sitting down to review the performance of BigChange in the third quarter of this financial year.
It is both a privilege and a responsibility to run a business that is capable of growth during a crisis like this. Economists this week have warned of an imminent double dip recession. I hope that that we will be able to continue to do our bit as a company to make a big change: creating jobs, driving economic productivity, and – most importantly – generating vital tax revenues for the nation.
Here’s a snapshot of the last three months at BigChange.
Stable growth despite a subdued trading environment
In the third quarter, revenues at BigChange climbed 30pc year-on –year, hitting £4.2m. This takes our revenues to date in 2020 to £12.5m - an incredible achievement and a testament to the hard work of all the team here at BigChange.
Our platform is helping customers of all sizes become more resilient and cost-effective during this crisis, and we have won an amazing 252 new clients so far this year. The new contract wins are valued at a total of £17.5m in 2020 alone.
During lockdown, we introduced several new features to help businesses thrive despite COVID-19. This has helped BigChange beat its 2019 upselling record, delivering even more value to existing customers.
Last year, between April and September, we won 98 new customers. During the same period this year, while battling the effects of an international pandemic, we added 147 new customers to the platform. I would like to thank all our customers, both old and new, for choosing BigChange, and for your support throughout this grim and testing year.
Customers enrol at BigChange University
We launched the BigChange University earlier this year and the online platform has been a huge success.
We have welcomed around 1,500 participants to our online sessions, sharing tips and insights about how to get the most out of the BigChange JobWatch System.
Over the past quarter, we have created modules about new features, worksheets and automation. I’m really excited to continue building this free resource for our customers. You can register for next month’s sessions Click here
Our commitment to innovation
At BigChange, we never stop talking to customers about the features they need to work even more efficiently. This is why I’m delighted to announce the launch of Tool Box Talk.
This feature has been added to the latest version of JobWatch, and is already helping thousands of mobile workers to instantly access the information they need to complete their jobs safely.
Tool Box Talk is a library for health and safety information. It was created to give users up-to-date guidance on vital topics, such as workplace hazards and safe work practices.
By typing simple questions or phrases into the app, users can access the information they need at the touch of a button, without having to search for the company manual or handling devices or paperwork.
This tool has already proven a huge timesaver for remote workers, and gives businesses the confidence that their specific rules and procedures are being followed to the letter as the app automatically registers when a user has consulted the document.
BigChange champions women in business
At BigChange, we are committed to supporting women into senior leadership positions. We are always looking for ways to improve our internal processes to ensure equal opportunities for all. This is why our Chief Operating Officer Jo Godsmark recently hosted a discussion with four senior female leaders from BigChange customer businesses. A huge thank you to this panel, who provided invaluable insights into how we can support the next generation of female leaders within BigChange.
As part of our pledge to champion women in industry, we are proud to say that our Motivational Monday series has welcomed two extraordinary women to talk to the team during the past three months. A huge thank you to Kelly Hoppen OBE and Gabby Logan OBE for sharing your stories with us. We loved having you.
Next month we’ll be talking to Ann Hiatt, the leadership strategist, former personal assistant to Amazon’s founder, and former Chief of Staff at Google.
Helping our customers to grow
I’m passionate about the potential for BigChange to help our customers grow their businesses. In the year to date, the number of companies sharing jobs with other BigChange customers and subcontractors through the BigChange Network increased by 75% compared to 2019, as more and more organisations in the service sector turned to collaboration to deliver services for their customers. Almost 400 companies across the UK are now working this way through BigChange, managing more than 12,000 jobs between them each month.
We love hearing how our technology is helping to solve problems and supercharge growth. Here are just a few testimonials from our happy clients:
Gas, heating and boiler engineering company Moorhouse Heating Limited introduced BigChange two years ago, and has since doubled turnover and tripled its field service engineering team without needing additional staff in the office. “Introducing BigChange was crucial to supporting our expansion into the commercial sector and nationally,” said Tim Moorhouse, Managing Director of MHL. “We needed to transform the way we worked, eliminating paperwork and automating using the best-in-market digital platform - something that would remove any barriers to expanding and winning new business.”
"Since rolling out the BigChange platform we have realised significant efficiency gains and operational improvements,” commented Sebastian Marshall, Chief Operating Officer at WhiffAway, the provider of waterless urinal technology and smart washroom solutions. “However, during the lockdown, and in the period since restrictions have eased, it has really come into its own. BigChange made mobile working, including working from home, easier and it has helped us diversify from a pure service operation into more of a distribution model. The system has also been crucial in helping us to meet a huge surge in demand as our clients return to the new normal."
“We’ve only just started to implement BigChange but already we can see it is going to have a big impact,” said says Stuart Murray, General Manager at outdoor lighting group CU Phosco Lighting. “We expect the system will give us an even stronger competitive advantage. Seeing the way BigChange are clearly leading the market and continually developing their product, we will be set up for many years ahead”.
Waste management firm Reconomy has partnered with BigChange to automate its supply chain. Reconomy’s Chief Information Officer, Jody Fullman, said: “This development with BigChange continues to demonstrate Reconomy’s commitment to digitally enabling its supply chain and providing our customers with the accurate, fast and dynamic data they rightly require.”
Award-winning innovation
I'd like to take a moment to celebrate how far we have come as a company, and to highlight the contribution the team has made to the technology industry. Here are some of the awards we have won in the last three months.
Ranked the 18th fastest-growing tech company in the Northern Tech Awards 2020
Ranked 68th in the Sunday Times Sage Tech Track 100 2020; our third consecutive appearance in this ranking
Finalist for the Great British Entrepreneur Award
Finalist in the Yorkshire Post Excellence in Business Awards 2020
Finalist in the IOD Director of the Year under the Innovation category for Yorkshire
Highly commended, alongside our client Sheffield City Council, in the Driving Efficiency Through Technology Awards, sponsored by Hitachi Solutions.
Thank you to all my colleagues at BigChange for your continued hard work and dedication, and to our customers and partners for your faith and friendship. Let's all continue to support each other over the coming winter.
