Medical Services North East Ltd receives the perfect tonic
Published 01/08/2009
FSB member business, Medical Services (North East) Limited has recently been awarded the 'Small Business of The Year Award 2009 hosted at the Ramside Hall hotel by Durham FM and Sun FM. The company which was started seven years ago and provide all types of Health and Safety Training and operate a Private Ambulance Service across the North East is owned by Wayne and Joanne Hall of Newton Aycliffe. Despite the slowdown in the economy this is not affecting business and Wayne comments "Over the past few years we have achieved a number of awards and business is booming, but the Small Business of the Year Award has been the icing on the cake. Despite the first few years been really tough, we have gradually built up a fantastic team who share our passion for providing first class patient care. We knew we were making a difference to people's lives and decided we had to make it work and give it everything we had, we don't just want to meet standards we want to exceed expectations." In January 2008, the company took part in the Fastest 50 programme for high performing individuals and businesses. The year long programme comprised six one-day seminars with leading experts on key business areas and the services of a mentor working with the business for a year. The mentors were chosen carefully to take the businesses to their next level of growth. Wayne comments "ft was one of the best things I have ever done. When you first start up in business there is a lot of help but when you are a few years in, you are left to get on with it, you learn what you don't know to begin with and the Fastest 50 helps fill in the gaps and gives you the knowledge and confidence to grow the business further" The results of the Fastest 50 expertise combined with Wayne and Joanne's hard work have been astonishing. In the last two financial years business rose by 93%, smashing the 3 year target they had originally set themselves. This financial year, in their first six months, they are 530/ci up on the previous year already, easily beating their three year goal for doubling the business. Medical Services (North East) limited now work with seven Primary Care Trusts and operate from all the major hospitals in the region. The future looks bright for the business. Unlike other ambulance providers which require longer notice, their ambulances can be booked anytime. They are often cheaper to operate, especially for long distances and their levels of staff training and customer care are second to none for patient transport. "Now is a tough time for many businesses," notes Wayne, "and it can get you really down when you are working so hard and not seeing any reward at all. But our experience shows that you can turn things around and there is help out there. We are so glad now we didn't walk away from it all. Turning this business around has taken a lot of hard work but it's been one of the best things we've ever done."
