Wakefield-based
Group Rhodes has invested over £95,000 in a new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system to enhance customer communication and meet its future growth aspirations. The company received a High Impact Grant for one third of the amount from
Digital Enterprise, a programme funded by the Government through the
UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), which supports businesses from a wide range of sectors across West Yorkshire to invest in technology. The funding has also been put towards a new IT server for the group.
To receive the grant, the original equipment manufacturer for the metalforming, composite forming and heavy ceramic sectors, had to demonstrate that the investment would result in business growth and the creation of new jobs in the area. As a direct result of the investment, Group Rhodes has appointed a data analyst, a continuous improvement manager as well as a new service engineer for its Rhodes Interform division. The CRM system has been implemented across the entire Group, which includes Craven Fawcett, Rhodes Interform, Hallamshire Engineering Services, and BJD Crushers.
Group Rhodes’ CEO Mark Ridgway said: “We have experienced a significant growth in new orders over the last six months, which has seriously boosted our order book. It was essential that we had a new CRM system to enable us to communicate more effectively with this expanding customer base.”
“We were delighted to secure a Digital Enterprise High Impact Grant towards the cost. The CRM system has enabled us to personalise our communications with customers more effectively and our sales team are responding more quickly and effectively to enquiries across a wide range of channels. Combined with the server upgrade, this means we have strong foundations for scalability, future-proofing and business continuity planning.”
Clear vision for growthDigital Enterprise’s programme manager Suzanne Bradbury said: “When Group Rhodes applied to Digital Enterprise it had a clear vision for growth and improving customer communications that was underpinned by investing in technology. We are thrilled to have supported Group Rhodes with one of our High Impact Grants and to see the significant impact the investment is having. This is precisely the effect we aim to achieve through the programme – empowering West Yorkshire businesses to embrace and adopt digital to fuel sustainable growth.”
As part of its strategic growth plans and expansion over the past six months, particularly within the manufacturing and machining divisions of Rhodes Interform, BJD Crushers, and Craven Fawcett, Group Rhodes continues to demonstrate its upward momentum with this investment, and has plans to create more jobs in the coming months.
Group Rhodes manufactures and markets its ‘state of the art’ machinery from its factory in West Yorkshire, which it sells to both the UK and global markets. The Group has extensive capabilities including the design, development and manufacture of bespoke equipment and the provision of complete turnkey solutions.
Group companies BJD Crushers, Craven Fawcett and Hallamshire Engineering Services manufacture machinery and spare parts for the aggregates, heavy clay and material handling sectors, whereas Rhodes Interform focuses on the design and manufacture of machinery to serve the advanced metal and composite forming industries, with a particular focus on the aerospace sector.
From its early days in 1824 when Joseph Rhodes opened his first machine workshop in Wakefield, to Group Rhodes today supplying machinery equipment solutions to manufacturers throughout the world, the company has shown both resilience and adaptability. It has also been a recipient of Queen’s Awards for Enterprise in both the innovation and international sales categories.