Exeter City Council - Case studies
Case Studies for Exeter City Council
Eclipse Internet
Award-winning Eclipse Internet was established in 1995 and is one of the UK's longest established Internet Service Providers. Now part of Kingston Communications, the company continues to be based in Exeter where it is a major employer with over 100 employees. The company provides a full range of Internet services to companies throughout the South West and the remainder of the UK.
Exeter provides an ideal base for our organisation due to its central location and ease of access. Many members of staff are able to walk or cycle to work whilst others commute in by car or train.
Whilst making the most of the latest technology, we also concentrate on the essential basics such as reliable equipment, in-house knowledge and sturdy, fast connections. Eclipse is now a national ISP, but we remain dedicated to our customers here in the South West. Both our equipment and the majority of our staff are located in our offices in the centre of Exeter. We continue to provide a 'local feel' to our customers in Devon and as a result we have been able to build relationships with other IT companies and organisations based locally, which in turn leads to a sharing of knowledge and skills.
Being in Exeter, we are in a perfect position to provide fast, effective support to our customers as and when required.
Our staff levels continue to grow at a steady pace and we are rapidly outgrowing our present offices. We remain committed to staying in Exeter and expect to do so. Skill levels are high and company loyalty even higher. We have maintained a spectacularly low turnover of staff which means that our team continues to become more highly skilled as time progresses.
Handelsbanken
I am delighted to welcome you to Handelsbanken Exeter. We have now taken a lease of an office in Southernhay Court , in the centre of the local professional community.
The long-term investment we are making in Exeter reflects my belief that the city is very much a place to do business and has a great future."
A word from Tim Wilkinson - UK Product Co-ordination - Handelsbanken
Jardine Lloyd Thompson
Jardine Lloyd Thompson has established an office in Rosemoor Court, Pynes Hill, Exeter. The principle services offered from this office include pension scheme administration, actuarial support and consulting services.
Various aspects about Exeter were attractive to Jardine Lloyd Thompson and these include principally the following items:
Quality of staff - The quality of people employed in the area has been exceptional and continues to be so.
Location - Jardine Lloyd Thompson view Exeter as a gateway to the South West of England where many businesses can benefit from the services that can be offered.
Communication - links with the rest of the UK are excellent with London being 2 hours away by direct train, and other parts of the country being made more and more accessible through the expansion of Exeter airport.
Jardine Lloyd Thompson is committed to the Exeter area and will be seeking to enhance its own profile over the coming years as a committed business partner of Exeter.
Met Office
"Exeter is a great location for the Met Office headquarters , with good transport links by road, rail and air making it easily accessible from other parts of the UK and overseas . Since locating here from the Southeast of England in 2003 we have seen genuine benefits in terms of operating costs, staff recruitment and retention, supportive relationships with the city and county authorities and excellent links with the University and college." Rob Varley Operations and Services Director, Met Office
"During 2003, the Met Office relocated to Exeter in a project that was on schedule and on budget and the reception we received from the local community played an important part in the successful move. I'm convinced the decision to move to Exeter was the right one. It has been good for our business, our customers and our staff and families." Alan Douglas, Relocation Director
"Our staff have been really happy with the move to Exeter. It is a beautiful location and my colleagues have found the people to be extremely welcoming. This friendliness along with the support of local councils and the business community, was one of the factors which attracted us to Exeter in the first place." Graham Cooper, Head of Human Relations
MSM Software
Computer software development and support company MSM Software relocated its headquarters to Exeter in July 2006 following an increase in demand for its services.
MSM, which stands for Management Systems Modelling, was previously based in Totnes but founder Thomas Coles chose Exeter because of its accessibility, skilled workforce and help received from the city council in identifying suitable premises on the Matford Business Park.
MSM was established in 1998, designing bespoke computer software packages for clients including, the National Trust, the NHS, TNT and Teletext. The company also has a sales office in London and recently opened one in Bristol. Its turnover increased 20 per cent last year and is forecast to be up 17 per cent this year.
"Well done Exeter City Council for being pro-active!"
Thomas Coles, Managing Director, MSM software
Stovax Group
We hereby list the major advantages for our group being based in Exeter.
The Stovax Group encompasses 3 companies engaged in the production and distribution of ceramic tiles and domestic heating appliances.
We employ 230 full time staff along with 80 outworkers; sourcing component and dispatching finished products to over 50 countries worldwide.
The benefits of continuing to invest and growing our group in Exeter include:
a) An excellent resource of local skilled and semi-skilled labour, particularly with regard to language and higher education skills; where Exeter has developed as a centre of educational excellence.
b) On-going supply of available space from advance land allocation planning by the local council and buildings from property developers.
c) Excellent communications link-up, both electronically (now enhanced by Exeter being situated in "Silicon Bay"), and by the old traditional requirements of road, rail and air routes.
d) Where necessary we have always been able to recruit and relocate skilled staff; as Exeter is regularly voted the "best quality of life/environment centre in the 100,000 - 250,000 population category in the UK.
e) Exeter also provides the base for most service-orientated companies operating in the Devon area; providing a fast supply of support into our group.
This list is not exclusive!
Guy Brook, Group Managing Director, Stovax Holdings Limited
