Furniture, construction and technology – possibly three of the most troublesome areas when it comes to business waste and landfill, but there are solutions available and the team at Simply Business Services are determined to reduce their own, and their clients’ carbon footprints as much as possible.
The umbrella group, which includes Simply Techspace, Simply Workspace and Simply Commspace, provides a wide range of services to clients across this country and globally, from small independents through to large multinationals.
Simply Workspace and Simply Techspace began collaborating as sister companies just over two years ago to deliver a solution for clients looking for office furniture and fitouts, from reconfigurations and resizing to full office moves, as well as the software, hardware, installation, cabling and ongoing IT support needed to get them fully functioning as a business.
Right from the beginning, there was a focus on sustainability and a circular approach.
Within the Simply Workspace remit was the aim of reusing or repurposing as often as possible, as well as working with suppliers of environmentally friendly and sustainable new products.
Where Simply Techspace can, it refurbishes or reuses used devices, either for the client, or by making them fit for purpose for second-hand use through charities and community projects. The company also offers recycling services so that as little as possible ends up in landfill.
Jon Bautista, who founded Simply Workspace in 2018, said: “One of our key markets is the education sector, it accounts for around 25% for our work, and we have to be mindful that although schools have tight budgets and they are expected to spend money on maintaining and improving their premises and their tech systems, they don’t always have spare cash, so need to spend what they do have wisely. At the same time, they, like any other business, must be aware of their carbon footprint and want to be as environmentally friendly as possible.
“If we can help them make the most of what they’ve got and get the best value for money, and source items that are sustainable and ‘green’, then we’re helping them tick two major boxes.”
Earlier this year, Jon and fellow Director Matt Dann announced the formation of umbrella company Simply Business Services alongside the appointment of Jay Neal-Edlington as Group Development Manager. Jay’s role is to support future growth by ensuring new and existing clients are clear about the range of services available through the group of companies.
The group embraces its motto – Connect Support Grow – by not only collaborating with one another but bringing all their expertise together where clients most need it.
Last month, Simply Techspace won the Wilson Browne Spotlight Award at the NNBN Awards, and is shortlisted for the Innovative Business of the Year Award and the High Growth Business of the Year Award at the Chamber of Commerce’s Northamptonshire Business Awards,.
The company is also a finalist in the Business of the Year category at the Northamptonshire Business Excellence Awards, organised by All Things Business.
Matt Dann said: “From the start, we have worked together to provide complementary services to clients, giving them one point of contact for pretty much everything they need for their workplaces, technology and communication systems.
“We brought Jay in because we are always looking to be innovative and collaborative, and her job is to go out and talk to clients, and potential clients, and explain the potential benefits of working with us as three closely collaborating businesses – for the premises, the technology and the telecoms.
“There isn’t really anyone else doing what we do in this area, and we want to be innovative and not just provide excellent service but to be thinking about what’s best for our clients.
“An example of this is the current situation with Windows 10, which is coming to the end of its life. It’s going to be a big investment for a lot of organisations, particularly schools, to upgrade PCs and laptops for a new system. If we can help them do that in a way that is greener, through using refurbished devices rather than buying new, and in a way that is cost effective, then that’s how we want to operate.
“Everyone is feeling the pinch, and everyone has an eye on their carbon footprint and waste, right down through their supply chains. They want to know how sustainable items are and where they are going at the end of their useful life.
“We have a programme that sends unwanted laptops to charities working with developing countries, or on community schemes, and where devices can’t be repurposed, we recycle all the component parts and can sometimes, depending on volume and value, get the client some money back in return.”
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