Group Rhodes, the Wakefield-based original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for the metalforming, composite forming and heavy ceramic sectors, has invested over £95k in a new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system to enable it 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 UK 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, Group Rhodes 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, including its business units; Craven Fawcett, Rhodes Interform, Hallamshire Engineering Services, and BJD Crushers.
Mark Ridgway, CEO of Group Rhodes, explains: “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 our growing customer base.”
“We were delighted to secure a Digital Enterprise High Impact Grant. 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. The CRM system, combined with the server upgrade, means we have strong foundations for scalability, future proofing and business continuity planning.”
Suzanne Bradbury, Programme Manager of Digital Enterprise, comments: “When Group Rhodes applied to Digital Enterprise, they 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 company 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. Its sovereign capability has been previously recognised by Queen’s Awards for Enterprise in both the Innovation and International Sales categories.
