Case Studies
An Essex Innovation Programmes Case Study
Date: 14 January 2008
Jon Lidbury started up his IT based business, Configure One Europe Ltd, with the help and backing of the Essex Innovation Network’s New Ideas Programme. Using start-up office space at the Essex Technology and Innovation Centre in Ongar, the foundations for a successful business were laid and the company has already made a huge achievement by winning its first contract with BT in Spain.
John Lidbury said ‘Our Involvement with Essex Innovation Network came from a colleague who had been to a seminar in Chelmsford and we were talking about the potential of this business when he told me about the organisation. We arranged a meeting, and as a result were accepted on the New Ideas Programme in December 2006. Since then they’ve given us support in the shape of advice, introductions and obviously the office space, which has been a great help. We’ve received lots of great advice on how we can grow the business and take it forward. Everyone within the Essex Innovation Network and at ExDRA, which manages the centre, has been excellent.
We’ve had lots of good interest, and we hope to move forward and expand the company in the near future. We’ve got two staff at the moment, and we’ll be looking to take on more as things continue to take off.’
