CSRB - Happy 4th CSRB Birthday to our key supporters!

The sun is shining brightly over Manchester today, my adopted home since the pandemic started in 2020, and shining very brightly around CSRB Towers as we celebrate our 4th birthday today & have a very exciting announcement to make (more on that below)!

CSRB has come a long way since that registration with Companies House in Cardiff in March 2017. Wind forward to March 2nd, 2021 and we have just updated our workflow diary and prospects for the end of the financial year (20 business days to go) and it looks like being our best month on record for profitability (that dirty word we Brits don't like talking about) and our best financial year on record. This would indeed be a remarkable effort by all concerned this month/year, based on what we have had to go through as a world, as a nation, as a people, and as communities in 2020-2021.

If ever there was time to celebrate success - a 4th birthday I think is it!!!

However, I do not want to spend this article back-slapping, we can do this behind socially distanced doors. I wanted to take this opportunity to thank and introduce you to some people who have been with us from Day One of trading in 2017. These people are the real successes behind CSRB.

It has taken me 18 months of self-reflection, as I turned 40, to realise we simply do not celebrate the contribution of others as much as we all should, as we often find it easier to a) criticise or b) simply do nothing. I have made a concerted effort since last summer to change, to support others more, to volunteer, to give back - to be a more rounded person (whilst losing 2st in weight - there's an image & metaphor!).

The first person on my list is Paul Neck of Business Doctors. Paul has been my business coach since day one, a trusted person I could always turn to, a person who has always challenged me and helped me build the next stepping stone. Paul will hate me writing this, but he has been the foundation for all CSRB's successes and the person that helped me always keep sight of the light at the end of the often very long tunnel. Business Coach is a word that does not do him justice, he offers much more than that. I also know he will have me censored if I say too many nice things about him, as both our awkwardness levels will max out! Thank you for guiding CSRB into our 5th year and the future looks as bright as the Manchester skyline above! If anyone just simply wants to change something in their business, get in contact with me, and I will facilitate an introduction to Paul. In his own words, "he may or may not be able to help!"

The 2nd person is Miles Kitching of Techvolution Limited. Miles supported my vision for CSRB from the very first moment we sat down for a coffee. His products and services are still the lifeblood of CSRB today. Our CRM is the brilliant Neetrix product, to which Miles is an authorised reseller. He is also an excellent trainer, ensuring his clients get the best return possible on their investment, by teaching you how to use all the features Neetrix has at its disposal. Techvolution also provides a 24/7 365 day telephone messaging services for CSRB, ensuring we never miss a call and there is always someone on the end of the phone. After all what's special about talking to a voicemail? Not to mention the provision of our VoIP landlines. Miles is also one of the most caring, honest, and trustworthy people I know and it is always a pleasure when we can meet away from our businesses and share our passion for attending 'live' music and stand-up comedy (when you can obviously)! If you only have a mobile number and do not want to miss any calls then get in touch with me for an introduction.

The 3rd person is Richard Burden of Nexcen Limited, who is an IT specialist, based in Gloucestershire. Richard has supported CSRB from day one, whether it be Office365, domain support, backup services, antivirus & protection, password protection, or software/hardware provision. Always available, always dealt with efficiently, and always there. Not to mention superb patience when my IT knowledge barely scratches the surface for the nth time! If you run a business in the Bristol/South Glos area with up to 20 employees then Nexcen needs to be your IT provider of choice. Message me for an introduction.

Last and by no means least is someone who has been at the forefront of everything visual for CSRB, Mike Gerrish of Carn Gerrish Creative. From logo design to marketing materials to social media adverts to the company website Mike has been our graphic designer and web developer of choice, with over 30 years experience in graphic design, which shows in every piece of work he completes for us. Mike is the visual part of brand CSRB, which is needed as even my stick men drawings leave a lot to be desired! Mike has since become a true friend, whom I run a lot of things by, and always value his considered opinion. If you are looking to make a mark with some engaging content off the back of a brand audit, that should have been completed by Philippa Haynes of Insight 101 (who would have a bigger mention here if the theme was not 'CSRB from the beginning'), then get in touch with me, so as I can make an introduction to Mike Gerrish of Carn Gerrish Creative.

There are obviously many other people to thank from our shareholders, friends, family, suppliers, trusted partners, referral partners, and our clients. However, I wanted to salute the foundations of this four-year project, which is by no means finished just yet!

This leads me on to the big CSRB birthday announcement - CSRB has just signed the contract on the construction of a new Manchester-based office, which will be ready by the summer, and will also be the permanent base for B2B Networking Events Limited!

I will leave you with a gentle nudge to check your Privacy Notice, which also happens to be a piece of Mike's superb graphic design work, and please get in contact with any UK GDPR or data protection queries!

CSRB - Confidential Document Specialists