Configure One

INVEST Essex - Essex's Inward Investment Team

Jon Lidbury started up his IT based business, Configure One Europe Ltd, with the help and backing of the Essex Innovation Network’s (EIN) 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.

Configure One’s product configurator is designed for use by manufacturing companies that produce products that are highly configurable or are routinely customised to meet the unique needs of the manufacturer’s customers. It dramatically reduces the time it takes to go from a customer’s initial request for a quote to when the product is actually shipped. As a result of being accepted onto the New Ideas Programme Jon has received invaluable business advice from one of the programme’s specialist mentors and been introduced to lots of useful local government contacts.

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.

Our involvement with Essex Innovation Network came from a colleague who had 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.

To find out more about Configure One contact:
Jon Lidbury
Tel: 01277 368244

For more information about the Essex Technology & Innovation Centre and support available through the EIN programmes contact:
Sarah Bell
Tel: 01245 702465
Email:
Website: http://www.essexinnovation.co.uk