Simon Rickett - Entrepreneur & Online Marketeer

I am delighted to announce that Activ have reached the finals of the Fast Growth business awards 2010 in the ‘Young Entrepreneur of the Year’ category.

I would like to congratulate Simon, my Co-Director, who has reached the shortlist (of 3) and hope he goes on to win this well-deserved award.

This is a fantastic achievement as these awards are national and well recognised in the business world. I am delighted we have reached this stage as it demonstrates all the hard work everyone is doing here is finally being recognised. I am very proud to be a Director of Activ.

Simon deserves to be shortlisted and in my opinion deserves to win, he is extremely determined, passionate about what he does and is one of the most astute businessmen I have ever met (and I am proud of what he has achieved). Simon is also a very good friend of mine and I wish him all the luck for the awards ceremony on 14th April, I will be there to support you! (Don’t forget to mention your co-Director in your speech lol)

Young, expanding online business Activ have reached the shortlist in the prestigious Leicestershire Business Awards 2010.

Activ, based in Leicestershire, are in the final three of the Awards’ New Business category which is sponsored by Leicester law firm Harvey Ingram LLP.

Founded by co-directors Dillon Boivin and Simon Rickett Activ have gone from strength to strength in a remarkably short period of time and now employs 25 people at its head office.

At a time when jobs are hard to find Activ continue to recruit. Specialist jobs in marketing will be available shortly.

Dillon Boivin said he was delighted Activ had made the shortlist  and was in with a good chance of securing an accolade in what have become Leicestershire’s premier business awards.

He added: “The Leicestershire Business Awards are very well respected among the East Midlands’ business community so it’s quite an achievement to be shortlisted, I am really pleased with our achievements and also want to congratulate our staff who work hard and deserve as much recognition as anyone in this achievement.

These awards always attract many high quality entries and it’s gratifying to have been recognised at this level.”

Taking on an Activ Web Design franchise (one of the fastest-growing web design companies in the UK, of which Dillon is a Director) has enabled a husband and wife team to realise a long-held ambition of working together in their own IT-based business.

Cecilia and John Holden, who have between them more than 45 years’ experience in IT, acquired their franchise in July 2008 and now operate seven post code areas across Bedfordshire.
And for Cecilia, who used to work for a large international investment bank in the City, the decision has improved her life beyond all recognition.

She said: “My job used to entail a three and a half hour commute as well as travelling backwards and forwards to New York every few weeks. This may sound glamorous but the novelty soon wears off and despite being well paid in my old job, I am a million times happier since I decided to give it up and take on the Activ franchise with John.”

With help and guidance from Simon Rickett and Dillon Boivin at Activ, the couple have now secured post code areas SG 15, 16, 17 and 19 as well as MK 40, 42 and 44 and are working hard to … continue reading article.

A long career in sales coupled with years of experience in the construction industry is proving invaluable to one of Dillon’s Activ Web Design franchisees, John Elwell.

John, who has run the franchise on the Isle of Wight since July last year – and acquired an Activ UK franchise in February –, is discovering that both ventures have vast potential.

Working with wife Judith, who has a background in IT, the couple have seen their two franchises flourish and believe Activ offers some of the best franchising opportunities on the market.

John, who is 53, said: “With regard to Activ Web Design, I am finding that following  the recession  many businesses are at last waking up to the benefits of  on-line marketing and now view having  their own site as an investment rather than a cost.

“In fact in recent months I’ve developed more e-commerce websites than standard ones as small retailers look at alternative ways to sell their goods and become more competitive.”

So far John has either completed or is in the process of developing sites for 30 businesses, with clients ranging from an art gallery and emporium to a building firm and fashion boutique.

And his knowledge and understanding of the island’s construction … continue reading article.

Many business advisors will tell you it can take 3 years to get your business making a profit, well my businesses have never failed to achieve profit in the first year of operation, several times achieving six figure net profits from a standing start.

Mark Rouvray, one of our Activ Web Design entrepreneurs, has followed our proven business model, training and advice and is achieving business success in no time at all!

It is not quite a year since former British Airways human resources senior manager Mark Rouvray bought an Activ Web Design franchise but in that relatively short space of time business has really taken off.

Mark, who spent 14 years in management with BA – and, before that, 10 years with British Gas – has amassed a wealth of experience and knowledge during his long career with major plcs.

But, when the opportunity came to take voluntary redundancy, he decided to change direction and invest in an Activ franchise.

Mark, who is 46 and holds an MBA in IT management as well as a BSc Hons degree in operational research, wanted a franchise which had an IT element – but more importantly, put … continue reading article.

Networking works!

One of the big things I tell all entrepreneurs is to NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK.

Networking is a key fundamental to achieving success with any fledling business, be it a new start-up or a franchise like Activ Web Design

Jackie Ogle, one of our successful Activ franchisees, talks about her experiences below:

As a former computer programmer working for merchant banks, Jackie Ogle was keen to find a franchise opportunity which complemented her existing IT skills before committing to franchising.

And, after looking for about three years and finding nothing which appealed to her, she happened upon franchise business Activ Web Design while searching the internet.

Jackie, who is based in London, launched her Activ franchise in February and now has territories in postcodes W4, W5 and W13 as well as recently acquiring post codes W7 and NW10.

She said: “I had always been used to working for major plcs but took a four year break to look after my children.

“Rather than go back to working for a large business I wanted to find an alternative way of using my IT skills and experience and to essentially work for myself.

“As it’s an IT-based venture, … continue reading article.