Springboard Innovation Centre

The Springboard Innovation Centre in Cwmbran will experience its first major graduation in the New Year. A business which moved there just 19 months ago with three employees, has seen its staff number increase by 500% to 15. Quote Exchange (www.quoteexchange.co.uk), took advantage of the on-site support in the Springboard Centre, and the opportunities to move to a bigger office within the centre as the business grew.

Now Quote Exchange is getting ready to say goodbye to the Springboard Centre as it moves to a bigger unit and creates 70 new jobs.

The business specialises in design and development of comparison websites for insurance brands, such as Lloyds TSB, Endsleigh, Quinn Direct and Kwik Fit Insurance Services. The company moved into 215 sq ft office at the Springboard in August 2006 with three employees and has grown into a 1100 sq ft office with 15 employees.

Since it opened in April 2006, Quote Exchange has achieved business growth of over 500% and, along with its sister company, InsureYourMotor.com (currently based in Cardiff) is moving to new premises in Cwmbran in the New Year.

Quote Exchange is moving to a unit on Llantarnam Park and expanding its operation in technical development and call centre activities.

The company will be training new employees at Springboard to be ready for the move. Quote exchange is looking at a recruitment drive to achieve its growth plans and wants to have around 70 staff employed by April next year.

The Springboard Innovation Centre provides incubation space for high-growth knowledge based companies and is a joint venture development between Torfaen County Borough Council and the Welsh Assembly Government.

Torfaen Councillor Neil Lewis, Executive Member for Regeneration, said: “We are delighted with the progression that Quote Exchange has made since their arrival at the Springboard 15 months ago. They are an excellent example of how business incubation works.

”A lot of their success is down to the Springboard’s dynamic culture and flexible structure which has given it on-site support and advice from our staff, along with extra space to grow. It is great news that they have decided to stay in Torfaen with their move to larger premises. It demonstrates that the partnership working along with a clear vision can deliver results to benefit everyone."

Quote Exchange and InsureYourMotor.com are now looking to fill job vacancies.

Sarah Harlow, InsureYourMotor’s Human Resources Director, said: “All of the new jobs will especially suit anyone looking for work on a part-time or flexible basis, for example, parents or carers of young children. Full training will be provided so call centre experience is not required.”

Interviews will be take place throughout December, with jobs starting in January 2008.

For more information call Philip Brown on 08700 278832 or visit www.quoteexchange.co.uk/careers or www.insureyourmotor.com/careers

December 2007

The centre goes from strength to strength. There are now over thirty businesses based here at the centre. They range from a broadband TV production through to design and product based companies. (For further information please refer to the 'Links' page to see a list of companies that are on the incubation programme)

There is strong demand for all Springboard service offerings from e-pod to incubation. All businesses within the incubation programme have experienced growth and there have been a number of successful graduations from the centre.

This mix of companies makes for a vibrant and exciting community based at the Springboard and allows for networking and shared learning to naturally take place. The Springboard itself is networked into a wide range of businesses/support providers within both the public and private sector. These networks stretch from a regional to national and up to international level. We work closely with these networks to benefit clients businesses.

The programme at the centre is a flexible one and centred on the need of each Springboard clients business. We operate an open door policy that allows tenants to share their concerns or bring their issues to the support staff at the earliest opportunity. There are also regular review points built into the incubation program that monitors results and helps define goals and targets.

If you have a business idea or are an existing business that has an ambitious growth plan and has innovation and development at its heart we would be interested in hearing from you. (Please refer to the 'Contact' page)