Three years ago Middlesbrough digital entrepreneur Stephen Robinson invested his last £79 on a computer server and is now blazing a trail with his business set to create 40 jobs this year alone.
Stephen’s company, Espresso Web, based in Brighouse Business Village, specialises in digital marketing including search engine optimisation, website design and ecommerce. The growth of the business has been so great it has moved premises twice already.
He said: “The idea for the business came after I was recovering from a serious car accident and was spending a lot of time at home. My wife was on maternity leave and we were really broke. It was a big risk to decide to become self-employed but I could see the potential for a digital marketing business and went for it. We have so much business at present we have the capacity for at least 40 new people with the right skills and fit for our team.”
Stephen runs the business with fellow director Greg Langstaff and has just launched a business re-brand as part of the expansion drive. The company has reinvested over £100k in the past 3-5 months, a substantial chunk of its turnover, on a new website and bespoke CRM system which enables seamless control of the whole business from order delivery to project plans . Their unique and targeted approach to growth and quality has helped Espresso Web to be the only NE business to get ‘trusted agency’ status from Google for both Street View technology and a trusted Google Partner for additional digital marketing services.
Joining the Chamber is part of the ambitious business plan as he recently delivered a website project for the organisation and wanted to take advantage of the opportunities for new business through the network.
Tom Warnock, membership manager, the Chamber said: “Espresso Web’s expansion is fantastic in such a short space of time, with the prospect of even greater growth in the future.
They are a perfect example of this region’s entrepreneurial spirit and ability to pick ourselves up from any set-back and achieve success. Whatever opportunity I suggest to them, from exhibiting at our AGM to other networking events, they grab hold of it and get the most possible value from the results.”
This coming year Stephen expects Espresso Web to grow by 160% and is looking for new members of their highly experienced team. He believes there is a shortage of skilled digital people and works hard to provide the best possible environment for his team, creating a family atmosphere, providing free breakfasts and flexible working.
The name Espresso Web came from two ideas, the quick, rapid response of the business approach like a boost from a shot of caffeine and, Stephen jokes, due to them drinking gallons of coffee when they were setting up the business.