Member Article

Newcastle business develops app tackling workplace challenges

A Newcastle-based business, Thinkube, has developed a web-based application to aid UK workforces, following funding from Investment for Growth.

Thinkube web-based application invites stakeholders from all areas of an organisation to come together virtually to tackle workplace challenges.

Based on national research showing a direct link between employee engagement and business success, Thinkube embarked on a project to develop, create and market a cloud-hosted web-based stakeholder engagement tool, ‘thinkchange’.

The thinkchange software is available to stakeholders 24/7 and has the appearance of a social media application.

The app can be used across the length and breadth of a business to glean ideas and feedback from employees to board-level and suppliers to customers.

In addition, users of thinkchange can design elements of the application to suit their needs over a length of time that’s right from them.

To date, thinkchange is being used by a number of companies who employ nearly 6,500 employees across the UK, including Solihull Community Housing.

As a result, the social housing provider has saved £44k through employee engagement and staff ideas within the first six months of introducing the application into the organisation.

Investment for Growth recently announced it is extending its business investment project to the end of 2014, thanks to an investment of approximately £1 million from the European Regional Development fund, and is now calling for more small to medium-sized enterprises, like Thinkube, to take advantage of the opportunity before it is too late.

Managing director at Thinkube, Ian Conway, said: “thinkchange is an open invitation to employees, customers and partners to take an active role in operational and strategic change.

“With current figures showing poor employee engagement is costing the UK up to £26 billion in lost gross domestic product, businesses need to move quickly and smartly to harness the creative thinking ability of stakeholders.

“When faced with a company challenge or seeking business improvement, often the answer lies within an organisation’s workforce - thinkchange is the solution for unlocking this potential.

“Since its launch in 2013, thinkchange has proved to be a huge success, attracting many clients from across a number of different sectors and industries.

“I think that’s one of thinkchange’s big appeals – it’s so flexible.

“Without the funding from Investment for Growth, the application would not have been possible and as a business, Thinkube would not be where it is today.

“Our advisor was so professional in helping us apply for the grant – without hesitation we would recommend working with Investment for Growth to any other small business with a big idea that needs a little extra funding to get it off the ground.”

Business advisor at Investment for Growth, Colin Bunn, said: “Thinkube is another great example of the innovative nature of small business owners across the North East.

“thinkchange is just one of the great projects that has been enabled by the Investment for Growth fund.

“Over the last two years the programme has helped to create over 1,100 new jobs in SMEs across the region.”