Member Article

North West festive focus: Alec Middleton, Platform81

As the North West’s business leaders tie the bow on a frenetic year and prepare for a hard-earned festive break, Bdaily North West has asked movers and shakers in the region to give their verdict on 2016 and tell us their hopes and fears for the new year ahead.

Up today is Alec Middleton, Director at digital and design agency Platform81, who gives us his views on the last 12 months and reveals what goodies he’s hoping to find under his tree.

What are you most proud of achieving in 2016?

Winning the Stockport Business Award for Business of the Year up to £1m - a real achievement for our whole team. It was great to get recognition for what we have achieved as a business and our ambitious growth strategy.

Which was your busiest month, and why?

November and December are always our busiest months, clients want projects completed before the Christmas break so they can start the New Year with a clear desk. And who can blame them!

What are your thoughts on Brexit so far?

It’s the calm before the storm I’m sure… but let’s not talk ourselves into another recession just yet. Platform81 has grown this year in terms of turnover and staff, and so too have a lot of our clients. Businesses are continuing to invest in their marketing which is always a good sign and we take comfort in that.

What are you most looking forward to in 2017?

We have worked incredibly hard over the past 9 years to build a strong team of talented individuals who can deliver cutting-edge design and digital marketing strategies for our clients. We invest in our people and actively encourage them to explore new technologies, applications and processes to develop their skills and in turn our service offering. With that said, I will look forward to finding out where the skills of our team will take us next year and working with them to secure further growth.

What will be your biggest obstacle next year?

Attraction and retention of great people is vital for business confidence and growth, and is a continuous challenge for any company. Keeping the work interesting and finding like-minded, talented people to add to our fantastic team is something we take very seriously and is always a priority.

What’s the outlook like for your sector over the next 12 months?

Well built, maintained and fully optimised websites will remain at the heart of the digital strategies we deliver, while interest in social and paid digital marketing continue to grow. SME’s will need to get on board with, and budget for these new applications to see better results from their online marketing.

Tell me about your staff Christmas night-out…

We haven’t had our Christmas one yet, but we go out for a big night at the end of each quarter to reward the team for all their hard work. We usually try and delay the inevitable with a team building activity, but this is always followed by a meal and drinks and then some very sore heads the next morning!

What’s the best date in December to put decorations up? How early is too early?

Saturday 17th, but my wife and kids will force me to do it earlier I’m sure. There should be no evidence of Christmas before December (bah humbug)!

What are you hoping to get from Father Christmas? What’s your Tracy Island/Buzz Lightyear this year?

A bike rack for my car so I can get out mountain biking more next year. To be honest though, I’m more excited about seeing my kids enjoying Christmas day. The build-up has already started in earnest in our house with advent calendars and that blinking elf!!!