Meet Aquatrust

Aquatrust Water and Ventilation Ltd is a water treatment company based out of West Yorkshire. The business has seen steady growth across the years but Sales Director, Paul Kenny, thought that there was an opportunity to do things differently.

The original business model was dependent on a team of engineers travelling to client sites to check water systems for issues like high legionella bacteria levels. This process consists of temperature and stagnation checks that are typically done in person. However, Paul thought that adopting sensors to monitor the quality of water remotely would provide a real opportunity for efficiency and growth.

Despite believing in the positive change these sensors could introduce to the business, launching a new product can be a daunting prospect, this is especially true when it involves changing the entire business model. To learn how to do this properly, Paul joined Help to Grow: Management through Leeds Beckett University.

Help to Grow: Management

Paul discusses why he felt Help to Grow: Management could help him: ‘I had a whole host of steps that I needed to take to get his idea moving and the course guided me through that’.  

The course offered him an opportunity to discuss the technology, the structure of the business and enabled him to make a compelling case for a new product.  

In particular, ‘the mentoring I had on the course helped because it gave me a structure that I needed to get the IoT (internet of things) to work.’ The ability to talk through his ideas and get advice from someone who had faced challenges was invaluable to Paul. 

The modules also aided Paul on his journey, and he found the ‘Strategy and Innovation’ module essential for the development of his sensor. Furthermore, ‘Developing a Marketing Strategy’ and ‘Digital Transformation’ were ‘really helpful.’ 

The learnings from the course are still resonating within the business, and Aquatrust is now looking at adopting a CRM system to manage its clients and the subscription model that accompanied the successful launch of its IoT sensor.  

The Results

With the launch of the sensor, Paul has taken action to manage ‘the rising fuel costs and employment issues with a remote monitoring sensor.’ 

This action is having a direct impact on Aquatrust’s finances. Since Paul completed the course, Aquatrust has forecast its turnover to increase from £1.9m in 2022 to £2.5m in 2023, with ambitions to grow the business into a nationwide water treatment and hygiene consultancy. 

Previously, Aquatrust’s engineers would visit a customer site and carry out labour-intensive, manual tests to physically monitor water. For just one of Aquatrust’s thousands of clients, the team found that switching to remote water monitoring saved them on average 161,502 litres of water a year – which is around £1,615 a year in cost savings. 

Ultimately, these savings improve the experience of the customer, the health of the business, and the impact that the business is having on the environment.  

31%

Turnover increase.

£1,615 saved per year for a customer.

Successfully launched a new product.

Why take the course?

With his success in mind, Paul encourages other small business leaders to get involved in the course, ‘It’s been inspirational for me. If we don't redevelop ourselves, if we don't rethink our model, then we'll probably see business drop off over time. The course has enabled me to proactively address that.’ 

Paul concludes that he has advised his network to attend noting that it is 90% funded by the UK government and the benefits he has seen. 

To find out more about a Help to Grow: Management course near you, click here.  

Do you want to develop your business?

With 60 business schools around the UK, there will be a Help to Grow: Management Course starting near you soon. Don't miss your chance to register.