A fast-growing Derby company has helped get its new premises up and running quickly by staying local – and keeping it in the family – by fixing up its telephones, wifi and energy via a county firm’s new “one-stop-shop solution”.
Personalised gift box firm Colleague Box has turned to Melbourne-based Invictus Group to install the telephones, Wifi, electrical and data cabling, as well as sort its electricity supplier, at the company’s new unit in Northedge Business Park in Mansfield Road, Derby.
Colleague Box is currently based at Sawley Park in Nottingham Road but has already outgrown the premises despite having only moved there last year.
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Jonny McPhee, managing director of Invictus Group, with Natalie Bamford, Jonny’s cousin and founder of Derby firm Colleague Box, which invited Invictus to install the telephones, Wifi, cabling and electricity supply at its new unit in Northedge Business Park in Mansfield Road, Derby.
Its new unit gives it more warehousing and office space which will enable the company, which was set up at the start of the pandemic and turned over £1m in its first five months, to grow its operation even further.
Colleague Box owner Natalie Bamford, who runs the business with her husband, Adam, is cousin to Invictus Group managing director Jonny McPhee, and so invited him along to their new premises to install its phone system and Wifi last month.
At the same time, Invictus set up its energy supply, saving Colleague Box the time and effort of having to ring round individual suppliers and set each service up separately.
Invictus Group is currently experiencing a post-lockdown boom, with its customers, the majority of whom are based in Derby and the East Midlands, upscaling their communications systems, expanding their operations and moving into new premises, like Colleague Box, or investing in new internet-based telecoms in order to offer their staff flexible working arrangements.
Jonny McPhee, managing director of Invictus Communications, said: “Our motto is buy local, sell local, supply local and we’ve stuck to that promise down the by working with a host of well-known and fast-growing Derby companies down the years including Huub and Project D.
“What they all have in common is the need to get their new premises up and running as quickly as possible and Colleague Box are no exception.
“Setting up essential services such as phones and energy is definitely the less glamorous part of moving into new premises, so we handled all of that to allow Natalie and Adam them to concentrate on running their business.
“What they’ve achieved in the past year or so has been nothing short of incredible and as a family we’re really proud of the way their business has grown, so I’ve really enjoyed paying a small part in whatever success comes next.”
Colleague Box now supplies more than 40 different boxes for a range of occasions including ranging from virtual quiz nights to awards ceremonies. There are craft beer boxes “ultimate” chocolate boxes, summer picnic boxes and movie night sharing boxes and each one comes with company branding and a personalised message.
Natalie said: “We have grown our business by working closely with lots of different local companies and so it’s great for us to work with another local company, Invictus, to get our broadband, telecoms and electricity installed.
“It’s a real advantage to get all three services organised through one supplier and it’s always nice to work with a family member too.”
To find out more about Invictus Group visit www.invictustg.com
