Started in the mid-eighties by a husband and wife team as a Business Consultancy, SMA grew and diversified into three distinct and highly successful divisions: Management Consultancy, Security and Global Logistics. The SMA Group currently employs more than 3,500 people around the world between direct employees and associate branches.

In May 2003 SMA Worldwide Ltd, the Logistics arm of the company gained ISO 9000 certification with QMS International plc. This certification revolutionised their internal and external procedures and in October 2005, the company was renamed SMA Worldwide plc. SMA Worldwide plc provide a full logistics service to many blue chip companies that demand on-time deliveries, bespoke software, secure transport and track and trace. Their individually designed IT caters for all their clients’ auditing and accounting needs. It presents their invoicing exactly as they wish, even creating separate accounts for various divisions or departments within the same company. The rigorous procedures within the QMS ISO system encouraged their customer service procedures, accounting, after-sales care and shipment tracking to become the best in their field. SMA Worldwide plc provides a full logistics service capable of handling anything from an envelope to a multi-tonne steel shipment to and from all corners of the globe.

Additionally, they are fully certified Dangerous Goods packagers, handlers and shippers. The company also operates full storage and Pick & Pack facilities, Global Mail services and a Post Room Management service. By utilising their expertise in Management Consultancy, Security and Counter Terrorism they have a diversity of clients ranging from major hotel chains, educational establishments and manufacturers, through to pharmaceutical companies and e-commerce sellers. By combining its various disciplines, SMA Worldwide plc can provide a consultancy service offering a bespoke solution to all its clients. The
Plimsoll Sector analysis published in April 2006 ranks SMA Worldwide plc in the top 30 companies among more than 2,500 companies within the UK.

SMA Worldwide plc is now embarking on a new and highly relevant diversification by creating a fourth division with a new service to cater for a much wider client base. It will call on all the aspects of ISO certification to provide a much needed service for a growing niche in the Global market place.

For further information contact Dr Attia on 01923 290490 or visit www.smaconsultancy.com

We enhance our services by working in partnership with business advice experts, Croner Consulting.

By teaming up with Croner Consulting, QMS is able to offer both employment and health & safety best practice solutions. For businesses that don’t have dedicated human resources or health & safety personnel, keeping up-to-date with legislation becomes the responsibility of the owner or manager. But managing compliance with employment and health & safety law can be a difficult, costly and time-consuming process that few companies can afford. Failure to comply leaves your business at risk of court action, which can cost time, money and even your reputation.

Our association with Croner Consulting gives you the opportunity to benefit from tailored employment law and health & safety professional advice, complimenting your existing quality management procedures. The flexible solutions offered can ease your legislative burden, whatever the size and structure of your business. Croner Consulting is able to provide comprehensive support to organisations across the whole of the UK and can ensure your business is compliant with employment and safety legislation. They will represent you at employment tribunals, offer advice via their telephone advice lines and carrying out on-site safety, risk & employment liability assessments.

The many benefits Croner Consulting offer include:
• Support and guidance all day, every day
• More time to concentrate on running your business
• Protection against legal challenges
• Excellent value for money with access to top business expertise at a small business cost
• Business critical issues handled by experts
• Immediate support from specialist advisers
• Support to improve performance productivity and of course profitability

The service will be tailored to the needs of your business and can include:
• 24 hour expert telephone advice
• Employment tribunal representation
• Up-to-date policies and procedures
• On-site support from experienced consultants
• Health & safety crisis support
• Training

Croner Consulting is the UK’s largest and most experienced provider of in-depth advice and practical support for businesses in the high-risk areas of employment, health & safety and other regulatory driven areas. For more information on the services Croner Consulting offer, call 0800 6341700 quoting reference number 496 or email qms@cronerconsulting.co.uk

A Tipton woman was named Social Entrepreneur of the Year in the West Midlands for contributions to the local economy and community.

Catherine Paterson Higgins of Tipton Homecare Limited was presented with her prize at a national social economy conference held in Dudley. She was picked from more than 20 people nominated in the awards which were sponsored by the West Midlands Co-operative and Mutual Council. She set up the community enterprise six years ago while working as a fundraiser for the RNIB. She saw a need for home-based care services and researched the market before opening the business with one other care worker. The non-profit making organisation was launched with the help of Tipton Community Enterprise and now employs 50 staff providing care services to 140 elderly and infirm clients in the Sandwell area of the West Midlands.

After her success, Catherine said: “I am overwhelmed and delighted that my work has been recognised and hope that other people will be inspired by this award to set up similar enterprises where there is a desperate need”. She was also keen to acknowledge the contribution of everyone involved with the business: “Without good staff you can’t accomplish anything” she said. She received a cheque for £2000 which, she says will be used to provide training for staff to ensure the current high quality of service is maintained. As for her tips for any budding social entrepreneurs: “Be determined, work hard and put in long hours – but the rewards are great.”

Tipton Homecare Limited were certified by QMS in November 2000.
For further details call Catherine on 0121 557 3649.

Optical filters Ltd, Thame

A QMS registered company aiming to provide better viewing for TV and computer users has been named Oxfordshire’s Business of the Year 2001. Optical filters Ltd, based in Thame, aims to hike its turnover this year to £3 million with its new EmiClare screen shield. The filter, fitted to electronic displays, protects them from glare, loss of contrast due to sunlight, electro-magnetic interference and impact. Additionally, it can incorporate heat control to keep the displays at their optimum operating temperature.

Originally the Thame company’s technology was aimed at the relatively high value but low volume markets such as the military. Now, after four years’ research, its engineers have developed an improved filter that can be produced at lower cost to meet the demands of the growing commercial and consumer markets. The innovation has been used in applications such as wide-screen plasma displays, on the Leopard II tank and in new medical scanning technology.

The new product has already resulted in a 60% sales growth for Optical filters Ltd in the first full year of marketing and the workforce has subsequently grown from 28 to 40. Optical filters Ltd also won the Innovation category at the awards. The guest speaker at the ceremony was Mr Boris Johnson, Conservative MP for Henley, who paid tribute to all of the award-winners, saying that "they were risk takers in a world increasingly worried about taking any chance".

For further details contact Nichola Dent at Optical filters Ltd on 01844 260377 or visit www.opticalfilters.co.uk.