Case Studies

nGeneration

The Black Country has a proud history as a powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution and although the days are long gone when intense manufacturing turned it “black by day and red by night”, as one Victorian commentator remarked, it continues its tradition of enterprise and innovation with a new wave of hi-tech businesses, like Tipton-based nGeneration.

nGeneration was founded in 2001 by partners Caroline Brunt and Bernard Cronin, who recognised the opportunities for businesses offering specialist IT services within the hospitality and retails sectors, having worked as both customer and supplier throughout their careers.

The company they have built from nothing has grown to employ in excess of 50 people – its work is project-driven, so numbers fluctuate depending on demand – and a turnover in excess of £2 million, along with a client list of blue chip businesses including Mitchells & Butlers and Whitbread.

Throughout nGeneration’s successful development, Mark Bullock has played a key role. Caroline and Bernard first met Mark in 2001 when he worked for their original accountant and when he moved to Murphy Salisbury in 2005, they moved too. Caroline and Bernard also part own a hair and beauty business, Steph’s of Coleshill, which they have subsequently moved to Murphy Salibury.

Caroline explains: “Our relationship was with Mark and when he left, we realised that was going to leave us with a big hole in terms of that relationship. We decided it was the right thing to do to move to Murphy Salisbury, not just because of Mark but also because of the expertise and skills the firm offered.”

Now Murphy Salisbury’s team provide what Caroline describes as “a broad spectrum” of support, from the annual audit to advice on everything from cash flow to tax and business strategy.

Mark and Murphy Salisbury also played an integral role in a company restructure in March 2008, which represented a tax-efficient opportunity. The restructure included a valuation of the business and the setting up of a holding company. Caroline says: “It was quite challenging and Murphy Salisbury played a key role in managing the whole process.”

The relationship between nGeneration and Murphy Salisbury is a relaxed and comfortable one: there’s a formal meeting for the audit, but otherwise it’s a case of simply picking up the phone if Caroline and Bernard need to talk to Mark or arrange to get together.

Summing up, Caroline says: “It’s their down to earth approach, accessibility and the way that they respond quickly with the right expertise – as a small business, that’s what we need and value.”

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