Communication is Key

Crew 2 Crew Limited is due to launch its Crew Communications Portal in early 2007. The Crew2Crew.com services have been set up to target crews working in eight international industries in the Marine, Fishing, Aviation, Oil & Gas, and Aid & Relief Agency sectors. Crew2Crew.com will offer crew members from around the world the opportunity to access a range of internet services no matter where they are based. The Crew Communications Portal will include access to an industry and crew search database, a personal mailbox, industry and leisure chat rooms and message boards.

"It can often be difficult for crew members to remain in contact with each other and the outside world – especially if they are operating in far flung locations with limited or poor access to the internet," explains Graham Duncan, managing director of Crew 2 Crew Ltd.

"We have developed a software system which will enable them to access our Crew Communications Portal from anywhere in the world. For example crew members on ships or rigs who are accessing the site via a narrow band satellite will experience reliable and fast downloading as well as the ability to refresh the site without delay or page freezing."

Graham adds, "Crew members often work in industries which are both transient and remote. Our service has been developed in response to the need for crew member to maintain an easily accessed, static communications platform for professional, social and personal contact with colleagues, friends and family. Future growth plans include the launch of an Information Exchange and a Directory portal specific to each industry sector."

According to Graham the help Crew 2 Crew Ltd has received from organisations, including Business Gateway has been priceless. He continues, "Our very business is communication and we have found that communication with Business Gateway has been invaluable. They have been involved with Crew 2 Crew Limited since the outset. Right from the initial idea, to sourcing service providers and more recently providing information and advice on business management and growth Business Gateway has been there when we have needed their input."

"Business Gateway is quite literally a hub of invaluable information. Whether we have needed to find out about financial issues or how to advertise, our business advisor has always been the first point of contact." Graham continues, "Being able to just get in touch with one person and have access to a wealth of information has certainly made it easier for us to obtain help and assistance."

Set up in March 2003 Crew 2 Crew Limited should have launched 12 months ago. "We ran into problems when a software company that we were working with went bust," explains Graham. "This happened just 12 weeks before we were due to go live and as you might imagine had major implications for our timescales. Once again Business Gateway was able to help us, they worked with us to find an alternative software company. After a lot of hard work we are now nearing completion and will soon to be ready to take the product to market."

Crew 2 Crew Limited currently employs three people but their growth plans are nothing if not impressive. "We have worked with Business Gateway to develop our growth plans so that they are both strategic and realistic. Our staff number should grow by 400% by the end of 2007 and by the end of 2009 we should be employing 75 people."

Graham adds, "Once the business has been formally launched I see no reason why we won’t continue to use the Business Gateway services. I envisage that the information and advice which is accessible via Business Gateway will continue to be useful as we develop our client base and expand the range of services that we provide."

The Business Gateway service in Grampian is delivered by Enterprise North East Trust. For more information telephone 01224 289725 or visit www.bgateway.com.

For more information about Crew 2 Crew Limited visit www.crew2crew.com or call 01467 625820. Crew to Crew Limited has received grant funding from both Scottish Enterprise and Aberdeenshire Council.

Ends

For further information contact:

Lyndsay Aitken
Tricker PR
9 Victoria Street
Aberdeen
Telephone 01224 646491
Direct Line 01224 654086
Mobile 07780 680751
Email laitken@trickerpr.com