Name of Business
ConCom Website Design - www.concomwebdesign.uk
Who are you?
I am Andy Connell, Concom Web Design.
ConCom is a small, independent company in Warrington that enjoys working with similar companies. We use a diverse range of tech & digital products to help our customers get online with a great looking website and cloud-based IT solutions and internet security for themselves and their businesses.
What sets you apart from the competition?
I build affordable, awesome looking websites that work well on all devices, are fast, secure, and easy to use.
I have a very friendly, personable, jargon-free approach to everything we do. As a result, our clients stay long term, become friends, and I think this is what sets us apart the most
How long has your business been in existence?
It all started as a university project, into a hobby, helping a few friends out from around 2004. However, as an official grown-up business since 2010
How did the business come about?
It started as a University project just after 2000.
I had started a distance learning degree in Computer Science at QMUL, where working in teams, we had to present coursework online. Back then, there were no online, 3rd party tools for this, so we started hand-coding, tabular, HTML websites to deliver the coursework.
This quickly became a hobby for me, helping out a few friends with small, static websites for their businesses.
What are your main target markets?
Any business, organisation or charity that needs help gaining an online presence. However, I do love to work with local, independent small to medium-size businesses.
I specialise in the Joomla! CMS (Content Management System), so do also work with companies in the UK, EU and globally that need specific help with Joomla!
How many staff do you employ?
Just me, however, I have a great network of other independent providers that help me implement a fully digital service - Developers, Videographers, Copyrighters, PR etc
What job or achievement makes you most proud?
We have picked up a few awards for our work over the last few years, mostly out of the blue, which is nice.
However, we also won a J!Oscar at the J & beyond, Joomla Web Developers conference for a Warrington based website. This was special to us, as Joomla experts nominated it and then voted for by the wider, global Joomla community.
The J!Oscar [Joomla Open Source Creative and Artistic Recognition] awards are awarded to the very best talent in the Joomla community.
Where do you see the business being in five years?
So far, ConCom Website Design has been a 'Lifestyle' business allowing me to pick the children up from school, have extended time off during school holidays and become an FA Football coach. I have twin sons, who will be 21 in 5 years, and becoming more & more independent every day.
Things move fast in the tech world, so we'll have to wait and see what happens next ...
Tell us one interesting thing about you that people might not know?
Most people don't know I've been in the army. I served with the Royal Corps of Signals and travelled worldwide, including operational tours in Bosnia (95/96) & Iraq (2003). Very proud veteran and loved every minute of my time serving Queen & country.
Fantasy dinner party – which six people, alive or dead, would you invite?
Kurt Kobain, Steve Jobs, Alan Turing, Princess Diana, Emmeline Pankhurst & Yoda