A family business with a new vision

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turn over to read the full story how we help ... MD role and if I'm honest didn't understand ... service & solution.
how we help and advise

A family business with a new vision

My father had set the business up many years ago, but we needed to build and find new ways of growing Universal Mineral Supplies. Mandy and Tom came in, and since then we have moved to a new, larger site, we’ve won huge contracts and importantly for me personally, I’m so, so happy. Helen El Mkhattat, Universal Mineral Supplies (UMS) Limited

challenge UMS wanted a long-term plan UMS are suppliers of silica sands, gravel and minerals for the water treatment and biomass industry. Helen El Mkhattat, Managing Director took over the role in 2011 from her father and wanted to build on the foundations her family had put in place. Her aim was to reinvigorate the business and create a long term future for herself and her family by: • Acquiring their own premises after renting for so many years • Creating a professional, corporate brand which wasn’t too far away from the family roots • Expanding the business with new products and customers • Importantly, ensuring the business could achieve her personal goals.

My father worked so hard for this business. I took on the MD role and if I’m honest didn’t understand the important financial numbers so we were in a bit of turbulence. I knew that I needed to create a long term future and something which would make him proud.

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01782 279615

mittenclarke.co.uk

Universal Mineral Supplies

how we help and advise

service & solution We started by taking the time to understand the business and Helen’s aims, it was important to get under the skin of UMS. Our aim was to establish a solid footing on which she could build. Sometimes you have to look backwards before you can move forward. The first stage was getting the finances in shape, providing quarterly reports, forecasts and kpis. We identified UMS’s profit improvement potential, poor performing areas and reviewed its customer profile. Helen then had the information she needed to make informed decisions about the company’s future. Next up, it was raising finance for a larger site. A well thought out business plan and cashflow forecasts are key when raising finance. Using our relationships with lenders we attended bank meetings with Helen, negotiated favourable terms and put a deal together that would help to secure the long term growth of UMS.

Without your help, I would have never been sitting here in my new building. I needed the tough and frank conversations that we had during our first few months together. Tom and Mandy really have transformed my business.

benefit A new site and much more! UMS has now moved to its own 11,500 sq.ft site, from its 2,000 sq.ft rented warehouse, with plenty of space for growth and new products. Helen’s aim was to create a new vision for the company, and we’ve been able to help her to achieve this goal through securing new larger contracts with national companies and increasing margin and turnover. I’m so happy! There are no more sleepless nights, and I feel that with your help, we really have earned our place in the market. We are getting more referrals, we’ve won more business and I’m proud to be here every day.

to find out how Mitten Clarke can help your business grow call us on 01782 279615 or email [email protected]

When Mitten Clarke first came in, we needed the honest and tough conversations, you aren’t like normal accountants, you’ve pushed me and the business forward beyond what I ever imagined; it’s the best move I’ve ever made. Helen El Mkhattat, Universal Mineral Supplies (UMS) Limited