Consultancy Purpol Marketing, which helps small and medium-sized building firms and manufacturers develop bid strategies for major projects, is on course for its second consecutive year of double-digit growth.
The Chippenham-based business was founded by experienced marketer Denise O’Leary, pictured, in March 2014 who identified a gap in the market for marketing director-level expertise on a pay-as-you-go basis. In its first year it almost doubled turnover, enabling it to take on its first employee within 15 months of trading. 
So far this year it is £5,000 ahead of a target and set to enjoy 30% year-on-year growth.
Purpol has helped clients win substantial contracts including with Bristol Airport and gain placements on the £850m South West Wales Regional Contractors Framework and Wessex Water’s framework of approved contractors.
Purpol’s appointment of senior consultant Gavin White has allowed Denise to focus on new business development while Gavin concentrates on existing clients.
Denise is now planning for further growth as well as recruiting new staff and associates and sharing her knowledge and expertise through networking, workshops and speaker engagements.
With two directors and one employee in the business, she also plans to take on an apprentice or intern from a South West university or college and add to its 15-strong network of specialist associates.
Her mission to cut through the onerous bureaucracy that alienates SMEs from pitching for major bids is already being taken seriously. Last month she joined a delegation of businesses invited to No10 and provided input about how public sector bids can be made more small business friendly.
