Mando Group Ltd - latest_news

Mando Group secures contract with United Utilities

Leading website and application development company Mando Group today signed a significant web development contract to provide a range of services to United Utilities, the largest water company in the FTSE, including the re-development of www.unitedutilities.com.

Mando Group, where selected after a five month tendering process and will be the lead supplier in an initial one year development and support contract working in partnership with RedDot Enterprise Content Management.

Denise O’Connor, New Media Manager for United Utilities commented: “We selected Mando Group from over 8 bids from national competitors because of their deep understanding of us as an organisation; their focus on usability, creative execution and technical integration experience.”
She added: “As an organisation, we’re passionate about communicating effectively with our customers and improving their online experience..”

Key objectives identified for the Mando Group team include improved customer service experience, to help customers gain a better understanding of water resource and efficiency, and an increase in the amount of utility bills paid online.

The Mando Group team will also seek to increase the use of self service facilities among United Utilities’ customers, and raise their awareness of the firm’s commitment to social & corporate responsibility through a diverse range of environmental and community initiatives.

Mando Group are already consulting with over 25 key stakeholders within United Utilities helping to understand and develop the web site information architecture, as well as key features and functionality.

The new website will be launched later in 2008. Mando Group have also been commissioned to develop a Stakeholder micro-site to support United Utilities Stakeholder report 2008.

Matt Johnson, Chairman of Mando Group commented:

“This project is a significant win for Mando Group. The values and cultures of both organisations are shared and we are extremely excited to be working with United Utilities. Winning this national tender shows the strength in our continued commitment to detailed user research, workshops and great creative execution. We strongly believe this offer, married with the appropriate enterprise-level content management offering is just what our corporate clients are looking for in their developmental partners.”

Mando Group collaborates with RedDot

Web development specialist Mando Group has teamed up with RedDot, the Open Text Web Solutions Group, to offer its new and existing customers a full range of web content management products to increase the
usability and accessibility of their websites. The partnership with RedDot will enable Mando Group to offer its customers user-friendly, out-of-the-box web content management through RedDot products, CMS and LiveServer.

Mando Group provide web design and application development consultancy to a client base of over 700 public and private sector companies.

RedDot's products allow more people to have greater access and control over online content, eliminating the need to outsource website management to third parties, while cutting costs and reducing delays with content publishing.

Matt Johnson, Chairman from Mando Group said: "Many of our clients now require enterprise level web content management to help them deliver cutting edge websites to their customers. We found that RedDot's products offered the functionality and ease of use that our clients were looking for and we look forward to working with RedDot on future projects."

Andy Bellinger, UK country manager for RedDot, the Open Text Web Solutions Group, commented: "As demand for web content management increases, companies will always look for solutions that make life easier for themselves and their target audience. RedDot's products have been created with this in mind and we are convinced that this partnership will be beneficial to both Mando Group and clients that choose to incorporate our products."

About RedDot, the Open Text Web Solutions Group Open Text, an enterprise software company and leader in enterprise content management, helps organizations manage and gain the true value of their business content. For more information about Open Text, please visit:
http://www.opentext.com/

RedDot, The Open Text Web Solutions Group with more than a decade of experience in Web Content Management (WCM), provides Web-Centric ECM solutions to create, manage and deliver the content that drives business. RedDot content management and delivery solutions are recognised throughout the industry for their legendary ease of use and leading multilingual support; enterprise Web 2.0 capabilities; content integration; and contextualized delivery. From midmarket to enterprise, more than 2000 clients around the world rely on RedDot to create, manage and deliver personalized Web experiences for their Intranets, Extranets and Web sites. For more information about RedDot, The Open Text Web Solutions Group, please visit: http://www.reddot.co.uk/index.htm

Mando Group redesign website for Enterprise Nation

With so many people now working and running their businesses from home, the Enterprise Nation website is becoming more and more popular; offering help and advice to those starting up and running their own businesses. It’s becoming an everyday tool to its sizeable and loyal client base.

In early 2006, Mando Group designed and developed the original brand and website for Enterprise Nation. Through the partnership between Mando Group and Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation, the initial site grew and developed with extra functionality and features and found its niche within the home working web community.

In autumn 2007 discussion started around further capitalising on the success of the site and making a much more significant advance in all areas: design, content focus and use of technology. Mando Group have just launched the fresh new, feature-rich site making use of powerful Web 2.0 features and creating a far more personable and user friendly experience.

The homepage now comprises of three main channels: business, lifestyle and technology. The new structure allows users to navigate around the site very easily, offering related links at every stage and guiding users to the content of their interest.

The new site has had a Flash element added, meaning more information can be featured without crowding the homepage. It also encourages more interaction from its users and therefore leads to more feedback being generated. The forums are a great way for people to exchange ideas and thoughts about many different issues.

For people thinking about starting their own business, or in the first stages of starting up there is a very useful section called ‘Getting started’ which has many different links offering advice on a whole range of topics from a number of angles.

Utilising social networking technologies the new site is gaining an increased amount of exposure via links to popular sites such as www.facebook.com , www.digg.com and www.del.icio.us.com Allowing users to share the informative content of the site has generated recommendations and increased traffic to the Enterprise Nation website.

The new site also has Audio and Video content. This has become a popular way to present certain information on the website and fits seamlessly within the new design.

A new feature on the website is the Shop, users can now buy Emma’s Book, ‘Start up from your spare room - How to start a business from home’ allowing users to access more useful home-business advice.

Emma Jones, Founder and Editor of enterprisenation.com, commented:
“We’re delighted with the new look Enterprise Nation site. The idea was to have fewer channels and add new features, including a home business video show, and a shop. I think Mando Group has achieved this with a sense of style and easy navigation that has been well received by Enterprise Nation members.”

To have a look at the new improved site visit the link below:
http://www.enterprisenation.com

Mando Group creates website to help Marathon Runner

At the beginning of the year, after the devastating loss of his son, Ian Drury set himself the challenge of all challenges.

In memory of his son Leighton, who was still born in 2006, Ian set himself the incredible mission of running five marathons in the space of one year, starting with the London Marathon, and going on to Boston, Berlin, Chicago and finally New York. This would be a huge task to complete for anyone; and Ian had never run a marathon before.

Ian has established a ‘Remember You’re Alive’ team for the challenge. For each marathon he has entered himself for, he has persuaded a friend to run with him; both for support before and during the race. The team has set themselves the challenge of raising £20,000 which will go towards research and support for families with still born children.

Liverpool’s leading website and application development company, Mando Group, designed the ‘Remember You’re Alive’ website for Ian to help raise money for the three charities Ian is fundraising for, PhabKids, SANDS and Macmillan. http://www.rememberyourealive.co.uk

Kevin Walker, web developer at Mando Group commented:
‘It was a great website for Mando Group to get involved with, as the charity sector always provides you with an extra incentive for making a successful site. As this project is such a huge challenge for Ian Drury it’s nice to be able to contribute to it, by donating our time to this project.’

Training has been tough for all but especially for Ian who has been suffering from a knee injury. A week before the London marathon Ian was contemplating pulling out due to his injury but went on to complete his first marathon in just under five hours.

Ian Drury commented:
‘It was difficult I will not lie; but to think I nearly pulled the plug on the whole thing a week before… I think I actually did ok.’

Ian’s buddy for the London leg was a previous work colleague, Paul Burgess who commented:
‘A great weekend and real sense of personal achievement would be the only way to sum it up.’

The Boston marathon followed a week later, and Ian’s mate for this stage was Alex Vanobberghen (the good looking one of the group), someone Ian met whilst studying for an MSc in Liverpool. They finished the race together in just over 5 hours.

Ian commented:
“My knees gave up and we started off too quickly….but you live and learn…the next one will be much much quicker”

Ian has four months more of consistent training until the next marathon to hopefully get his knee back on track.

If you would like to support the team and follow their progress take a look at the website. http://www.rememberyourealive.co.uk

Matt Johnson Chairman of Mando Group commented:
‘The challenge that Ian has set himself is one to be admired and commended and everyone at Mando Group wishes Ian and his team of runners the very best of luck with the fundraising and the marathon running.’

Mando Group develops website to help smokers quit

Mando Group, Liverpool’s leading website and application Development Company, designed a simple and welcoming website for Roy Castle Fag Ends.

Fag Ends is a community based stop smoking service that grew from a group
of people trying to quit but who wanted to share their experiences, and help to others. Fag Ends is currently commissioned to provide the stop smoking services for Liverpool and Knowsley Primary Care Trusts.

The site is aimed to target people of all ages and backgrounds that all have a like minded objective, to stop smoking! It provides people with access to support and advice to help quit smoking providing its users with key facts about smoking with a simple approach without bombarding them with the scientific terminology.

Development of the website was supported by both Primary Care Trusts through funding contributions plus input into the design of the site.

The website went live on National No smoking day on the 12th March 2008 and has had an encouraging response.

Mike Unger, Chief Executive of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation charity commented:
‘The Fag Ends website is absolutely excellent, we wanted an informal yet engaging website with an approachable and simple design for users and that is exactly what Mando group have produced.’

Matt Johnson, Chairman of Mando Group commented:
“This project continues to build on our experience within the health and charity sector we are delighted with the results.”

Last year Mando Group won a New Media Consumer Bronze award in the international IPA Best of Health Awards for their website to support a campaign designed to raise alcohol awareness called ‘Pssst! developed for Liverpool Primary Care Trust.

Mando Group is also working with the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation on re-developing the charity’s corporate site which will launch later this year.

Liverpool Phil website scores a hat-trick

The award winning website that Mando Group developed for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic has won yet another award. This is the third award that the site has been given over since being launched.

The website www.liverpoolphil.com has been awarded Tourism Website of the Year. The website was one of three finalists selected from over 100 previous regional winners. The awards were announced last night at the Enjoy England Awards for excellence 2008, held at Liverpool’s St Georges Hall.

Matt Johnson, chairman of Mando group commented:
“The Phil website has been a significant piece of work for Mando Group and we are very pleased for the site to have been awarded Best Tourism Site of The Year for the third time. He added: “This award and the figures really stands as testament to the commitment of everyone involved in this project.”

The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic website focuses on an exceptional user experience, ensuring that it is easy for users find out what is on and to book tickets online easily. The website also offers interactive features allowing users to watch video footage and listen or download excerpts from particular concerts. The site also sells CD's and memberships online and can accept online donations. Mando Group worked with the Philharmonic to develop their website to and deliver meet all these requirements for a discerning and varied audience.

Underpinning the successful development of the website, Mando Group undertook a detailed usability study on behalf of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic. From this, we were able to present detailed wire frames of the site layout and structure, to enable them to be rigorously tested by end users before commencing with further development.

Millicent Jones Executive Director, Marketing Communications at Royal Liverpool Philharmonic said
"We are delighted with the improved Royal Liverpool Philharmonic website. We have seen an incredible increase of traffic, 42% up from the previous year and an impressive 32% increase in online ticket sales. Mando Group's thorough approach and commitment to usability has delivered a highly functional, user-friendly website".

Mando Newsletter

Mando Group celebrates 10 years in Liverpool…

In November we gathered together a nice group of clients, colleagues and friends at the Static Gallery in Liverpool, to mark the occasion of Mando Group’s 10th year in business in the city.

One of Liverpool’s most successful entrepreneurs and leading creative industry personalities Professor Phil Redmond was guest of honour at the party on 22nd November.

He commented “Mando Group epitomises all that’s good about three things I feel passionate about – entrepreneurship; social responsibility and using digital technology to empower people to communicate more effectively. I am delighted that they have reached this milestone in the development of their business. Their success story really should be an inspiration to others”.

Matt Johnson and Ian Finch started up a web development business on leaving university in 1997. Having managed to survive the shaky times for web industries not long after, and since then have seen the company grow to a team of 35 working for high profile clients such as ACC Liverpool, HSE, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Hill Dickinson, The Culture Company and Liverpool Biennial to name a few.

“It’s been an amazing 10 years,” says Mando Group Chairman Matt Johnson. “We have been fortunate enough to be able to build on the success which we and our partners and customers have achieved together at each stage of the company’s growth.”

For more images visit our Flickr site

Rare Fashion

Mando Group recently launched the new web site for Rare Fashion, a Merseyside based retail fashion outlet.

Rare branded clothing is already distributed through 21 concession-based outlets within Topshop. With celebrity endorsement, and coverage in the fashion press, such as Reveal, they are growing significant brand recognition in their market.

Rare Fashion were looking for a new website, with improved design and functionality plus a high level of flexible content management in order to be responsive in promoting their products. The site needed to integrate with their existing barcode system. They were seeking a long-term web partner who could help them grow their on-line retail business.

Mando Group delivered a site that is rich in design, usability and e-commerce technology. With expandable and flexible content management provided by their Control-C CMS system, Rare have the ability to mange the Flash features on the homepage, promote products as required, and tailor their content around particular Trends and Collections. They have the ability to recommend products based upon user choices. The site also features RSS feeds allowing users to be kept aware of the latest products as they come available. A key issue for the business was trying to limit the number of returned items. To minimise this, the site features size guides and multiple images for each garment, showing photographs in each available colour, with the ability to zoom in and see each in greater detail.

The site features ‘Create the Look’ which gives users the ability to select items to create an outfit, based around colours, trends or collections.

They are soon to launch ‘Ask Sally’ where Rare’s fashion adviser Sally will answer customer’s fashion and garment queries. Also look out for ‘Catwalk’, which will feature all the Rare Fashion collections.

Raj Shalwar, Managing Director of Rare knows how important it is to stay fresh in the fashion industry. “Mando Group has developed a website that has enabled us to step ahead of our competitors through the functionality available on our site. The fully content managed site allows us to be responsive. We’ve benefited from improved functionality such as barcode integration, order tracking, and the ability to cross sell related products. Not only have we seen a decrease in the number of returned items, we have also experienced a significant increase in sales since the launch of the site.

Trade1st

When Travis Wild, Managing Director of Trade1st saw gap in the market he came to Mando Group with his idea for an ecommerce site aimed at the painting and decorating trade.

Trade1st which provides a unique offering, being the only company selling a full range of high specified branded products specifically for the painting and decorating professionals.

Travis Wild required a comprehensive e-commerce website to display the 400+ products available, that was simple to mange with a clear emphasis on the quality of the products being offered. As this was a new company, the development of a brand that would have a clear presence on the site was required.

Using their content management system Control-C Mando Group has designed a site that is easy to manage, with an emphasis on clear design and usability. The products are searchable by category of by brand, allowing the customer to find what they want quickly in the extensive range of products. The homepage features product categories, special offers and featured products alongside user-friendly and information provided by ‘Eddie’ the Trade1st decorators mate, who is featured on the site to highlight certain features and provide a welcoming customer experience.

The site features price breaks for purchasing quantities and for shipping. There are further discounts available as an incentive to register with the site.

“Mando Group has proved to be a valuable web partner for me in starting this business. They have delivered a sales platform that allows Trade 1st to exploit our unique market ‘competitive advantages’. Mando have clearly understood my objectives, and saw the potential in Trade1st. Through their holistic approach to branding, design and web development, we have received very positive feedback and strong sales through the Trade1st.co.uk site.”

Visit www.Trade1st.co.uk

Directors Cut…

To coincide with Enterprise Week, our November guest at Directors' Cut was 37 year old Tony Caldeira, who was featured on the Channel 4 documentary 'Brits Get Rich In China'.

Tony talked about how he took an enterprising idea of making cushions to sell on a Liverpool market stall to become the largest UK manufacturer of cushions in a matter of 12 years. Caldeira Ltd. is the UK’s market leader in the supply of cushions to volume retailers, selling products to over 20 countries worldwide, and has won many awards for sales growth and entrepreneurial flair.

With a business that grew at 50% per year over that time, Caldeira was able to share some of his business experience with the audience who were keen to hear how he successfully set up a 250,000 sq ft factory complex in China, after almost loosing his UK based business due to the influx of unbeatably cheap Chinese imports. With a 'can't beat them, join them' attitude Caldeira went to learn all about the Chinese market. He shared some of his insights into the Chinese economy and their own hard-working and entrepreneurial work ethics. Tony believes in China’s strength as an emerging market.

Tony presented his Directors’ Cut film choice: 'Highlander', saying how he sees a parallel with the film’s story travelling to New York, as Caldeira has just opened a showroom there on Fifth Avenue.

The video of the event appears on our website www.mandogroup.com

Or visit www.directorscut.org.uk

Liverpool Phil website wins yet another award

Mando Group client Royal Liverpool Philharmonic has been awarded another award for their site www.liverpoolphil.com

The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic website has been recognised once again, this time at England's Northwest Tourism Awards.

The website developed for the Liverpool Phil, by Mando Group, was awarded 'Tourism Website of the Year'

Mando Group Video Channel launch

Due to an increasing demand for online video content Mando are pleased to announce their in-house video facilities. We have recently completed work for The Mersey Partnership, the City Council's Lifestyle health clubs. If you are interested in producing video content ask Mando.

Directors' Cut with Tony Caldeira

Tony was interviewed by Matt Johnson about his experiences in business and presented the film Highlander, and how the film aligns with his personal ‘take’ on leadership and success.

Tony founded his company Caldeira Ltd in 1991. It is now the UK’s market leader in the supply of cushions to volume retailers and has won many awards for sales growth and entrepreneurial flair.

Caldeira Ltd opened a joint venture company in China in 2004, which is growing rapidly, and the company now sells products to over 20 countries worldwide. Caldeira China has recently opened a purpose built 250,000 sq ft factory complex and Caldeira Ltd was named North West Business in China in 2006. In early 2007, Caldeira Ltd formed Caldeira USA which is based on Fifth Avenue in New York City.

Wednesday 14 Nov 2007

Venue: FACT, 88 Wood Street, Liverpool L1 4DQ

For more info http://www.directorscut.org.uk/

If you would like to attend future Directors' Cut events contact us ask@mandogroup.com

Direcotrs' Cut is brought to you by Mando Group 08business connect, FACT (Foundation for Art and Creative Technology)

Another award for Mando Group’s Philharmonic website

The high-profile event was organised by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and hosted by BBC North West Tonight presenter Ranvir Singh. The cream of the region’s tourism industry gathered at Manchester Central for the fourth annual England’s Northwest Tourism Awards. The Liverpool Philharmonic website will now have the opportunity to represent the Northwest in the national Enjoy England Awards for Excellence, organised by VisitBritain, which will be held in April 2008.

The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the oldest concert-giving organisations in the world, and the second oldest in Britain. The orchestra gives over 60 concerts a year as well as touring performances in the UK and abroad. Its Principal Conductor, Vasily Petrenko is the youngest conductor in the history of the Orchestra.

The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic required an updated website to help users find out what is on and book tickets online more easily. The website also offers interactive features that mean users are able to watch video footage and listen or download excerpts from particular concerts. The site also sells CD's and memberships online as can accept online donations. Mando Group worked with the Philharmonic to develop a new website solution that would meet all these requirements.

As part of the first phase of the project, Mando Group undertook a detailed usability study on behalf of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic. From this, we presented detailed wire frames of the new layout and a revised structure to the site. These were then rigourously tested by end users before commencing with phase two.

Matt Johnson, Chairman of Mando Group commented,
“This has been a significant piece of work for Mando Group and we are very pleased for the site to have been awarded Best Tourism Site of The Year.
This award and the figures really stands as testament to the commitment of everyone involved in this project.”

Millicent Jones Executive Director, Marketing Communications at Royal Liverpool Philharmonic said "We are delighted with improved Royal Liverpool Philharmonic website. We have seen an incredible increase of traffic, 42% up from this time last year and an impressive 32% increase in online ticket sales. Mando Group's thorough approach and commitment to usability has delivered a highly functional, user-friendly website".

Directors Cut

The event was a real success with many guests from the local business community eager to hear about the young Russian conductor's experience and 'take' on success.

Vasily Petrenko took up the post of Principal Conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in September 2006. Hailed as 'Liverpool's latest signing' he has proved a force for good and has been attracting a growing and younger audience to the classical concerts at the Liverpool Phil.

Answering questions by Matt Johnson, Mando Group Chairman, Petrenko talked about how his education at the prestigious St Petersburg Conservatoire trained him to become a conductor from an early age, but also importantly, taught him how to succeed. A confident and charismatic speaker, he went on to talk of his father's Dixieland double bass playing and his mother's musical education, before going on to explain that had he not been a conductor he may have pursued a career as an Olympic swimmer, had it not been for the decision that music would be with him throughout his whole life.

Explaining how he was pleased to take up the position with the RPLO prior to such a significant time for Liverpool, Petrenko spoke of the energy that he finds in Liverpool as it celebrates it’s 800th birthday and prepares to be European Capital of Culture. ‘The energy of the people here is something unique, something you do not find in many other cities in the world.’

Petrenko is currently living in Liverpool and using the city as his base whilst working at the RLPO and performing in other cities in Europe. He has a busy schedule, and loves his work, mentioning that he constantly has music playing in his head ‘Even while I sit here and talk to you, I can listen to music playing, I am always working on my music.’

Petrenko chose the Russian film Alexander Nevsky as an inspiring film on leadership, likening likened the role that the conductor plays to a leader who needs to work to bring a large group of people together and how the relationships he builds are important in order to achieve the results that he seeks in the music.

Following the interview the audience enjoyed the classic ‘Russian’ epic tucking into their free popcorn.

To watch the film of the whole interview with Vasily Petrenko go to www.directorscut.org.uk