Business Surgery: Cubik Innovation

• Year established: 2012

• Where the company is based: Bristol and Bath Science Park, Emersons Green

• Sector: Electronic design, prototype and manufacture

• Number of staff: 22

• Owner: Paul Mullen

• Key clients: Local inventors and entrepreneurs, Emerging businesses and SMEs, Large global corporations

• Website: www.cubik-innovation.co.uk

About the company

Voted Start-up of the Year 2015 at this summer’s Bristol Post Business Awards, this unique electronic product design consultancy servicing the region’s wealth of inventors and entrepreneurs has gone from strength to strength since establishment in 2012.

Cubik Innovation specialise in transforming design concepts into functional and marketable electronic products and systems. Operating a bespoke development process, Cubik work at the root of idea generation through the often turbulent journey to market, covering all aspects, from initial research, electronic design, prototype production, software design to mass manufacture and environmental testing. Alongside the full product development service, the company offer isolated programmes of work, including research investigations, electronic design reviews, rapid prototyping and mass production jobs.

Based at the Bristol and Bath Science Park, a hub well known for its ties with the local innovation economy, Cubik affiliate with design and manufacture partners and local academic institutions, enabling customers to access additional services and information on funding with ease.

Soon to celebrate their third year in business, the team have enjoyed an extended period of growth, expanding their versatile client list, but pride themselves on maintaining their reputation as a ‘local trusted supplier’.

Developing from three members of staff, to a strong team of 22 technical, creative and strategic brains, the company is now in a vital stage of organisation transition.

The Challenge

“How does a company at the final post of the Start-up journey, on the cusp of becoming a small business maintain the dynamic, start-up culture so attractive to Bristol’s tech professionals?”

FEEDBACK

Lizzie Stone

Solicitor for TLT LLP

“You keep those professionals involved, informed and empowered. You give them an interest in the business (potentially using a government sponsored employee share plan, such as an Enterprise Management Incentive or Share Incentive Plan), and update them on key financials monthly or quarterly. You ensure that innovative ideas are recognised in some way, which doesn’t need to be financial and ensure feedback channels are kept open. Some companies go further and allow ideas which have a proven business case to develop through spin-out companies (which are shared with the innovating professional). It’s perhaps counter-intuitive but, to keep the dynamism within a business as companies grow, more structured time and resource needs to be given to communications with staff.”

Andrew Wright

Partner, Deloitte

“Your people live and breathe your culture, so be aware of growing your workforce too quickly and losing your identity.  When you do need to grow the team, select the right people who understand the importance of and want to be a part of your company ethos.  Impress upon your team that everyone has a responsibility in living Cubik’s values.  Communication is key across the business for innovation and creating an inclusive, dynamic working environment.  As you move to the next stage of running a small business, don’t forget to encourage everyone to maintain their existing networks and help grow your reputation amongst Bristol’s tech professionals.”