Partner Article

Bright future for web designer

REDUNDANCY and a frustration with middle management led a web designer to create his own business which is now winning deals across Europe.

Fledgling Newcastle-based outfit Brighten – founded by Northumbria University graduate Ryan Whitlie – has landed work with German-headquartered chemicals multinational Molekula.

The contract, to transfer the company’s bespoke software online, is expected to be followed by a string of other deals with major European firms, with a large online pharmacy among a string of potential new customers expected to come on board in the coming weeks.

Mr Whitlie was made redundant from his post at a North East interior design firm in 2008.

“I had no desire to search for another job where I was frustrated with middle management and, to me, obscure work ethics, I set about launching myself into a whole new industry,” he said.

“It was tough going freelance into a new industry without the usual base of previous clients who you can rely upon for bread and butter work, but thanks to pulling a few family strings to pay rent and such I began to make some noise and generate some work.

“Slow starts have always frustrated me so it was hugely motivating to meet Simon Loveday, a programmer who shared my vision of self-employment.”

As well as Mr Loveday, Mr Whitlie has also been working closely with Pete Watson – founder of Newcastle-based business consultancy Sherpa – to improve the competitiveness of his company.

Among Brighten’s clients are virtual office company City Presence and London PR company MLPR which saw its web traffic increased 400% after working with the Newcastle business.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .