Posts Tagged ‘exeter’

0904.13

Why vote for Optix Solutions in the Express and Echo Business Awards?

Posted by Amanda in Company News

eeBizAwardsLogo2013Hello and thank you for dropping by to find out more about our entry and why we hope you will vote for us.

We’re very proud to have been shortlisted for Employer of the Year, in the Express and Echo Business Awards 2013. The winner will be decided by a public vote via Twitter. We felt it would help you decide whether to vote for us if you knew a little more about why we have entered.

James and I started Optix Solutions 13 years ago whilst studying at The University of Exeter, and have worked long and hard to create a company we can be proud of.  We both understand that our staff are our company, if they are not happy and positive, our company will not succeed.

We’ve been fortunate to have had mentors along the way who have advised and supported us, helping James and I to become considerate and constructive employers.

In our entry we were asked questions about the changes we had made for our employees, how they were implemented and an overview of the impact of these changes. We were also asked about how we engage our employees in the goals and values of Optix. Below we have condensed our responses, we’re sure you wouldn’t want to wade through all 2000 words of our entry!

  • We have investigated and implemented ways to make our staff happy, empowering them to have a voice in an environment of mutual trust
  • We have sought to find ways to make our staff fulfilled in their roles, without stifling their need for development and progression
  • We nurture our staff to develop strong relationships with our clients, we know at any time 70% of our staff are going to be engaging with clients
  • We have shared our company’s vision, defined clear job roles and responsibilities and scheduled regular meetings and updates for everyone to keep abreast of our achievements and goals.
  • It’s not all work, work, work! To further encourage a ‘friendly’ working environment, we have fortnightly Team Lunches, when everyone gets away from their desk and out of the office, to enjoy lunch on the Company. We also have a monthly performance related cash bonus, calculated upon the success of the company and shared equally with everyone.

But don’t just take our word for it. Here’s what our employees had to say about working for us

Nick “Flexibility and freedom to use my initiative and be creative. Forward thinking company and some great clients with innovative ideas”

Tom “The team is the best I have worked with. Being part of a company that has been around for ten years and is still going from strength to strength even in the current situation is reassuring, as is being part of a team that is achieving this growth. The constantly adapting and refining of the approach to our work is refreshing and effective. Working with experts in each of the fields we work in is super awesome. Perks are rad”

Kris “We are all genuinely challenged to be the best we can be, and our Directors actively encourage us to be a part of the company. You’re not just allowed to have your say, you’re listened to. If something doesn’t work or could be done better for a client, you have the power to change it. When we do well we are rewarded and when we make mistakes we’re encouraged to learn from them”

Rich “We throw a wicked xmas party! This is because everyone is laid back, friendly and has a good sense of humour. We have a good and exciting client list, diverse range of sites to work on”

Charlie “There is always someone willing to help you. Everyone enjoys successes together, creating a team environment. You are encouraged to learn and grow outside of your specific role – this creates real job satisfaction”

Dan “My input is taken on board and I am my own man. When working in other organisations it has been all too easy to blend into the background and not be a leader. Here at Optix I am encouraged to take control of my own destiny and make things happen. With that comes responsibility, but without great responsibility you cannot have great power! Even Spiderman knows that”

All we need now is your vote to help us win an award that Team Optix think is well deserved. Please hit the button below to tweet your vote

Thank you

2510.12

Attract customers with stunning Google Business Photos

Posted by Optix Solutions in News

Google Business Photos has now come to Devon showcasing businesses with Street View technology.  This is a great opportunity for businesses of any size to give themselves high visual impact online.

Exeter based commercial photographer Peter Stephens has recently become a Google Trusted Photographer and is now offering this service in the region.  He already offers bespoke virtual tours as a service but says Street View virtual tour opens up more options for his clients, especially smaller businesses where these exclusive virtual tours may have been out of budget before.  It is a quick and simple process to produce the tours, with photo shoots only taking a couple hours and tours going online usually within a week.

From a business point of view it is a great way to allow customers to view the premises online, as well as give them a chance to view the surroundings so they have a better idea how to get there.  These tours can accurately convey a sense of ambience and spacial awareness which is not possible with traditional still photography.

Take for example a pub or restaurant, quite often all you get on their website are a few still images which only offer a general impression of the business. However, wouldn’t it be great if you could view where the tables are situated and book the exact one you want.

Peter has already produced tours of the Oddfellows Bar and the Mill on the Exe pubs in Exeter, both of which can be viewed via Google Maps.

On a larger scale Peter has produced a Street View virtual tour of Exeter Cathedral which is made up of 30 panoramic images. The tour enables viewers to walk around the Nave, the Quire, the Lady Chapel, the Chapter House and also inside the Cathedral shop. You can view the tour by clicking here.

Local shops including Snappy Snaps, The Real Food Shop and various Devon Air Ambulance shops have already had Street View tours produced and many more are on the way.

From a marketing point of view it will be interesting to see how these Street View tours affect web traffic. Since there is a visual reference of the business people should be more likely to click on the business to find out more, even if it’s just out of curiosity. The screen shot below shows how a search for the shop Snappy Snaps appears on Google.

Peter has been producing virtual tour photography since 2005 and says that he has seen a huge improvement in the technology over the last few years.

He explains “When I first saw that Google were taking Streetview into businesses I was a little worried about how it might affect my existing services, but now I have the privilege of producing these tours myself I can see it being a valuable part of my business. I am really excited to be providing this service and looking forward to working with local businesses.”

You can find out more about Peter’s service by visiting www.realspin.co.uk, or if you want to know more about Google Business Photos click here.

1107.12

Optix Solutions are Now Recruiting a Web/Graphic Designer!

Posted by Lisa in Company News, Design, News


Optix Solutions are looking for a talented Web/Graphic designer to join our forward-thinking and innovative team. Whether you are fresh out of design school or an industry vet then we want to hear from you to find out what you think you can bring to Optix.

So, what skills do we require you to have? Well, we’re looking for a Web/Graphic Designer that:

  • Has an excellent understanding of CSS and HTML that will allow them to use all the tricks of the trade when it comes to creating beautiful web layouts
  • Believes they are a bit of a modern day Michelangelo when it comes to creating designs for websites using Photoshop
  • Can use that horrible pen tool in Illustrator to draw vector art, icons and bananas
  • Understands PHP and the part it plays in the creation of websites (you don’t have to be a programmer, although that would be very useful!) and work out what file to edit upon discovering a leftover paragraph of ‘lorem ipsum’
  • Knows their way around Adobe products (although we are happy with open source alternatives to Dreamweaver, and even those hard core Notepad users)
  • Can talk with a client, listen to their needs and successfully translate those needs into a user friendly design…angry designers need not apply

These aren’t essential, but we would also like someone who:

  • Is a dab hand at Flash and understands the right way of working in Flash – rather than the wrong way
  • Has had experience with WordPress/Facebook and other social media platforms
  • Has produced work for print, you know, all that 300 dpi and Pantone malarkey

So enough about what we would like from you and now onto what we can offer you…

  • An excellent salary based on your level of experience
  • A number of staff benefits and you will become part of our company bonus scheme

Think you have what it takes? Then call us on 01392 667766 where one of the team will advise you on what steps to take next…