Heading to Chicago – Crysp Limited
Proud Bradfordians and Chamber members, Crysp headed to the windy city, Chicago to attend the Digital Twin Consortium Conference for Q3. The agenda was full of keynote speakers, group sessions, case studies, panels, presentations and plenty of networking. It provided Crysp the chance to expand their network, showcasing their great product and wave the flag for Bradford.
- Purpose of visit, attending, hopes and aspirations as outcomes of visit
As we transform our economies and society with more and more technology, the idea of a digital twin (a simple definition of a digital twin is that it is a virtual representation of an object or process) has powerful implications for how we design, build and maintain a whole host of things from school buildings to space satellites. By being a member of the organisation and pushing the concept we at Crysp are putting ourselves at the forefront of this thinking with other global leaders.
Our presence will give us some recognition from the other companies and public institutions that will be in the room with us but also it is our opportunity now as a Bradford based business to take advantage of opportunity in the US marketplace.
We hope to develop new relationships and create new potential customers from our visit.
- Your thoughts on internationalisation
At the heart of Crysp we have a technology platform that could look after a school building in Birmingham, Alabama, as much as it can in Birmingham UK. So we need to export our product and services and we see the US as a key market for growth. We have already started doing that with companies such as Showcase Cinema (which is US owned) and a spanish business that is also a customer, Pronovias, an international wedding dress company with a large US footprint.
Post brexit we must work even harder as a nation to capitalise on our innovation and export it. I also think it is up to private enterprise to drive this forward and make it happen. We actually look up to our investor, Twinkl Global Holdings, a wonderful business started by Jon and Susie Seaton in Sheffield who now operate in over 100 countries and have proven that with a great product and great customer experience you can build a truly international business. That inspires me every single day and they personally encourage us to think like that.
- So you learn how to trade with US companies and is this something you hope to share with others in time
Absolutely yes. Everything I do today is part experience but also heavily led by taking on mentorship and advice at the right time. In preparation for our Chicago trip I had a coffee with my former boss and mentor, a gentleman called Robin Johnson who is an M&A partner for the law firm Eversheds Sutherland (where I trained many years ago). Robin has made some fantastic introductions for us and has given me some advice for when I am out there. So anyone reading this one day if we can share our knowledge I would be delighted to do so.
- A Bradford businessman putting the city on the map in the US. You are showing this is possible?
I am a glass half full guy to be honest. Since being a child growing up in Bradford I have been inspired by the fabric of our city – the commercial buildings in our city centre, the great houses and parks – all of it funded and created by the economic growth that put Bradford at the heart of the industrial revolution. Our offices are in Salts Mill, Saltaire where a 150 years ago by all accounts a very quiet man (Sir Titus Salt) found a way of turning alpaca wool into a silk substitute and then exporting it globally. The past can teach us a lot about the future and our heritage can serve as the blueprint for our next growth story. So yes, if I, the son of a fish and chip shop proprietors, can build a product with a group of like minded people and export it, I want to show this is possible.
- Who have you contacted / collaborated on the mission?
The DTC has been great as has the West Yorkshire Chamber led by James Mason. Also as I mentioned we have been very fortunate to have the support of some good friends who want to see us succeed and have shared contacts and network.
We have also reached out to the consulate and hope to meet them when we are over there.
- How can the chamber help?
We recently joined the Chamber because having attended a few events as a guest I realised that they were as an organisation progressive and actually a solid voice representing businesses of many sizes. So there is a natural amplification of message – by sharing this it may catch the eye of another chamber member who might want to collaborate, it may attract new customers but honestly it’s also us feeding back into the narrative to say look we have gone out to the US on our steam but the Chamber has supported us on that journey too.
About Crysp:
Crysp has a digital platform and service provision that proudly supports professionals across property, facilities and estates management, risk and compliance within private and public sectors throughout the United Kingdom, Europe and Internationally. For more information please visit www.crysp.co.uk