FreshMinds case study

by Real Business - Friday, 31st August 2007

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Twice nominated by Management Today as one of the UK’s “35 women to watch under 35”, Caroline Plumb has received a number of similarly prestigious awards since starting her company, FreshMinds (www.freshminds.co.uk), with business partner Charlie Osmond.

Manchester-born Caroline holds a first class degree in engineering, economics and management from Oxford University. However, on graduating, Caroline turned her back on a potential career in management consultancy to start her own business.

FreshMinds is one of the fastest growing companies in the UK, offering research, analysis and recruitment consultancy services.

Co-founders Caroline and Charlie recognised that there was a lack of satisfying project work for the UK's most talented graduate. There was also the potential to provide businesses with access to a bright, motivated, flexible and fresh workforce at extremely competitive rates.

Since its launch in September 2000, the company has grown rapidly every year. Today it employs more than 60 people and works for over 30 per cent of the FTSE-100, as well as public sector bodies, consultancies and private equity groups.

As co-managing director, Caroline spends a large proportion of her time out of the office, meeting with existing and prospective clients. She also leads a hectic life outside of work, regularly attending networking events, entrepreneurs' meetings or client parties.

Before getting her T-Mobile MDA Vario II with web’n’walk, a service that allows users to access the internet on the move, Caroline used to lose at least an hour of her working day to deadtime – be it travelling to and from work or waiting for meetings to start. With the Vario II, Caroline is now able to read through and respond to emails landing in her inbox from the night before while on the train to work.

“The T-Mobile MDA Vario II is great for improving productivity. It has given me an extra hour of time to myself each day and has definitely had a positive impact on my work-life balance,” comments Caroline.

“In addition to my own experience, our candidates are increasingly searching for roles that will offer an optimum work-life balance. Companies that focus on promoting this – through providing staff with mobile working or flexible working solutions – are seen as more appealing.”

Caroline continues: “It’s really convenient being able to access my emails and my calendar whenever and wherever. It helps me to plan my day more effectively.

"More importantly, I can respond immediately to urgent client emails, which for a business that relies heavily on maintaining excellent client relationships is crucial.”

As well as using the device for inbox and diary management, Caroline is able to take advantage of the web’n’walk service.

“There have been times when having the internet on the move has been a real life-saver. I was running late to an awards do and couldn’t remember the address, but I was able to Google the building through web’n’walk and find the street on Streetmap.

"And, as a closet cricket fan, I loved being able to check the scores during the recent World Cup!”