Business Action | June / July 2019

DIGITAL AGENCY’S
ACHIEVEMENTS
A digital agency established
in a one-bedroom flat in Exeter
recently celebrated its fifth year
in business and the acquisition
of its 300th client.
MiHi Digital, started
by director Mark Worden
in 2013 and now based in
Broadwoodwidger, supports
businesses throughout Devon
and Cornwall in strengthening
their online presence through
web design, social media,
search engine optimisation and
strategic consultancy.
In the past twelve months,
the business has broken its own
records by winning a total of
69 new clients, launching 39
web sites, and achieving growth
of more than 30% for a fifth
consecutive year.
Mihi has achieved significant
growth across all of
its core service areas, with
social media management
and training both growing by
more than 400% in revenue
compared with the previous
year. There was also strong
growth in search engine optimisation,
PPC management
and web site design, which
continues to be the agency’s
leading service.
Mark, who previously
worked at a law firm, attributes
part of this year’s expansion to
even more recommendations
from existing clients.
“We are delighted to have
had yet another busy and
successful year at MiHi, seeing
results which have surpassed
all of our expectations,” says
Mark. “We’ve launched a large
number of new web sites and
gained a lot of work through
word of mouth and personal
recommendations, passed on
by our happy clients.”
Now in its sixth year, Mihi
continues to build its reputation,
especially in the wedding
and tourism industries, as well
as developing a niche within
film and television production.
It also supports the Devon
business community by sponsoring
the Glamping Business
and Alternative Accommodation
of the Year category in the
Devon Tourism Awards.
“The glamping category is
one that’s close to our hearts
at MiHi,” adds Mark. “We’ve
worked with more than 100
hospitality businesses in
recent years, many of whom
have gone on to win national
acclaim, so we’re looking
forward to handing over the
awards to those that really are
at the top of their game.”
■■Details 01566 232323 or
mihidigital.co.uk
DIGITAL
Intelligence in Business
A review of purchases made
by businesses represented
at Applegate’s ‘Intelligence
in Business’ event identified
combined potential cost savings
of £35,000.
As a technology business,
Applegate offers a free,
cloud-based eProcurement
tool for buyers to help them
find what they need. It is
also working, in partnership
with the Institute of Data
Science and Artificial Intelligence
at the University of
Exeter, to develop machine
learning systems – continually
enhancing that tool – with the
mission of saving businesses
time, money and hassle in the
purchasing process.
Intelligence in Business
explored what organisations
are doing to develop the digital
landscape across Devon, the
ways in which businesses can
recruit for the long term, the
role of AI for business, and
how procurement can often
mean sourcing smarter.
In line with the ethos
of saving businesses time,
hassle and money, Applegate
reviewed a number
of purchases by attendees,
placing requests on its system
to identify potential cost
savings, which identified the
£35,000 of cost savings.
“All organisations are
looking to achieve savings
across their business,” said
Stephen Roberts, chief executive
of North Devon Hospice.
“As a local charity, we have
to ensure that every penny
counts and can be used to
support our care for patients.
Through Applegate you are
able to achieve efficiencies
both in terms of time and
costs across all aspects of your
procurement activities.”
In addition to keynote
presentations spanning intelligence
in apprenticeships,
digital, Artificial Intelligence
and procurement from Jack
Richards (Applegate), Paula
Byers (DigitalND) and Stuart
Brocklehurst (Applegate), the
event concluded with a Question
and Answer session.
The event at the Queen
Anne’s Café in Barnstaple,
was attended by organisations
including North Devon
Hospice, TDK-Lambda, Beran
Instruments and Children’s
Hospice South West.
Stuart Brocklehurst,
chief executive at Applegate,
commented: “We are very
pleased to have saved money
for every organisation who
raised a request for quotation.
This event has proved highly
successful for us in spreading
the message of the importance
of sourcing smartly and we
hope that attendees found the
afternoon useful.”
■■Details 0345 600 7177 or
applegate.co.uk
Celebrating five years in business working with 300
clients: Mark Worden, director of Mihi Digital
@businessactionm | June / July 2019 | business action 15