Home -> News List -> NEW BUSINESS SECURES HALF MILLION TURNOVER AND CREATES 15 NEW JOBS FOR REGION

NEW BUSINESS SECURES HALF MILLION TURNOVER AND CREATES 15 NEW JOBS FOR REGION

Doncaster based entrepreneur, Sean Liversidge has launched a new business called Ikara Business Solutions. The initial investment capital for this new start up business is being provided by Rob Morgan, the chief executive of leading retail group GT Retail.

The management team of the new company, which provides outsourced accounting and back office accounting solutions, comprises Sean Liversidge as Managing Director, with board members Rob Morgan and former Grant Thornton Partner, Bruce Thornton. Services include; online management accounting, cash flow, purchase ledger, supplier, creditor, billing, HR and payroll solutions.

Sean Liversidge has over 15 years of experience in leading and developing outsourcing and shared service centre solutions and has worked with organisations such as General Electric, Liberata and more recently RSM Tenon.

Rob Morgan has spent many years developing multi million pound businesses and specialises in the retail and distribution sectors. GT Retail, with a turnover of £70million, is one of the leading privately owned UK based convenience retailers, with 52 stores across the Midlands and the North, including eight in Doncaster.

Ikara uses leading edge technology to provide cost effective back office and accounting solutions and has agreements with a number of partners including Microsoft Dynamics NAV.

The company’s main target audience is owner and family owned businesses, ranging from sole traders with single site operations to larger businesses that have multiple divisions or locations where management information needs to be specific to that area. Ikara already has a strong presence in the retail and franchising sectors.

Commenting Sean Liversidge said: “There is a significant gap for a cost effective outsourced solution that helps businesses get in control and address the problems associated with cash-flow management and declining trading performance. Using leading edge technology, we provide quality management information on a timely basis and clients are able to make key decisions, lower costs, improve profitability and benchmark performance.”

Ikara, is based in Barlborough, on the Derbyshire/Sheffield border and currently employs 14 staff. There are significant funds available for suitable acquisitions and the aim is to achieve a turnover in excess of £30million over the next 7 years, creating at least 15 more new jobs over the next 18 months to service new business.

The company has already secured significant new contracts with both local and national businesses. Whilst this is an outsourced solution, the company is structured to deliver a personal service with each client having a dedicated account manager.

Rob Morgan added: “We are really pleased to be able to offer these services and create jobs for our local community. It has been a long time ambition of mine to set up a company dedicated to providing these services. I believe important strategic decisions are more reliable if based on accurate and consistently prepared management information. It helps create and maintain more sustainable, cost effective and profitable companies. Certainly within GT Retail,

having access to this information has enabled me to benchmark and ensure the continual improvement of my retail outlets.”

Ikara was advised on business strategy and marketing by Bev Cook of BGB Advisory. Legal advice was provided by Philip Raven of Freethcartwright.

Ikara