An Aberdeen-based employee support provider is celebrating a flying start after winning three new clients in four months, following advice and support from Business Gateway.
Launched in 2018 by Jim Grimmer, P3 Business Care takes a subversive approach to the traditional Employee Assistance Programme. On a weekly basis, Jim and his team proactively visit corporate businesses in order to identify and address potential issues prior to staff absence or staff turnover.
Additionally, P3 offers support to immediate family members, making it the only business within the UK addressing the needs of corporate businesses in this way.
Since seeking Business Gateway’s advice, P3 has enjoyed an impressive spike in business, piloting its first three-month scheme with an organisation of 60 staff across Aberdeen and Dundee in January this year. After the initial support period resulted in significant engagement with employees and immediate family, the company made the decision to continue with the support. Following this, P3 won contracts with a Glenrothes-based firm with 90 employees in February, and with a Cardiff business of 160 staff in April.
With the annual costs of absence, ‘presenteeism’ (being at work when ill) and staff turnover estimated to exceed £680,000 for businesses with 100+ personnel[1], employee support programmes can have significant financial benefits. P3 estimates that its proactive approach can reduce these costs by 20%, resulting in a potential annual saving of £136,000.
Jim commented: “The Chartered Institute of Personnel Development has highlighted the need to take care of employees in a more ‘holistic’ manner, realising that issues going on outwith the workplace impact the employee at work and ultimately the business. This is the driving force behind what we do and, when sharing this with Business Gateway, the team could see our long-term vision.
“Business Gateway’s advisers are experts in their respective fields and provided extremely valuable insight and discussion. Their impartial advice and fresh perspective, along with access to a Scottish Enterprise By Design grant - which helped to develop our new web portal - was the final piece of the puzzle that has seen P3 deliver a high-quality service to the corporate market. Our business is in a far better position thanks to this support.”
Kirstie McLaughlin, business adviser at Business Gateway Aberdeen, commented: “We were overjoyed to learn that P3 has made such incredible progress following our advice. Business Gateway offers a broad range of support for both start-up and established businesses, including expert advice across an array of topics. In this case, via our Business Boost programme, we provided P3 with one-to-one business support, expert advice at every stage of the business journey and guidance on grant funding to support digital innovation.
“It is always inspiring to see businesses grow and improve; even more so when, like P3, they strive to enhance the lives of business owners and employees across the country.”
[1] Oxford Economics (2014); Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Annual Survey Report 2016: Absence Management; Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development Annual Survey Report 2017: Recruitment, Retention and Turnover Survey