CUBE soar to new heights with Business Adviser support

CUBE is an insight-led video, animation and photography agency for brands that mean business. It was co-founded by James Hakesley and Roy Kimani as part of a journey that began at university and continued with impressive growth and success at the Buckinghamshire Business Awards, via support from Buckinghamshire Business First.

It was back in 2018 that CUBE reached out to our Business Support Team to see what support was available. The team sprang into action and James was soon receiving support from a Business Adviser that included one-to-one meetings to review CUBE’s business strategy and growth plans, and useful workshops that improved multiple areas of the business.

The support paid off when CUBE put their growth plans into action and began to have success within new markets, with the team producing videos across the UK as well as in Amsterdam, Porto, Paris and Milan. They have also worked with brands such as Virgin Media Business, BP Pulse, GROHE, EY, University of Buckingham, Crown Paints, Hitachi, and Buckinghamshire Council.

CUBE's progression can clearly be seen in the awards successes they have had, from winning New Business of the Year at the Buckinghamshire Business Awards in 2017 to winning Creative Business of the Year and Apprentice and Young Person Employer of the Year at the same awards in 2023. They have also become one of the valued sponsors of the awards, sponsoring the Excellence in Customer Service category for the last three years, as well as filming the ceremony and capturing the winners' thoughts just after they have won.

As for their own growth and success, the team at CUBE had this to say:

"We’re incredibly proud of how much we’ve grown over the last seven years. It’s brilliant to be recognised as not just a new business, but a business that is thriving and competing within the creative industry. 

"As an ambitious team that has grown from the ground up, being recognised within the Apprentice and Young Person Employer of the Year category has also been amazing. We’re so proud of our CUBE UP! work experience programme and the impact that it’s having on young people and their futures. With the skills shortage within film and TV, and following the impact that Covid had on practical learning, it’s so important to us that we’re able to offer that real-life, hands-on experience within the industry, as well as be able to get young people work-ready and prepared for their futures.

"We’ve seen great growth in the number of young people coming through CUBE UP! this year, with many Buckinghamshire-based students learning with us. It’s great to see that there’s a real demand for this type of experience, and that we’re able to give back across the county in this way."

All about the 'valuable advice' CUBE received from Buckinghamshire Business First

At the time of the initial support they received from Buckinghamshire Business First, we asked James Hakesley about the impact the support was having on CUBE. The questions and answers are below and remain as relevant as ever.

What made you reach out to Buckinghamshire Business First for support?

"We reached out to Buckinghamshire Business First for support as we felt we could gain valuable insight and support from their business advisers. As a small business, to have the opportunity to have an experienced sounding board is a great opportunity. We focused on how we could build a strategy for sustainability and growth and soon doubled the team, key sectors, and products and services."

How did you find the 1-2-1 advice on strategy and planning?

"We received valuable advice and support with our future strategy planning, with our Business Adviser at Buckinghamshire Business First providing years of experience and wisdom having previously run their own business. These sessions enabled us to focus on what we needed to do in order to grow."

Your Business Adviser recommended attending workshops on marketing and sales to help you with your plans. What did you learn from the events?

"I found the events to be great places to learn and broaden thinking. We improved our telephone sales conversations, networking approach and areas of our website and marketing, so things that I learnt in these workshops have been implemented across the business."

Did the support from our Business Advisers yield any other benefits?

"With our Business Adviser’s support, we identified the need to diversify and so focused on winning new business in new sectors. With this strategy, we opened new markets such as technology, pharmaceuticals and professional services.

"We also added new services for our clients and now provide animation, photography and video marketing."

So this support has meant an increase in business for CUBE?

"Yes, the support has connected us with numerous other businesses and we have gone on to produce multiple videos for these contacts.

"Another introduction was to local charity Lindengate who became our chosen charity to support, producing a video with them."

What would be your message to business owners thinking of trying to grow their business?

"My main advice is to focus on your business and focus on growth. Take advantage of your Buckinghamshire Business First membership and attend workshops and networking events and seek the advice and support from their advisers.

"Buckinghamshire Business First is an invaluable resource that can help you focus, plan and implement a strategy that helps your business grow."

Get Your Business Questions Answered

Our Business Support Team is full of experienced people who know what it's like to run a business and encounter the very challenges that you are facing.

They can answer your questions and identify the support you need.

Learn more about this support here - or email BusinessSupport@bbf.uk.com or call 01494 927130.