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Great Companies: Please tell me something about the business and how did you come up with such an idea? John Vanek: Vanek Life Coach is designed to promote mental wellbeing and social inclusion. I came up with the idea to address a gap in service provision. Companies can promote mental wellbeing for their managers and employees, thereby increasing the productivity and happiness of their workforce. Great Companies: What are the various services and products provided by your company? John Vanek: Mental Health First Aid trainings, Youth mental health first aid, mental health first aid in the workplace and individual life coaching for self-development and fulfilment. Great Companies: Why should one choose you over others in this field? John Vanek: I have 14 years experience in the field and work continually with a wide spectrum of people, including people with long-term mental health conditions. I can increase the return on investment and productivity of companies and service providers through accredited mental health trainings. I have enabled many people achieve positive and productive results in their own lives and through their own chosen areas of expertise. I am a passionate believer in social inclusion and have deep expertise in the arts as a healing route to mainstream life and self-fulfilment. I am author of the book 'Let Me Do That Too!’ Great Companies: What are the struggles and challenges you face? John Vanek: I am a rather late learner in the world of business. I face the challenge of putting my business and services in front of the right people and discovering the strategies needed to achieve this. Great Companies: What do you think are the few main things which are most important for a successful business? John Vanek: Empathy and the ability to relate to other people. Non-judgemental listening is a core skill for effective business networking.

Great Companies: Please tell me something about the business and how did you come up with such an idea? Mehul K. Doshi: Being a Commerce Graduate, I was always interested in Debit & Credit system of Accounting. So started developing accounting systems with always keeping client requirements on mind. Great Companies: What are the various services and products provided by your company? Mehul K. Doshi: Accounting Software, Inventory Software, Invoicing Software & Quotation Software, CRM Software. Any customisation based on Client Requirements. Great Companies: Why should one choose you over others in this field? Mehul K. Doshi: Because we develop software as per Client requirement and make it very user friendly for the clients. Always believe in MIMO - Minimum Input Maximum Output. Great Companies: What are the struggles and challenges you face? Mehul K. Doshi: Initial days to retain Software Developers was a big challenge, but not our software is designed and developed in such a way that it is very easy to maintain & easily scalable. Great Companies: What do you think are the few main things which are most important for a successful business? Mehul K. Doshi: Honesty towards everything, Trust among employees, strictly follow Business Ethics. Finally never say 'NO' to Customers.

Great Companies: Please tell me something about the business and how did you come up with such an idea? Anuj Bansal: Travel industry is not unique, but has "NO PRICE TAG". That is the major disadvantage, people or often getting overcharged & cheated by online portals. And in case of any issue/ emergency most turn their back. Thus, we planned to come up with a unique plan with 100% verified & transparent service model. We have presence in 16 states & counting in India to make this possible. We verify each & every property/ hotel, by visiting personally before initiating a booking. Also, we arrange direct billing from the hotel & airline to make it 100% transparent. Great Companies: What are the various services and products provided by your company? Anuj Bansal: We have 3 verticals in all: 1. Offering BULK bookings to almost top 25 Event Management companies of India for their MICE & wedding bookings. 2. Providing complete E2E travel management services to corporate/ SMEs. 3. Offering B2B services to Travel agents for their hotel & tour package bookings. Great Companies: Why should one choose you over others in this field? Anuj Bansal: Service & Transparency. Great Companies: What are the struggles and challenges you face? Anuj Bansal: First & foremost is more than 50% businesses are unregistered. In this industry people are not willing to share proper invoice. They don't want to let other person know, who they are dealing with. They just try to save few bugs and leave security at risk. Great Companies: What do you think are the few main things which are most important for a successful business? Anuj Bansal: Leadership being connected with your team be easy to work with Open to both positive & negative feedback.

Great Companies: Please tell me something about the business and how did you come up with such an idea? Debra Brunner: The Together Plan is a UK Charity that I co-founded in 2013. Our mission would be the revival of Jewish community life in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, with a focus on Belarus. I had discovered that, surprisingly, after WW2 and the ravages of the Holocaust, there were many Jews still living in Eastern Europe. Many of my own family had fled their homes in Poland because of deep-rooted anti-semitism and most members of my ex-husband’s immediate family were Holocaust survivors. So there were powerful experiences in my life that deeply influenced my sense of purpose. I had already been involved for some time in voluntary charity work and when I discovered Belarus, I felt a deep connection and I knew that I had found a true calling. It was co-incidental that around that time I was invited, as part of my voluntary work, to establish a link with a Jewish community living in a town called Polotsk, in northern Belarus. Through this project I discovered that although there were charities already operating in the area, they were not encouraging self-sufficiency (as opposed to dependency) or giving people the voice they deserved. My approach was to be very different. Through my voluntary work, I was introduced to a Belarusian human rights lawyer and charity worker who was to become my colleague and co-worker. He shared my own ideas and approach to community development, and together we started The Together Plan. Great Companies: What are the various services and products provided by your company? Debra Brunner: Education and training through youth programmes and distance learning, collecting and sending humanitarian aid to Belarus, projects around memorials and community development, virtual global youth group, translating memory books from Russian to English, genealogical research services and building a Jewish Cultural Heritage Trail through Belarus. What are you doing that others are not: Community Development and Education Unlike our predecessors in the field, we have worked hard through a personal approach to get to know as many individuals in the communities personally, and to ensure that they know us along with the members of our team. We encouraged communities to become self-sufficient and use their initiative rather than bolstering the sense of dependency, which was a relic of their Soviet history. We realised early on that only by educating the young would we achieve success in this regard and so very quickly education become of prime importance in our remit. It was a struggle to change a mind-set inculcated of years of Soviet rule and the trauma of war but we are finally starting to see the results of our efforts. Culture and Heritage - Once established on the ground we quickly realised that heritage was an issue that had not been tackled, in any major sense, by others. We were already taking British groups on tours of the region and discovering a demand from people around the world who were seeking familial roots in Belarus. So we also turned our attention to the development of heritage sites in the region. Great Companies: Why should one choose you over others in this field? Debra Brunner: Our approach is unique in many ways. We give attention to individual survivors, we get to know them personally and we empower them by telling their stories. Our hands on community building approach is up close and personal and it is our goal to help Jewish communities learn tools for self-sufficiency rather than keep them dependent and reliant on financial aid. Self- determination is key and we work with communities not only to help themselves but also to reach out to the wider non-Jewish community to build a more tolerant civil society. Great Companies: What are the struggles and challenges you face? Debra Brunner: Having adequate resources to be able to spend as much time as possible on the ground working with communities and individuals in Belarus is a challenge as well as being able to develop the charity working to a high level of professionalism. Increasing our visibility to widen our reach to enable us to access the charitable funding required building our programmes to the highest standard, and ensuring we have a professional work force to manage the workload to help communities in Belarus whilst developing our education programme. To reach Jewish Belarusians around the world who have stories to tell and who we can help to connect back to the homes they came from. Great Companies: What do you think are the few main things which are most important for a successful business? Debra Brunner: It is an absolute must to have leaders with a growth mind-set and passion, who will inspire, encourage and empower, and a valued team who share the vision. Belief, respect and a clear mission is vital, making sure that you never stray from that mission. Website : https://thetogetherplan.com/ #thetogetherplan #charity #JewishCommunities #SelfSustainable #future

Great Companies: Please tell me something about the business and how did you come up with such an idea? Cristina Vannini-Goodchild: the purpose of the business is to up-skill business owners in Data Protection to reduce their risk of exposure and strengthen their brand and their reputation in the market. I do so with practical solutions that are tailored made to fit with their environment. My mission is to create a GDPR centre of excellence in the SMEs community. I have always worked with data in a corporate environment and it was during my last role as Head of Data Governance that made me realise that the small businesses lack the necessary resources to grasp the regulation let alone implementing it. So I am really passionate about providing the required support and expertise to the SMEs community. Great Companies: What are the various services and products provided by your company? Cristina Vannini-Goodchild: 1. A one stop shop (starter kit) I do all the work and take the pain away. it's an all in one solution with an in depth gap analysis that reveals the risk of exposure followed by a comprehensive compliance plan with prioritised actions and an achievable timeline it also offers all the policy, processes and supporting materials required. At the end of this journey you are GDPR compliant and you have the necessary tools to maintain that status. 2. A robust training programme of 8+1 modules which equates to 18hrs spread across 12 months. this training is a live interactive online session. 3. Data Officer for those who don't have the time. The businesses can purchase a bundle of hours to be used for GDPR expertise/advice or for practical work like executing Data Protection Impact Assessment. 4. A Membership Subscription which includes the 8+1 modules training programme, a member forum and two session of 30mins each with me to be used anytime over a 12 month period. Great Companies: Why should one choose you over others in this field? Cristina Vannini-Goodchild: CVG Solutions has a reputation for operating in an open and transparent manner with our clients, building strong and trusting relationships. My approach is simple and straight-forward – I take the complexity of GDPR away, and inject fun into practical solutions that naturally fit into your business. Great Companies: What are the struggles and challenges you face? Cristina Vannini-Goodchild: there are a lot of misconception about the subject which has created fear, and because of that the temptation is to avoid it. Unfortunately in doing so businesses are actually exposing themselves to heavy fines and criminal charges Great Companies: What do you think are the few main things which are most important for a successful business? Cristina Vannini-Goodchild: Structure, Planning and knowing your market.

Great Companies: Please tell me something about the business and how did you come up with such an idea? Rakesh Jain: If I talk about my idea to start a business, I must say that I am a technology freak and social entrepreneur who wants to help the nation using technology. I have an undying passion for harnessing technology for social improvement. Over the past 24 years, I have contributed to developing platforms that address issues like women empowerment, citizen safety, improved survival for plantation, handling surplus food and avoiding food wastage, etc. Believing in social entrepreneurship, I have been a part of several great initiatives such as CitizenCOP, greenGENE and Aahar towards social issues. Great Companies: What are the various services and products provided by your company? Rakesh Jain: At INFOCRATS Web Solutions, we develop innovative IT solutions for businesses of several domains and help them earn goodwill in the market. We offer top-notch IT services such as – · Mobile app development. · Web app development. · Custom software development. · Website development. · Automation services. · Digital marketing. Few of our notable products include Digital India award-winning application CitizenCOP, which helps in citizen participation and especially, targets the safety of women, kids, senior citizens etc. Our product greenGENE is an initiative that helps in giving a unique identity to trees and thus, promotes tree conservation. We have tagged 1,50,000+ trees in Indore till date. Another popular initiative is Aahar that works on the principle of "No one should sleep hungry", has gained huge popularity across the world due to coverage on BBC news. In addition to this, our products also include, but are not limited to Pollution Meter, eProCOP app, Vote Indore Vote, Queue Management, Election Helpline, Smart Governance App, Yuva Shastra and many more. Recently, with the help of our great Citizen COP Foundation, we have started CoronaCOP Kitchen and fed a minimum of 2,75,000 meals along with other food items like Ready mix Upma, Poha, other Namkeen, bread as well as dry ration food packs to fellow citizens at the critical time of need and global crisis. Great Companies: Why should one choose you over others in this field? Rakesh Jain: With more than 25 years of entrepreneurial and technology-based experience, we leave no stones unturned to develop smart systems using cutting-edge technology for people. Our core areas of expertise are IT implementation and the smoothing of business processes. We, at INFOCRATS Web Solutions, work to bring smiles on many faces with our IT products and make IT solutions possible for serving the needs of diverse clients across the globe. Besides, we are not just limited to doing professional work! We have also started a non-profit organization in the name of CitizenCOP Foundation for making social impacts on the lives of people. Great Companies: What are the struggles and challenges you face? Rakesh Jain: From my client base of all the domains across the world, I’ve faced a lot of struggles and challenges during my IT business journey. From the very beginning of my business, I understood that everyone is struggling and competing to make good earnings and bonuses. But, I work harder with each day passing and put my efforts in the right direction to navigate my company in an effective manner. I keep an eye on the most recent technology and trends to work at my level best for the client's satisfaction and hold a valuable market reputation. Great Companies: What do you think are the few main things which are most important for a successful business? Rakesh Jain: For running a successful business, I think that three things are the most important. One is dedication, second is hard work and third is teamwork. Without teamwork, a business can’t become successful and thrive at great success heights. Besides, you need to be flexible with your working plans and should make your company like a second family for each employee. In your business venture, I must say that trust your team first and take necessary steps for the overall growth of an organization in terms of revenue, resources, and client satisfaction as well.

Great Companies: Please tell me something about the business and how did you come up with such an idea? Kalpesh Patel: Our ambitious journey started back in the year 2011 with a view to taking business automation to the next level. Today, Solution Analysts has become a reputed name among the enterprise software developers in the US and India. Our business model is based on the client-centric approach and quality-driven agility in the domains of mobility, IoT, and software development. Great Companies: What are the various services and products provided by your company? Kalpesh Patel: At Solution Analysts, we offer a range of services in the domains of web development, enterprise mobility, and IoT app development. Looking at the current trends, we have also developed on-demand solutions for niche segments like video conferencing, eWallet, on-demand grocery delivery, and LMS (Learning Management System). We have transformed our company from services provider to services and solutions provider over the period. Great Companies: Why should one choose you over others in this field? Kalpesh Patel: We believe in adding value to the client’s business. We take care of every aspect ranging from design to development and maintenance to marketing while developing customized software solutions. Many of our apps have brought revolutionary changes in the clients’ business model while assisting them to enhance customer services. Our four mainstays are client-centric approach, transparency, compliance of standards, and integration of technological advancements while developing enterprise-grade IT solutions. Finally, we always keep the focus on the end-users. All of these factors set us apart. Great Companies: What are the struggles and challenges you face? Kalpesh Patel: When we started in 2011, we faced the same struggles and challenges as any other tech startups. I would like to mention that we had trying times in the beginning due to delays in payment, and I could not give salaries to my employees on time. However, we sailed through that troubled water and our company has never seen such days again to date. Great Companies: What do you think are the few main things which are most important for a successful business? Kalpesh Patel: I believe that integrity and honesty are the two main things to make any business successful. Since inception, the entire workforce lives as a family and we happily mention ‘SA Family’ in our daily communication. Along with this, real-time communication and meeting deadlines are important to keep your business stay ahead of the curve.

Great Companies: Please tell me something about the business and how did you come up with such an idea? Jed Thompson: Born and bred in Whanganui with industry training and qualifications. Passionate about the field. Strong focus on customer experience and satisfaction. Great Companies: What are the various services and products provided by your company? Jed Thompson: We cover the following areas: · Residential – including new homes, alterations, hot water repairs, drainage/waste water, gas fitting, maintenance, repairs and call outs. · Commercial/Industrial – new installations, servicing, repairs, maintenance, drainage/waste water, gasfitting and call outs. · Rural – including pumps. Great Companies: Why should one choose you over others in this field? Jed Thompson: Thompson Plumbing & Gas Ltd is led by Jed Thompson, who has over nine years trade experience in the plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying industry. Jed is a Certified Plumber, Gasfitter and Drainlayer who offers quality workmanship and a service level second to none. Jed will ensure he listens to your needs and will come up with an effective solution to resolve any issues. We are able to provide estimates for your job and our years of experience dealing with your exact plumbing issue means you can trust us to recommend the most cost-effective solution for your problem. Jed leads a team of qualified and experienced guys and is supported by his partner Rachel who runs the office side of operations, ensuring things run smoothly and to time. Great Companies: What are the struggles and challenges you face? Jed Thompson: Operating as a small business and ensuring growth doesn’t occur too quickly Challenges post COVID-19. Great Companies: What do you think are the few main things which are most important for a successful business? Jed Thompson: Communication with stakeholders, suppliers and customers staying on top of cash flow Being transparent Honest, reliable and quality workmanship creating a reputable brand.

Great Companies: Please tell me something about the business and how did you come up with such an idea? Maxine Henry: I’m a lifelong HR professional, with experience that can only be gained from working in a variety of big-name corporates over the past 18 years. From managing a large scale redundancy programme to creating a culture change programme, if its people related – you name it, I’ve done it. But after some valuable thinking time over Christmas, where I reflected on the things I am passionate about, I started to craft my vision for the future. And so, The People Place HR was born. With a mission of creating a better place for people to work, I’m excited to share my passion for people. Great Companies: What are the various services and products provided by your company? Maxine Henry: Whether you’re looking for straightforward HR support or a tailored solution which is designed to help you attract, retain and grow your people, we’ve got you covered with our HR Services. Leaving you plenty of time to concentrate on doing the thing you love, running your business. We offer Straightforward HR Support which is just that. Simple support which will help you; hire your people, set your people up for success and manage your people, we can even take away the your paper pain. We also understand that as a business leader you make your culture; a feeling of what’s it’s like to work here. By actively developing your culture you will unlock the potential of your people and your business.  By creating strong leadership and management for your people you are developing a great culture which will help your people and your business thrive. Great Companies: Why should one choose you over others in this field? Maxine Henry: Acting as a business partner the People Place HR will support you to align your people policies with your business strategy, helping your business to thrive. Our extensive experience of working with senior leadership teams to facilitate cultural change will help you to attract the best talent and retain and develop your people to make them the best they can be. We will work with you to focus on your specific needs, delivering an innovative HR solution that helps you achieve your business goals. Great Companies: What are the struggles and challenges you face? Maxine Henry: Starting a new business during lockdown has been very challenging and frightening if I’m honest. All the normal networking opportunities that would normally be available to entrepreneurs and start-ups were taken away overnight. But it’s given me an opportunity to take the time to reflect on the type of business I want to own and run and what is important to me. I’ve been sharing my expertise and understanding of employment law with small businesses who didn’t know where to turn. I’ve taken a challenge and turned it into an opportunity to help others. Great Companies: What do you think are the few main things which are most important for a successful business? Maxine Henry: I think the most important thing for a successful business is understanding why you are opening the business in the first place. That will be your driver when the chips are down, and the current situation has shown me that a clear focus coupled with adaptability are key to survival and success. On a more personal note, for me, I wanted to create a legacy for my boys, to show them that when doors are closed, you have the ability to open them for yourself. I also think it’s important to be kind and have good manners, as my mum always says; ‘manners are free, give them to everyone’.

Great Companies: Please tell me something about the business and how did you come up with such an idea? Ajit Rajdev: I started business as a salesman in the street selling soaps, then calendars and Key chains and then I come up with wedding card business in 1983 in Bhuj. Until this we had 2 different shops in Bhuj and 3 different shops in Rajkot shifted to the new premises one by one and getting better opportunities. I have always been keeping the size of the store bigger and bigger all the time. Right now we are having 2000+ Square feet show room, which is an ultimate height in wedding card industry. Great Companies: What are the various services and products provided by your company? Ajit Rajdev: Wedding Cards in various range, Wedding Accessories, Wedding Stationery and All occasion cards which are printed in Red Ink. Great Companies: Why should one choose you over others in this field? Ajit Rajdev: Our products will speak and our customers will speak about us, instead of saying something. We provide quality designs with innovation always. We have the product range starting from Rs. 3 to Rs. 3000. We are always trendsetters in our field. Great Companies: What are the struggles and challenges you face? Ajit Rajdev: To be Numero Uno, we have to add innovation all the time, we have faced financial crisis, competition, and various other things. But quality has always brought up to the top of anything. It's always a pleasure to serve a customer who believes in quality. Great Companies: What do you think are the few main things which are most important for a successful business? Ajit Rajdev: 1. Quality. 2. Consistency. 3. Innovation. 4. Customer Satisfaction. 5. Creativity. 6. Responsiveness. 7. Commitment.

Great Companies: Please tell me something about the business and how did you come up with such an idea? Marc Millar: My business and client stretches across the UK and is fundamentally based on providing trusted advice based on value placed on the client. Great Companies: What are the various services and products provided by your company? Marc Millar: Holistic financial planning, retirement, business protection and personal protection advice along with investment insights and estate planning. Great Companies: Why should one choose you over others in this field? Marc Millar: Because it's not about chasing the financial rewards, it's all about looking after the client and going beyond their expectations where possible ad the financial aspect will take care of itself. Great Companies: What are the struggles and challenges you face? Marc Millar: Levels of competition, internet accessibility for clients, costs and charges in industry, restrictions. Great Companies: What do you think are the few main things which are most important for a successful business? Marc Millar: Its brand, reputation and honesty at all times - building a business based on introductions from clients ensures trust is paramount throughout.

Great Companies: Please tell me something about the business and how did you come up with such an idea? Simon Slee: Moved away from corporate life and the City to work with wife. Great Companies: What are the various services and products provided by your company? Simon Slee: We offer a full range of products and solutions for businesses Visual Communication needs. Signage, Directional Signs, Safety Signs, Vehicle Graphics, Exhibition and Display Banners, Interior Design and Decor, Architectural Signs, Way Finding Solutions. Great Companies: Why should one choose you over others in this field? Simon Slee: Quality of Service and our ability to deliver. Great Companies: What are the struggles and challenges you face? Simon Slee: Recession, staff, financing, suppliers’ issues, and unrealistic client expectations the list is endless. Great Companies: What do you think are the few main things which are most important for a successful business? Simon Slee: Determination and your ability to stick to your vision.