RICHARD THOMPSON

Role at TVision

As Managing Director and Founder of TVision, Richard's role is a strategic one. Focused on growing and managing the business, Richard ensures every project is true to TVision's ethos: achieving the greatest results for clients, while maintaining a happy and cohesive environment for his team.

Richard also puts his capacity for planning and vision to use in his spare time - spending summers sailing The Solent as an accomplished yachtsman.

History

Richard's career has been varied — including spending time as a barrister and chartered accountant. Perhaps the most formative period of his early professional life was in the late 1980s when he was working for a chartered-accountancy firm and the MD asked him what he did for the company, giving Richard an epiphany.

That evening, he put a presentation together — expressing how he fundamentally disagreed with the company's attitude towards its customers. Not surprisingly, Richard soon resigned. He threw his efforts into starting his own consultancy, where he could do things differently and pursue his strategic vision. TVision was born.

"TVision was established to focus on providing our clients with systems that deliver real return back to their business, coupled with a comprehensive and reliable support service. Microsoft^® Dynamics™ NAV allows us to achieve just that."

Richard's view of TVision's value-add

To Richard, the key to TVision's success is the frank and open partnership forged with clients who see IT as central to their business strategy:

"At TVision, everyone is prepared to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty, including myself. We all work closely and openly alongside our clients, consistently employing a very direct and straightforward approach. In everything we do we strive to answer the same basic question in order to do the best by our clients - will it add financial value to the business?"

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PIPPA GRANT

Role at TVision

As a Director of TVision, as well as Agency Time Product Manager, Pippa Grant talks to companies who require recruitment or payroll systems, and advises them on what TVision can do for them. It is Pippa who leads the development and implementation of Agency Time, the business management solution provided exclusively by TVision to integrate business critical 'pay/bill' and accounts 'back office' IT functions of recruitment businesses.

As a keen horse-rider, Pippa is no stranger to discipline and control, working with TVision clients to ensure that her recommendations really happen.

History

Pippa has over 20 years experience in payroll and HR, and admits that she 'fell into it' as a career. She spent 7 years working for an investment bank running payroll, where new system implementation was involved. Legislation changed constantly, pay is governed by legislation and budget affects payroll. Pippa therefore needed to continuously make sure the systems could cope with new legislation and requirements within the workplace.

Pippa first met Richard through Thompson Associates. Having worked for various consultancies over the years, she shared the frustration that led to Richard's drive to do something better, and was happy to become a Founding Director of TVision. She loves the variety of her role and finds project work exciting and interesting. She also works with the developers to produce the software:

"We construct it, test it to make sure we've understood, we tweak it, train people, get data in and go live. Agency Time is a massive help to the companies who have it, and the clients I've worked with have grown and succeeded as a result."

Pippa's view of TVision's value-add

"What makes TVision different is our client focus — we deliberately avoid things that people don't like, such as voicemail and call centres. Our clients also have access to our mobile numbers because we view them as true partners and want to be readily available to help and advise at all times."

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ROBERT DE BATH

Role at TVision

TVision's Technical Director, Robert de Bath, has an extensive range of IT responsibilities, which include providing Microsoft^® Dynamics™ NAV programming at all levels. He is also very hands-on with all of TVision's internal systems, server setup and maintenance, and internet connectivity - including remote connections to clients.

Robert's enthusiasm for all things technical extends to his personal time, when Robert is never more content than when programming for fun, helping friends and family with computer issues or indulging in the odd spot of gaming.

History

Robert has always been driven by electronics and computers, but has a particular passion for Microsoft Dynamics NAV. He loves the access to codes that it provides, as well as the ability it gives designers to make seamless additions, like putting in a new field and having the effects ripple through. He cites Microsoft Dynamics NAV's Error Reporting function as being one of its greatest benefits:

"Should the need arise, with Microsoft Dynamics NAV you immediately know exactly where and what the problem is, making it faster to correct than might be the case with other mid-range solutions."

When he met Richard Thompson, there was an instant meshing of minds and they knew they would work well together. This quickly drew him into joining Richard as one of the three founding members of TVision. Robert is an ace when it comes to fixing any issues with existing Microsoft Dynamics NAV code, and provides support and consulting for other people within the business.

Robert's view of TVision's value-add

"With TVision, clients frequently find we are not as procedure bound as other companies might be, and we are therefore more flexible in designing and implementing a solution with minimum fuss. At TVision, we strive to understand our client's business - almost becoming a part of it. We don't just remain on the outside looking in."

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Nicki Stewart

Role at TVision

TVision Sales & Marketing Director, Nicki Stewart, presents potential clients with the information they need to determine whether TVision is the right partner for them. Through reviewing such critical factors as an organisation's existing systems and processes, business strategy, available internal IT resource and attitude to change, Nicki helps them make the best decision towards meeting their short and long-term business goals.

Nicki's role is both challenging and demanding. Luckily, she is only comfortable when living life at breakneck speed, spending her weekends juggling the demands of two small children with a desire to burn it up on a powerful motorbike.

Nicki is therefore well placed to lead her clients through the adventure of a new system implementation and provide them with a smooth experience to achieve their business goals.

History

Nicki first became involved with selling Microsoft^® Dynamics™ NAV in 1998, freely admitting that with no prior experience of selling IT, she was on a steep learning curve. Since then she has worked for a number of resellers, all with a focus on Microsoft Dynamics NAV.

"My main focus has always been selling Microsoft Dynamics NAV. At TVision, we firmly believe it's the best mid-market solution — it's no coincidence that it's the most widely used Microsoft Dynamics product."

In 2002, the same year that Microsoft bought Navision, Nicki had a call from Richard Thompson, who was keen to recruit her for his fast-growing company. She initially joined as a New Business Sales Executive, but through her long service, perseverance and "being quite good at it" she was promoted to Sales and Marketing Director.

Nicki's view of TVision's value-add

"I genuinely like TVision — it's the fairest company I've ever worked for. Everything we do is built on incredible honesty and a straightforward approach. Implementing new systems can be a struggle, with considerable extra work and upheaval across the business. With TVision, clients have a partner that will work with them, not struggle against them."

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