Ahead of our upcoming Business Forum event, we sat down with Jim De Jong, Head of External Sales at Adventoris in Huddersfield, to hear about the exciting things the brand is doing here.
Adventoris is on-board to sponsor our second Business Forum event this June, and they’re keen to join us on our mission of making Huddersfield THE place to be! Our second Business Forum will focus on the theme of digital innovation. You can book your place on Eventbrite here.
Adventoris is a Software as a Service (SaaS) company, founded in 2012, by James Clarkson. The company is the creator of SwiftCloud, a customisable B2B mobile sales app solution for distributors and wholesalers allowing customers to view products, communicate and place orders, 24/7.
Describe what Adventoris does?
Adventoris is the developer of SwiftCloud, which is a B2B ordering platform that enables businesses to sell to other businesses via a branded app or web portal, whilst replicating the intricacies of B2B sales such as complex individual pricing and delivery terms. As an integrated solution, it removes the need for manual order entry into the system, eliminating human error.
Tell us about your recent change of premises.
Adventoris started with just one office hired in the 3M Buckley Innovation Centre (3M BIC), and soon grew to having many offices across different floors. In September we moved to our first owned office building, in Folly Hall Mills, Huddersfield. The entire team is now on one floor in an open plan office, which has vastly improved the collaboration between departments, and helped us to become stronger as a team.
I am proud of the development of the Armitage Suite within the new building, as a tribute to Peter Armitage, a non-executive director at Adventoris and founding partner of Key Capital Partners, who passed away in March 2023. Peter was one of the original investors in the company and was a huge part of the business. He is greatly missed.
Why is Huddersfield the ideal place for Adventoris to thrive?
Huddersfield is at the heart of the country, and is therefore brilliantly positioned, via the M1 or M62, to ship goods anywhere. It is also close enough to other major cities, allowing businesses to access the huge bank talent that resides in the North.
Finding good people is important, and it’s been brilliant to utilise local talent in the business, with people specialising in key areas, from marketing, to sales, to technical development.
We’ve also continued to expand our client portfolio recently, attracting high-profile brands, such as Piper’s Crisps, Staedtler, and A.G. BARR, alongside local names such as Halifax-based dental and foundry supplier, John Winter.
What do you like the most about being part of the business community in Huddersfield?
There are lots of exciting developments currently planned for Huddersfield, from the ‘Our Cultural Heart’ project, to the Station to Stadium Enterprise Corridor. This makes Huddersfield a great place to be not just now, but well into the future.
Our CEO, James Clarkson, is passionate about inspiring the next generation of the workforce, and pioneering fresh talent in the local area, and he’s developed a strong link with the University of Huddersfield via his seat on the Huddersfield Business School Advisory Board. Through this, James gets the chance to provide independent input into the academic and strategic direction of the Business School, and support new talent through work experience, apprenticeships and advice.
What are your hopes for Huddersfield 10 years from now?
I’m looking forward to seeing the Our Cultural Heart project and the Transpennine Route Upgrade get completed, and for Huddersfield to be able to reap the incredible potential benefits of it. With the new developments in the town centre and the University continuing to grow, we should start to see a significant improvement in the economy of the town.
I also hope to see Huddersfield become a thriving technology and innovation hub, and I want Adventoris to play a big part in showing how businesses can utilise technological innovation to advance themselves.
What advice would you give to someone looking to set up or relocate their business in Huddersfield?
Huddersfield is a great up-and-coming place right in between Manchester and Leeds, filled with hidden gems and wonderful people, and in particular a great network of businesses.
My advice to anyone looking to relocate would be firstly to speak with Huddersfield Unlimited to find out all the information you need about running a business in the town, and secondly, to go along to the networking events to get to know the vibrant community of business owners in the area.
What do you think Huddersfield Unlimited’s Business Forum events will bring to the business community?
The Business Forum events present a great opportunity to meet like-minded people within a relaxed atmosphere. It’s a fantastic network of people, and there is a wealth of knowledge that cultivates at these events, which makes each event unmissable.
Are there any recommendations or local knowledge you’d like to share with a visitor?
Huddersfield has some great food options, but for me, Marstons Chicken and Dixons Milk Ices are a must visit. It also has a plethora of amazing fish and chip shops too!
Connect with Jim on LinkedIn.