HDD Heathcote Design and Development
“It is reassuring to know there are support systems around to help people starting new businesses like myself.” – Fiona Heathcote, HDD
Heathcote Design and Development is an Architectural practice, specialising in bespoke residential and commercial property design for individuals and developers. The company, founded by Fiona Heathcote, has been operating since July 2008.
For several years before, Fiona was a Design Manager at Taylor Wimpey, International housing and development group. She decided to take the plunge and start up a design company at her home in Buxton, Derby. The business has been running for just under three months now and is proving to be very successful. Due to working in large business in the past Fiona commented, ‘I was so used to having all ICT issues dealt with for me. Therefore, when it came to organising and controlling a website of my own, I didn’t really know where to start’.
Due to the large increase of people surfing the web, Fiona felt is was important for people to be able to reach her via the internet. She had attended a very basic course, however did not really see the results. Therefore the Buxton event was an “ideal opportunity to attend to help with all of my ICT worries”. Fiona received help on creating a website, optimisation and directing traffic to the site through different techniques. The skills have already been applied and Fiona is already seeing results.
“I feel I have walked away from the Buxton event with sound knowledge of knowing where to start looking if I need help in the future. There were so many opportunities to speak to many different professionals, I now feel more confident in the various elements that are needed to create a professional, creative website’.