Mesma is a software-as-a-service provider which specialises in helping training providers, colleges, universities, employment support providers and regulatory bodies with quality assurance. The digital firm was founded by Louise Doyle and it is targeting £600,000 turnover in the next 12 months.
What was your first job (and how much did it pay)?
My first was in my local newsagent. I don’t remember how much I was paid but I do know I ate my bodyweight in bon bon sweets every shift so whatever the pay was, I was very happy.
What is the best advice or support you’ve been given in business?
Small businesses build better when they work in partnership with other SMEs.
What are the main changes you’ve seen in your business/sector, and what are the challenges you’re facing?
Our software is bought by education and employment support providers who want to build world-class quality assurance systems. As a result of the pandemic, we’ve noticed greater confidence from our clients in their willingness to use purpose-built software applications, rather than an over-reliance on more generic software tools. This also means they’re more demanding of us which keeps us on our toes.
Our single biggest challenge at the moment is the lack of available skilled software engineers at a salary we can afford. We’re lucky that we already have a clear ethos of growing our own talent so use apprenticeships successfully to build our team.
How has the pandemic changed the way you work?
Our staff like the flexibility home-working brings but we also need time together to enjoy each other’s company, make speedy decisions and ultimately grow the company as a collaborative endeavour. Like many SMEs, we’re watching and waiting for which landlords make the smart move in creating flexible space that’s more than hotdesking but doesn’t demand rent for five days per week.
Who is your role model in business?
I’ll pick out three women in the North East who I love to learn from in my day job and governance roles (aside from the excellent women I work with at Mesma). Debbie Allingham who runs Laurea Projects, Ellen Thinnesen, CEO Education Partnership North East, and Zoe Carr, CEO Wise Academies. They are all exceptional in their own way, and we’re lucky to have them doing what they do.
What would your dream job be?
I imagine the right answer is to say doing what I do now, but the true answer is, I would have liked to be touring the world as a backing dancer, earning very little, with sore feet but having a blast.
What advice would you give to someone starting out a career in your sector?
Take everything you can from each job that you have; learn from the good people you meet, and for the occasional one you come across who behave badly, take a mental note never to treat people that way.
What makes the North East a good place to do business?
Very little of our business is conducted in the North East but we’ve no plans to change being based here because there are few places I have lived or worked where it is possible to run a business and be so heavily connected to using our skills and networks to make a direct, positive impact on the regional community. There is a deep-rooted sense of being in it together up north.
How important is it for business to play a role in society?
My mantra is that you’re never too small to make a difference in society. Our team play an active role in the education sector within the region in many ways. Most importantly, we practice what we preach and do all of these things ourselves. It was nice to be asked to contribute a case study to the recently published Gatsby resources encouraging SMEs to engage in the education sector.
Outside of work, what are you really good at?
I’m not sure about being really good, but I’d probably give you a run for your money at any racket sport and obviously, I’m a great kitchen dancer.
