Agency Makeover Marks Most Successful Year for SAAS Global’s Sister Companies

Discover The East Riding’s Best Kept Secret…

Market Weighton’s residents might be surprised to learn that an award-winning Software and Advertising Agency resides on its High Street. Inside the former Wesleyan Chapel named ‘Simplytrak House’ on York Road, in the small East Yorkshire town you will find SAAS Global the company behind Forward & Thinking, Simplytrak, and Wold Outdoor.

SAAS Global (Software And Advertising Services) is the holding company for Simplytrak - vehicle tracking and telematics specialists, Forward & Thinking – a dedicated advertising, media buying and commercial production company and Wold Outdoor the Group’s digital media tower builder and property development arm.

The chapel has been home to the sister companies for 8 years since local Founder Directors Andrew and Alison Johnson (a husband-and-wife team) purchased the building. Having acquired the chapel after it lay dormant for over 5 years, the couple gutted the interior, taking over a year to convert the space to make it a modern and enlightening place to work. The Johnson’s have continually invested in the property seeing the space as the Group’s epicentre and an ever-evolving part of the SAAS family.

The fully refreshed HQ is now virtually unrecognisable inside, having undergone additional renovations in 2021 almost 8 years after moving in to further upgrade the interior. Spending circa £20K on quality refurbishments, decorating and interior furnishings the chapel has now re-opened and recently welcomed back the business’s growing teams.

Staff from Forward & Thinking and Simplytrak returned to the chapel on Tuesday 3rd August after eighteen months working remotely. Re-entering the office was made extra special for team members new and old, with the refurbishment celebrations seeing staff come together to enjoy a champagne buffet.

Talking about what drove the refurbishment plans, working through the pandemic and returning to the office for the first time SAAS Global Founder/Director, Andrew Johnson said: “For over 2 years, before the Covid-19 pandemic Alison and I had searched for new, bigger offices to manage the expansion for both Forward & Thinking and Simplytrak. Our search was in vain, and we couldn’t find anything for sale or lease to the standard we already had at the chapel. We were on the point of buying the premises next door to renovate and expand into when Covid struck.”

Reflecting back on the pandemic and closing the office Andrew said, “In an instant the office was closed with practically no prior notice, businesses were thrown into a state of emergency, survival became priority one. We were forced to adapt quickly, and our teams responded superbly - everyone supported each other and worked tirelessly to ensure our customer service levels were maintained whilst working remotely.”

During the pandemic the sister businesses grew faster than ever before, with client wins and new orders landing for both Simplytrak and Forward & Thinking amid all the uncertainty. After many months of home working and with the end of lockdowns and restrictions finally in sight the Directors made the decision to go ahead with a full office refurb to welcome everyone back to face-to-face working. Andrew candidly remarks, “It was a very easy decision to make.”

Bringing in local contractors including builders, plumbers, electricians, painters and decorators and flooring fitters, the chapel was gradually transformed. New carpets were laid throughout alongside upgraded tiling and signage, custom made white glass desktops now adorn each desk, new furniture is in situ and the staffroom/kitchen has been enhanced. The chapel is now Pinterest and Instagram ready, with New York loft vibes, the space is clean and modern with lots of attention to detail and homely touches.

Andrew says: “We went to town on what was already a great place to work”. Having celebrated the re-launch with staff members old and new, Alison proudly added, “To see the amazement on the faces of the team and the buzz about the office was incredible! This team surpassed our high expectations during lockdown, and they deserve the best possible work environment. This isn't just a refurb. It's an investment in winners.”

Adopting new hot-desking arrangements and hybrid working, the businesses are more adaptable than ever. With continued growth plans in place and new roles already being advertised the Group is excited to welcome new team members to the growing ‘family’.

Ten new starters joined the companies during lockdown, so their first time visiting the office was for the refurb re-opening event, which also involved them meeting their new colleagues for the first time not on a screen.

Talking about the new versatile working approach, Natalie Downie, Forward & Thinking’s MD said, “Moving to a split of working from home and in the office, we wanted to create an office environment that was versatile and maximised the space we had. We have created an open hub for collaborative work that is inspiring and embodies our culture. The open space suits all needs with single desks, group tables, and sofas offering the flexibility to work in the correct environment for any project.”

Reflecting on the team seeing the refurb first-hand Nat said: “The ‘launch day’ was the first time we had all seen each other together in over 18 months. The day was everything we wanted it to be and more! It was exciting, inspiring, loud, and champagne fuelled! We have an exciting future ahead and the office is just the start…”

With ten new hires joining the business during the pandemic, SAAS now employs 9 people, Simplytrak has grown to 7 people, and Forward & Thinking has reached 13 staff bringing the company total to twenty-nine with 2 vacancies currently being recruited to.

Now on an upward trajectory, Forward & Thinking, Simplytrak, and Wold Outdoor are Yorkshire businesses with big ambitions and very exciting future plans ahead of them.

Notes to Editors

For more information, please contact Gemma Dunn, Strategic Marketing Consultant at hello@elitemarcomm.com, or call 07860 464692.

About SAAS Global:
SAAS Global (Software and Advertising Services) is the holding company for Simplytrak (including AIM and SimplySecure), Forward & Thinking, and Wold Outdoor.

Andrew Johnson | Founder/Director
Andrew is a founder member of Forward & Thinking and CEO/Director of Group holding company SAAS Global. Andrew’s remit is to build the teams and then get out of their way to let good things happen. A graduate of Hull University, Andrew ran businesses in Europe and the USA before returning to East Yorkshire.

Alison Johnson | Founder/Director
Alison is a Founder of Forward & Thinking and SAAS Global, as well as being the Chief Operating Officer and Director of the Group. Alison oversees the overall strategy and ethos of the Group. With a mission to create the most innovative and customer-focused companies in the country, Alison’s drive knows no bounds. She has built an impressive team who really care about customers, each other, and the success of every single campaign.

Natalie Downie | Forward & Thinking Managing Director
Natalie Downie is Forward & Thinking’s Managing Director. Nat joined F&T in 2014 on a two-week work experience placement. Four years in, she was promoted to MD and received the prestigious Top30Under30 Award for the Hull & Humber region in the same year. She loves pushing the business to the next level and taking care of her employees and clients.

Team members were encouraged to share their thoughts on the chapel refurb - read what they had to say:

Fiona Downie, Forward & Thinking's Senior Artwork Planner:
"Coming back into our fabulous new office after 18 months of working from home has been so refreshing! The new space is amazing and reflects the team so well and has given me such a positive work boost! It's so nice to see everyone after so long and be able to collaborate with the team face-to-face. I'm very happy to be back in the office."

Emily Rymchuk, Senior Media Planner:
“It's great to get the ‘work family’ back together! With our ever-growing team, we have a great new office to go with it - an office with focus and chill vibes rolled into one, perfect!”

Darren Clewes, Group Sales Director (SAAS Global):
“Being back in the newly refurbed office reminded me why I joined the company. We’re a great bunch of people, who work really hard together to make magic for our clients. The new office feel reflects that.”

Sarah Nicholson, Digital Marketing Executive (F&T):
“I joined F&T in the middle of the lockdown last year, meaning that all of my on-boarding, training and introductions happened remotely, via video call. Despite being welcomed so warmly into the team while working from home, I'm really excited to be able to get back into the office and work with everyone face-to-face! Everybody has done an amazing job with remote working and made me feel right at home, but you can't beat in-person chatting, storytelling, and tea and biscuits!”

Natalea Walker, Media Planning Manager (F&T):
“It's been amazing coming back, closing the virtual Teams app for the day, and finally getting staff together. We had the added bonus of seeing the office in a whole new light! There was real energy from the moment I stepped through the door, and it felt like a 'back to school' moment because we were experiencing a complete transformation, from desk layout to furniture and flooring to paintwork. The makeover has an organic, natural but sophisticated feel combined with monochrome/purple accents. It is a true reflection of how the brand and team has grown. This change has reset everyone's mentality and given us all a new headspace in which we can feel comfortable and transition easily, from working from home into the office.”

Greg Halliday, Product Development Manager (Simplytrak):
“Coming back into the office after working from home has been a breath of fresh air. But to see the office space has been refurbed and redecorated during our absence is amazing. There's a boosted feel of professionalism and focus to our days. It's great to see everyone happy again!”

Molly Thompson, Digital Marketing Executive (F&T):
"It was a breath of fresh air to be back in the office with the team and catch up with everyone after working from home for so long. The office ‘glow up’ definitely didn't disappoint and I'm excited to get working in there!"

Lydia Goodrick, Artwork Assistant (F&T):
“As a new starter throughout lockdown, coming into the office and meeting everyone in person has been amazing! The swish refurb of the office really reflects our team and brand and I felt so at home going back in this week. It is a great place to mingle and also collaborate on ideas and improve my development in a new job role... and the comfy desk chair didn't go amiss!”

Tonicha Grist, Office Administrator (Simplytrak):
“It’s so refreshing to be able to have a face-to-face conversation and a laugh with my colleagues in our new and amazing office space.”

Andrew Sterling, Media Planner (F&T):
“Having started my role here at Forward and Thinking during lockdown, I have only met the team through video calls so coming into the refurbished office and actually meeting everyone was a great experience. It felt like I was starting my first day at the company again!”

Chloe Cordell, Media Assistant (F&T):
“It was great to get back in the office and see everyone! I like to think we are all like family and I've missed seeing everyone every day, it felt normal which has been something we have all missed out on for so long. The office looks incredible, the colours and theme give it a classy, yet modern uplift to the chapel, I feel like this is just what we all needed to get back and smash through anything that's gets thrown our way. It's also a great change from seeing the same 4 walls all the time!”

Discover more online at:
SAAS Global - https://saas-global.com/
Simplytrak - https://www.simplytrak.com/
Forward & Thinking - https://www.forwardandthinking.com/
Wold Outdoor - https://www.woldoutdoor.com/


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About Elite Marketing & Communications Ltd.

Established in December 2020, Elite Marketing & Communications offers marketing consultancy and support to individuals and businesses, predominantly in the Yorkshire region.


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