Introduction

The Portakabin Group is a private company. It provides temporary and permanent buildings. Portakabin Limited is a member of the Group. Its area of business is making buildings that can be built from a number of sections. These are called modular buildings. The Group is the market leader in the UK in an area that has many competitors. It also competes with much bigger concerns in Europe. The Group competes by being able to offer new products and services.

Sectors of industry

An economy is as a rule split into three sectors or parts. These are:

• Primary. This is taking raw materials from the land or sea. Examples are farming, fishing and mining.

• Secondary. This is the turning of raw materials into finished goods.

• Tertiary. This means ‘third’ and refers to the service sector. This includes everything from window cleaning to banking.

Portakabin works in both the second and third sectors. It makes buildings and provides services such as the hire of buildings. The Group makes sure that it provides a complete service. For instance, clients may want not just buildings but access ramps, fire alarms and other special services. It also competes by giving good customer service. This is laid out in a special ‘customer charter’.

Communication

Because products and services are often new, it is vital that Portakabin tell both staff and clients about them. This means that good communication is vital. This is either internal or external communication. Internal takes place inside the company to staff or other parts of the Group. External takes place outside, for instance with clients and other companies.

Internal

The Group use a number of methods for this:

• Newsletters. These tell staff of new products and special events.

• Notice boards. These are clearly set out.

• Posters. These are used on notice boards.

• Roadshows. These are events held in each region and are to inform parts of Europe about Portakabin.

External

The Group use a number of methods of external communication aimed at customers. These include:

• Publications. These must always be clear and attractive.

• A website. This can be checked to see who visits it and how many sales come about as a result.

Conclusion

It is hard to grow in the business that the Portakabin Group is in. This is because most competitors have been around for a long time. Portakabin succeeds in growing by bringing out new products and services.