Pictured above: Anne Elliot with Francis Kabia from Brent Housing Partnership who won the title of Most Inspirational Colleague of the Year at the recent 'Housing Heroes Awards' in London

Carving a successful niche in the 'people business' is delivering further rapid growth for Leamington based EMA Business and Management Consultancy.

The company reports recession-defying demand for its services from across the public, private and not for profit sectors over the last six months. 

Anne Elliot, EMA's Managing Director, said this week: "Since March we have been awarded 20 new contracts, ranging from between one and three years, whilst continuing to enjoy over 85 per cent repeat business from existing clients. It's been a very busy time for us but we have continued to deliver results for our clients and build our reputation."

Ms Elliott founded the company from home in April 2007 after stepping down as director of a rival HR and recruitment consultancy. In its first three years, EMA has won contracts with over 230 clients and achieved a turnover of over £1.5 million. It currently employs 4 staff at its offices on Dormer Place and a further 10 associates around the country, with plans for further staff growth this year.

"Our business is about advising and helping organisations to find and retain the best people for their business and to develop their talents and potential to the full" said Ms Elliot. "If you get the people side right, everything else follows, which is why more and more many companies and organisations are seeking professional help in this area."

"Some of our recent business wins include being appointed to carry out governance and board development work for one of the largest housing associations in the country and winning a three year contract with another large housing organisation to provide a raft of organisational development and governance services.

"We've also won a large recruitment contract with a major local authority in the south west, carried out a number of senior level recruitments for a London based charity and provided a range of HR services to a private sector company based in the south east. 

"These and other new business wins are helping to establish EMA's national profile within its chosen markets" she said. "But we also have a strong sense of being a local business too and are keen to work with local organisations and contribute to business growth in Leamington and throughout Warwickshire."

Despite still being relatively small compared to some of its competitors, EMA nevertheless has a strong social commitment and aims to share the benefits of its success both locally and nationally. The company was a major sponsor of the national 'Housing Heroes' awards this month (May 2010), which celebrates the work of frontline staff in tackling housing and social problems in the community.

It has also recently forged a strategic alliance with Leamington based international charity Cord, which works to restore lives, facilities and peace in countries that have been ravaged by conflict. EMA is providing funding and strategic HR advice to help support the charity's vital work in war-torn areas such as Chad, Burundi and Cambodia.