An expanding Bradford-based transport, logistics and distribution company has launched a new division to focus on helping small and medium-sized firms improve their business efficiency.

Advanced Supply Chain, based on the Euroway trading estate, has launched Consultancy Plus, a business consultancy which aims to plug a perceived gap in the market for services to help improve operational efficiency at smaller companies and help them get their goods to market effectively.

ASC chief executive Mike Danby said that Consultancy Plus would work in collaboration with client firms offering an affordable service to develop strategies which could be achieved using a firm’s skill-set.

He said: “Typically, most consultancy practices offer logistical advice to businesses for a substantial fee, before leaving them to deliver something not necessarily within their core skill set. Advanced Supply Chain has implemented a consultancy ethos which emphasises a uniquely collaborative approach, where the solution is conceived and delivered in partnership with the business in question.

“We decided to bring our new Consultancy Plus service to the market in order to provide SMEs with a cost-effective strategic partnership. Our expertise lies in an area that many of these businesses struggle with. While they’re effective at selling a product, they need to improve on their operations and logistics that get it to market effectively.”

The first client of the new consultancy operation is Lancashire-based soft furnishings supplier J Rosenthal & Son Ltd. Consultancy Plus has helped the firm achieve improvements in strategic thinking, process re-engineering, operational management, staffing and recruitment and installed a full-time general manager on-site at J Rosenthal & Son.

Managing director Harry Rosenthal said: “Consultancy Plus has been incredibly helpful. They highlighted operational inefficiencies we weren’t aware of and helped us to remove them effectively to enhance the service we offer. We’ve since installed an ASC member of staff as a full-time general manager at the firm.”

The launch of Consultancy Plus is the latest stage in the development of ASC, which has built turnover by more than 100 per cent over the past three years to £17.4 million, and has a target of growing this to £100 million by 2016.

ASC signed a significant new partnership with China’s largest logistics business Sinotrans, which is set to create growth of between ten and 15 per cent a year; clinched a £24 million deal with cash-and-carry giant Makro, which will create 60 permanent jobs, and a deal with GO Outdoors to manage a warehouse and UK distribution operation.