PROMOTION / ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND / 25 GROWTH FACTOR Bharat Shah, Director and Co-founder of Sigma, talks about his experience of growing a business with help from Royal Bank of Scotland

Q. What challenges was Sigma looking A. Like any relationship there have • As well as support on our banking to overcome using bank expertise? been ups and down. During the recent needs, the bank also runs and A. Sigma is a relatively complex recession and financial crisis, our recommends various events across business that encompasses distribution, relationship went from high involvement the healthcare sector. The regular manufacturing and pharmaceutical to just using the bank for our day-to- economic and healthcare seminars parallel importing activity. We were day banking. However, in the past three which have been a tremendous help looking for a bank that would understand years this has all changed and Royal • Sigma regularly holds overseas our business and that has expertise in Bank of Scotland’s business managers conferences and for the past two years not only pharmaceuticals but across the have shown that they are focused on Royal Bank of Scotland’s experts have healthcare sector. I believe that out of the our business and the relationship has participated as speakers. Not only many banks we had looked at, Royal Bank grown again. The bank introduced a new Sigma, but Sigma’s customers and of Scotland offered us the best expertise. specialist healthcare team and we have suppliers have also benefited from worked very closely with them to build our the networking at a very senior level Q. Why did Sigma choose business – its all ‘full steam’ again with Royal Bank of Scotland? Royal Bank of Scotland. Q. Would you use Royal Bank of A. When Sigma started business, we Scotland again and/or recommend started banking with NatWest in Hounslow. Q. What makes Royal Bank of Scotland them to a colleague and if so why? This was on recommendation from a friend. the bank of your choice? A. We, as a business, choose our bank not As Sigma’s business expanded, we worked A. In summary, some of the reasons why just for the banking facilities, but to be with firstly a local business team and then Royal Bank of Scotland is the bank of our a ‘partner’ in business. I feel that Royal a corporate business team. At all these choice include: Bank of Scotland has demonstrated this stages, we were given the right guidance • It is a clearing bank and has more and we would certainly use them for any that has helped us grow our business from branches to suit our daily activities business projects we may have in future. a new start-up to now turning over £200m. • Royal Bank of Scotland’s support is We have regularly recommended Royal ideal for us as it is ‘end-to-end’. It Bank of Scotland to our customers and Q. How did Royal Bank of Scotland offers a whole range of support, from suppliers, we are certain that a lot of help Sigma and what positive day-to-day banking to project finance customers and suppliers have benefited outcomes were achieved? and corporate finance from our recommendation to use Royal A. From the very start we were given • In my opinion, Royal Bank of Scotland Bank of Scotland.  guidance on setting up the business, has given us the continuity of business looking after our cash flow and dealing managers that has benefited Sigma. For more information on how Royal Bank of Scotland in foreign currencies, as well as export Its business managers are not just can help you, please contact Petia Lazarova on 020 and import activities. What we have also bankers, but have the knowledge and 7672 1140 or email [email protected], or found valuable is invitations to attend experience of our business and our Steve Fergus on 020 7672 2138 or email Steven. a number of informative seminars and industry [email protected]. meetings not just in healthcare, but also • The IT offering of Royal Bank of business related subjects. Scotland suited our business • We have had a lot of problems with Q. What was Royal Bank of cheque fraud and Royal Bank of Scotland like to work with and what Scotland has helped us resolve these strengths did they demonstrate? issues without any loss to Sigma

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