Member Article

Coventry man's running app gets off to flying start

A Coventry man who designed an app to help improve organisation at his running club has seen his product grow to be used across the country.

Paul Curtis, a freelance designer by trade, saw an opportunity to help the 280 club members at Massey Ferguson Running Club get easier access to news, personal best records and more after joining in 2016.

He originally designed an app solely for the Coventry-based club but after it proved to be a success, other clubs came calling and it has now been made available across the country and branded the My Running Club app.

After taking his original idea to the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, Paul received help and support to turn into a business via the Coventry and Warwickshire Business Support Programme.

The programme, which is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, in partnership with Coventry City Council, Warwickshire County Council and the District and Borough Councils, helped him to alter how he marketed the app to a wider audience and has seen great results since.

The app has now expanded and can be used to monitor track and field events and triathlon races.

Paul said: “I joined the Massey Ferguson Running Club and in terms of communications I thought there was space for improvement.

“I put together the app just to help out and make sure everyone could easily keep on top of what was going on, stay in contact with each other and share their successes all in one place.

“It was put together over the course of a year and after we started using it, word must have spread because we had other clubs getting in touch to see if there was a version they could use.

“The actual design part of the app was something that I am very familiar with, but the ideas on how to push My Running Club as a business was where the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce really helped.

“I worked with a mentor at the Chamber, Margaret Bull, who assisted me in marketing and pricing and where we might also add in extra services to help the business grow.

“You can now customise the app in terms of its design to suit your running club and we have more than 10 clubs across the country taking part.

“The feedback has been great and of course I still get feedback from members of the Massey Ferguson Running Club.”

Free trials of the My Running Club app are available, with anyone interested encouraged to contact hello@myrunningclub.net.

Margaret Bull, business adviser at the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “Paul came to us with his app technically completed, so the main emphasis was on developing his marketing strategy and defining his client profile.

“It’s very often the case that people have a great idea but it’s actually the business side where help is needed – and that’s where we can assist.”

The Coventry and Warwickshire Business Support Programme is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, in partnership with Coventry City Council, Warwickshire County Council and the District and Borough Councils.

For more information or to book on to the Business Support programme, call the Chamber on 024 7665 4321 or log onto www.cw-chamber.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Matt Joyce .