Appointedd seeks £150k to roll out time-saving app

A COMPANY that featured in the BBC2 documentary The Entrepreneurs is seeking £150,000 to roll out a piece of software that claims to save tradesmen half a day a week in otherwise lost time.

Leah Hutcheon: empowering

Appointedd, an Edinburgh-based startup, has aimed its mobile app at those such as plumbers, personal planners and salon workers who build their day around time slots.

It allows them to sell their appointments online and connect with customers wherever they are. Consumers can also access deals direct from the business, read reviews and collect loyalty points.

The company is run by Leah Hutcheon, who said that she is targeting what she regards as a sector that has been overlooked.

Hutcheon said: “We set out to empower small businesses to take bookings online, but it soon became apparent that there was a bigger problem in this sector. Service businesses have been forgotten by most technology companies.

“There are very few tools to help them manage their day-to-day business. We are very excited about changing that.”

Appointedd received £30,000 from the first Scottish encouraging dynamic growth entrepreneurs (Edge) competition and has been supported by Scottish Enterprise’s high-growth unit, Business Gateway and Entrepreneurial Spark, the network of incubation centres launched by Jim Duffy, Baron Haughey and Sir Tom Hunter.

Previously self-funded, the company wants further investment to help it crack the UK market.