England on Tap turned on

Gemserv formally launched its England on Tap website on Monday. Modelled on WICS’ Scotland on Tap site, the new Gemserv venture enables customers to direct enquiries to listed suppliers of their choice via an online form. The supplier is notified of the enquiry via email, and can then contact the customer to progress the discussion.

In addition, the site offers customers basic information on the market and the potential benefits on offer. It refers customers to the official Open Water website for further information.

To benefit from the customer enquiry leads service, and to place a short company description and logo on the site, suppliers pay a flat fee regardless of their size or market share for a 12-month contract. Gemserv had recruited two launch sponsors for Monday’s event – Anglian Water Business and Business Stream – and intends to get others signed up over coming weeks.

Gemserv has stressed it is not undertaking the project as a standalone commercial venture, so is not looking to substantially profit from it. It will use the bulk of the funding to pay for site curation and promotion. Head of business development, Nick Bath, said existing pre-launch marketing to will now be supplemented by customer facing activity – for instance, an article and advert in the March issue of the Federation of Small Business magazine – together with search engine optimisation and other online activity.

Bath added that suppliers who support the site will be invited to join the England on Tap steering group, to help shape future marketing and development activity.