A small family business which started life 10 years ago has grown to become a national company working with clients throughout the UK and in other countries.

It is now such an established brand that Scruffymonkey Web Design is using its anniversary milestone to change the name to just Scruffymonkey.

It’s all a long way from Chris Dawes, working as IT manager and head of Business Operations at Blackburn Rovers FC, deciding to take a chance and open his own business.

Working from the Egerton home he shares with wife Lindsay and daughter Emma, now 11, he began offering innovative website design which soon earned him a variety of clients.

Chris decided early on to help as many charities as he could with their web design needs and soon began building a reputation as an expert in this field.

He created a purpose-built office in his back garden as the firm’s headquarters. Two years later, business was so good that Lindsay was able to give up her school IT teaching role and join him in the company.

Today, the couple have created a client list that numbers charities of all sizes, large companies and sole traders and a reputation for comprehensive and effective professional services that has won them a slew of awards.

Explaining their success, Chris stated: “We have never lost sight of our values and prioritise clients and their needs.”

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Scruffymonkey has diversified into digital workshops and advisory services and Chris has become a sought after keynote speaker.

They have retained clients they had when the firm first started and keep up with all the latest innovations in technology like AI.

They constantly review their systems and processes and each September scrutinize the business and discuss future moves and improvements. Currently, they have plans for a national membership platform.

Chris and Lindsay still class themselves as “just nerds” but it’s plain their combined energy and commitment to clients results in a constant stream of new business.

Their most recent accolades were at the national Business Success awards this month when they were runners-up in both the Team of the Year and Business of the Year categories.

Daughter Emma even earned a Rising Stars’ runner-up award for her own Oozed Slime company.

Added Chris: “We’ve got a lot to be proud about.”