Big C V2 - Andrew Q&A - Live on YouTube

Adventurer Andrew Bedwell has posted a Q&A on YouTube to help us all understand more about his incredible World Record attempt.  We're Andrew's main sponsors - what great product placement in the video, thank you Andrew!

Thanks for the plug, Andrew, much appreciated!!

Watch Andrew's video by clicking https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPCYHfptHOA or watching below.  Our new app for Andrew gets a mention here: https://youtu.be/GPCYHfptHOA?si=Tn6ei_MsYtQO69_g&t=461

Andrew is fundraising for Cancer Research UK.  We have staff here at Start Software dealing with cancer diagnoses right now - so please do sponsor Andrew and help this fabulous charity.  Thank you!

https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/big-c-atlantic-challenge

All I Want for Christmas Is a Podium... Kim & Melika win the Christmas bragging rights

Kim & Melika won the Christmas 2025 bragging rights at our UK Christmas Party.  We held it at F1 Arcade in Birmingham and had a great night.  Highly recommended!

Kim & Melika - worthy winners (though does "Rookie Mode" count?!)

Bug found in "building based" Alpha Tracker QR Codes. Please contact Support if you use this type of QR code

One of our Australian clients has spotted a bug in "building based" QR codes within Alpha Tracker.  A big thank you to them - one of our "Bug Finder" t-shirts will be on its way!

If you use "building" QR codes (not site, sample, or room), get in touch

The bug relates to the feature whereby the QR codes can be secured requiring a login to view.

If you use the building QR codes specifically (the bug only applies to these), please get in touch with Support (UK or Aus/NZ) so we can patch your system.  The bug-fix will also be in the next Alpha Tracker Release.

Would you like to use your asbestos surveying industry knowledge to make a difference to Mesothelioma UK?

Our Alpha Tracker director Robin is also an ambassador for asbestos cancer charity Mesothelioma UK.

Can you join Robin in helping Mesothelioma UK?

Robin and his colleagues at Mesothelioma UK are looking for someone from the asbestos surveying industry to help with a new corporate fundraising drive.  Might you be that person?  Have you years of experience in asbestos surveying consultancies and an address book (or LinkedIn contact list!) full of asbestos consultancy leading lights and head-honchos??

Get in touch with Robin if you have a couple of hours each month and the desire to make a difference!  

Andrew & Poppy drop in to discuss app ideas for Big C V2

Adventurer Andrew Bedwell and his daughter Poppy dropped into our e-Innovation Centre office today full of ideas for the new Big C V2 app.  The app will be used by Andrew whilst on his 3-month-long transatlantic record-breaking attempt to cross the Atlantic unaided in the shortest boat ever.

Team leader Dan, Andrew & Poppy

 Andrew is fundraising for a charity close to our heart here at Start Software, Cancer Research UK.

Robin, Melika, Dan, Poppy & Andrew

We tested out a new drone while Andrew was here and learned about his plans to take a DJI Mini 4 with him to film Big C V2 during the crossing.  We also discussed the difficulty of landing a drone at sea... and how many plasters he should take if he has to grab it while the propellors are still turning!

Pizza always brings the team together

The whole Start Software development team will be working on the app, aiming to launch it by the end of December.  The app will be for Andrew while he aboard his 1m (yes, 1 meter or 3 feet!) long boat, and also for the public (adults and children) to track his progress and send messages of support.

Poppy enjoying the pepperoni pizza!

Poppy had brought lots of ideas with her from her schoolfriends, following Andrew's talks at school assembly to explain how the challenge will work and why he is inspired to do it.

Feeling inspired?

You can make a donation to support Andrew and Cancer Research UK here: https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/big-c-atlantic-challenge

Need an app building?

Get in touch! We'd love to hear from you.

Look for out more Big C news on Andrew's Facebook page and here on our blog.

Support Desk performance for the last six months (June - November 2025)

Our Support Desk has had another busy period and the team continues to work hard to keep responses quick and solutions on track. Here is the latest six month snapshot of how we have been doing.

We track two key measures:

• tickets solved within our target time (the yellow line)
• high priority tickets solved within target (the blue line)

Support Desk - June to November 2025

Here are the headline figures:

November 2025

• 91.97% of tickets solved in time
• 99.37% of high priority tickets solved in time - this might be a record!
• 809 tickets solved in total

October 2025

• 92.40% in time
• 97.16% of high priority in time
• 947 tickets solved

September 2025

• 94.20% in time
• 98.38% of high priority in time
• 879 tickets solved

August 2025

• 90.97% in time
• 97.08% of high priority in time
• 831 tickets solved

July 2025

• 91.40% in time
• 97.88% of high priority in time
• 977 tickets solved

June 2025

• 90.45% in time
• 97.40% of high priority in time
• 838 tickets solved

Overall, performance has stayed consistently strong, especially for high priority issues where the team is regularly clearing more than 97 percent within the SLA window.

Thank you to every client who has contacted the helpdesk this year.  If you ever need support with Alpha Tracker or any of our other systems, you can reach the team through the Support Portal or by emailing us at any time.