For independent energy brokers, balancing volume, customer service, and administration can be a constant challenge. For Howard Weston, founder of Midlands Business Solutions, finding the right platform wasn’t about chasing the highest margins, it was about efficiency, reputation, and the ability to grow sustainably as a one-man business.

Howard has been a Tickd partner for around three years, joining just before the energy crisis disrupted the industry. Introduced to Tickd through a trusted broker recommendation, he initially expected to use the platform for only a small proportion of his business. What followed, however, was a shift in how he operated day to day.

From Testing the Platform to Scaling Volume

Like many brokers with years of industry experience, Howard approached a new platform with some caution.

“Me and technology have learned together over the last ten years,” he explains. “Any new system has challenges at first.”

With hands-on onboarding sessions and ongoing support from the Tickd team, Howard quickly found his feet. What surprised him most was just how quickly he could work once he understood the system.

“I thought I’d be doing one or two contracts a week. That quickly turned into 10, 12 a week, and at times up to 100 contracts a month.”

For a sole trader, that level of growth would be impossible without removing friction from the process.

Speed, Simplicity, and Less Admin

The key benefit for Howard has been the ability to focus on sales while Tickd handles the heavy lifting in the background.

“Tickd strips things back to the bare bones. It’s about how quickly you can push a contract through with the minimum amount of fuss, and that’s exactly what I need.”

Features such as:

• Quick Quoting
• DocuSign integration
• Clear Customer Visuals
• Streamlined Objections Handling

have allowed Howard to work faster without sacrificing accuracy or customer experience.

“I’d rather take a slightly smaller commission and do two or three contracts in the same time it takes to do one elsewhere. That’s how my business works now.”

Protecting Reputation Through Visibility and Reporting

Operating largely within the fish and chip shop sector, Howard’s reputation is central to his success. Visibility over contract status and fast issue resolution are non-negotiable.

“My reputation is everything. If something goes wrong, I need to know immediately so I can deal with it, explain it to the customer, and fix it.”

The Tickd portal gives Howard confidence that nothing is slipping through the cracks, from objections and credit issues to supplier delays.

“The sooner problems are identified, the quicker they can be resolved. That protects my customers and my name.”

Direct access to the Tickd team also plays a role, especially when things become urgent.

“It’s knowing someone’s there who will sort it out. In this industry, things do go wrong sometimes — what matters is how quickly they’re handled.”

Choosing Tickd Over Other Platforms

Howard has experience with several aggregation platforms and direct supplier relationships. His decision to route significant volume through Tickd is a strategic one.

“Other platforms can be clunkier. Margins might look higher on paper, but the time cost just isn’t worth it.”

For a growing business, speed and reliability matter more than squeezing every last penny from a single deal.

“My workload grows year on year. I need the most streamlined solution possible — and Tickd gives me that.”

Continuous Improvement and Looking Ahead

When asked about improvements, Howard points to one area: faster live status updates across all suppliers, while recognising the limitations imposed by supplier systems.

“You’re only as good as the data you’re given. And where Tickd doesn’t have instant updates, I still have ways to check things myself.”

He also highlights the progress Tickd has made over time, particularly with supplier lookups and half-hourly meters.

“Working with Matt on half-hourly meters has been excellent. It’s a long-winded process, and being able to offload that makes a big difference.”

A Partnership Built on Trust

After three years, Tickd has become an integral part of how Midlands Business Solutions operates.

“It’s freed me up, helped me grow, and given me confidence that things are being handled properly in the background.”

For independent brokers looking to scale without sacrificing service or sanity, Howard’s experience shows the value of a platform designed for speed, support, and simplicity, not just volume.