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roundtable
Embrace technology and join others on the tech-track to recovery
Following the launch of the Southern Tech 100, our listing of the top 100 private technology companies in the region, The Business Magazine joined forces with lawyers Pitmans, bankers Barclays Corporate and accountants and business advisers James Cowper to host a Roundtable discussion last month on the post-Budget prospects for the Telecommunications, Media and Technology (TMT) sector. Below, journalist John Burbedge reproduces selected observations from the Roundtable
Many people, including the Government, view innovation and growth in the technology sector as a key kick-start for national economic recovery. Technology sector professionals within the Thames Valley agree, but they also see the greater adoption of technology within all business sectors as the actual driver of successful growth and recovery for UK plc.
As Ritchie Sharma, the co-founder and CEO of Vohkus, explained: “This Roundtable is a discussion among technology companies, but its real message is for all businesses. It’s that whatever field they are in, technology can be a major game changer for them, if they get their strategy right. We can help them get that technological edge, by advising them how their business can evolve through technology.”
Lined up to debate: our Roundtable team
Technology was already changing the businessworld, added Phil Kingsland – enabling people to work more flexibly, removing nine to five constraints, reducing the need for office space, and even helping to ease rush-hour traffic. “To that extent, the IT sector is a real enabler within the whole UK economy. It’s not just a single sector that will drive the recovery. Our sector power is that the effects of technology are multiplied throughout other sectors too.”
IT can provide fresh opportunities and solutions said Sharma. He exampled green technologies saving power usage and a London taxi company called Addison Lee, with its own iPhone App, which has achieved astronomical growth to achieve annual revenues in excess of £100 million. One touch on your iPhone screen and the taxicab finds you by GPS. “SmartPhones will soon be your credit card, there will be new mobile Apps and businesses will begin to adopt new technologies more and more to get an edge over their competitors.”
Steve Rushin also highlighted that enlightened companies, while seeking more efficient operations and increased productivity, were also using technology to improve work-life balance for their employees.
How are things at the moment?
With Westcoast heading up the Southern Tech 100, David Murray gave Andy Newberry the first opportunity to sum up the current economic mood of the TMT sector.
Commercially 2009 was very challenging, 2010 very good, and 2011 had started very oddly said Newberry. “2011 began with a big positive push, then March, generally a good month, was not as good as expected, and in the retail area the numbers were definitely down.
“The commercial area has positive signs and won’t go backwards because business people are smart enough to see the value of investing in technology. It’s home-market retail spend that’s the problem. Consumers are making do and saying they don’t need a new computer or the latest software.”
Fellow IT supply specialist Sharma agreed. “Technology is an increasingly compelling proposition for businesses, and we are helping them with consultation and leading edge solutions. Clients using technology to develop their business is a tangible trend and that market is buoyant.”
Participants
Tim Clark: Partner, Pitmans
Peter Francis:
Chief financial officer, Distribution Technology
Peter Hornsby: Joint managing director, SFW
Phil Kingsland: Director of marketing and communications, Nominet UK
Tim Mayes: Relationship director, Barclays Corporate
Andy Newberry:
Logistics and operations director, Westcoast
Steve Rushin: Regional sales manager, Star
Ritchie Sharma: CEO, Vohkus
Sue Staunton: Partner, James Cowper LLP
Simon Wilcockson: Sales manager, Surface Technology International
David Murray:
Managing editor and publisher of The Business Magazine chaired the discussion
www.businessmag.co.uk THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – MAY 2011
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