The Business Magazine Thames Valley March 2013

news 9 Shareleague Thames Valley Presented by in association with Business T H E M A G A Z I N E

In a somewhat gloomy month for share prices, Ultra Electronics – the Middlesex-based group which provides electronic and software solutions for niche markets in defence, security, transport and energy – was the only large company in the region to show a rise in its share price.

In its last interim overview it announced “steady performance in difficult market conditions”, delivering 8% revenue growth. During January it announced Mary Waldner, currently director of group finance at QinetiQ Group and formerly group financial controller at 3i Group, has been appointed to succeed Paul Dean as group finance director. He is to become CFO of the Diamonds business of Rio Tinto.

RM, the Milton Park group that specialises in solutions to help

address the latest educational challenges, topped the small company section with a 6% share price rise. It was boosted during the month by its appointment as preferred supplier for management information systems by Oxfordshire County Council for its schools in the county.

The pawnbroking group Albemarle Bond also featured with a 4% rise, proving that many people are selling gold and taking loans.

Star performance of the month once again came from the sub- £50m turnover category, where Oxford Technology turned up a 19% rise in its 2 Venture Capital Trust. The group has been a specialist in the start-up and early stage technology sector for 25 years.

Large (over £1 billion) Closing price

ULTRA ELECTRONICS HDG. HALMA SEGRO

WOLSELEY

SERCO GROUP BG GROUP

VODAFONE GROUP SHIRE

INTL.CONS.AIRL.GP.(CDI) CABLE & WIRELESS COMMS.

31/12/12 1645 460.4 248.2 2945 554.5 1120

172.1 2113

212.7 40.89

Closing price 31/01/13 1664 459.4 246.6 2900 535

1012.5 154.45 1887 184.8 35.35

Medium (£250 million to £1 billion) Closing price

ELEMENTIS

VITEC GROUP DIXONS RETAIL DE LA RUE

RWS HOLDINGS GALLIFORD TRY TT ELECTRONICS INTERSERVE

OXFORD INSTRUMENTS NANOCO GROUP

31/12/12 211.2 611

27.5 902 615 822 161

444.4 1640 159.5

RM SINCLAIR PHARMA

ALBEMARLE & BOND HDG. PINEWOOD SHEPPERTON MCBRIDE VERNALIS ACAL

TISSUE REGENIX GROUP FUTURA MEDICAL XP POWER (DI)

31/12/12 74.75 26

205.5 277.5 133.5 23.88 205

13.5 66

1150

Sub £50 million Closing price

OXFORD TECHNOLOGY 2 VCT ZINCOX RESOURCES HIBU

BEZANT RESOURCES IS SOLUTIONS

KBC ADVANCED TECHS. VISLINK

MBL GROUP

MICHELMERSH BRICK HDG. ANGLE

31/12/12 15.5

35.25 0.31 24 39 66

30.25 11.25 28.25 56.5

THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – MARCH 2013

Closing price 31/01/13 232.5

635.25 28.4

912.5 608 744 144

388.8 1423 88

Small (£50 million to £250 million) Closing price

Closing price 31/01/13 79

27.38

214.63 287

133.25 22.75 194

12.75 58.25 1009

Closing price 31/01/13 18.5

37.75 0.33

25.25 40.5 57.5

25.25 9

21 27

Change in share price 1% 0%

-1% -2% -4%

-10% -10% -11% -13% -14%

Change in share price 10% 4% 3% 1%

-1% -9%

-11% -13% -13% -45%

Change in share price 6% 5% 4% 3% 0%

-5% -5% -6%

-12% -12%

Change in share price 19% 7% 6% 5% 4%

-13% -17% -20% -26% -52%

Skills for Business

Bucks launches education partnership with leading audio manufacturer

finished university, which is something I think every student strives for.”

Other elements to the partnership include organising ‘industry insider’ days, and the joint venture will also facilitate work with current students, staff and alumni, to develop a wide range of online media assets for the company.

Prof Ruth Farwell, vice chancellor of Bucks, and Phil Massey, general manager of Sennheiser, with interns, Jamie Leeming and Gemma Robinson

Buckinghamshire New University has launched an innovative education partnership with leading audio manufacturer, Sennheiser UK, which will create new industry- linked opportunities for students and focus their employability.

The partnership between the two High Wycombe-based organisations provides a range of educational benefits for students. It also includes the renaming of the University’s main recording studio to ‘The Sennheiser Sound Lab’, with the company providing a range of equipment for use in the studio, including state-of-the-art digital microphones.

Sennheiser will offer a scholarship worth £3,000 to a talented second- year student studying BA (Hons) Audio and Music Production, and currently provides two, six-month student internships. Third-year BA (Hons) Music Management students, Jamie Leeming and Gemma Robinson, have already taken up the roles at the firm’s headquarters in Century Point, High Wycombe.

Jamie Leeming said: “The internship at Sennheiser means everything to Gemma and I and creates an avenue into the industry before we have even

Prof Ruth Farwell, vice chancellor of Bucks, said: “Students have increasingly

heightened expectations so universities need to be at the cutting-edge. Having access to equipment of the standard provided by Sennheiser, as well as the expertise of the company's staff, is fundamental to what we can offer and helps to put our students ahead of the game when they graduate."

Phil Massey, general manager of Sennheiser, added: “The partnership with Bucks New University gives us the opportunity to invest in the future of the industry and develop young people, and we are extremely pleased with the way the relationship with the University has grown. We are both gaining a lot from this partnership.

“We are keen to share our latest technology and developments with Bucks and feel the range of aspects making up this partnership will be beneficial to both of us.”

Details: www.bucks.ac.uk 0800-056-5660 advice@bucks.ac.uk

www.businessmag.co.uk

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