The Business Magazine Thames Valley October 2013

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

Electrocomponents, the Oxford group that is the world's leading high service distributor of electronics and maintenance products, was one of several quoted companies from the region which saw their share prices soar during August.

During the month its trading brand RS Components announced the availability of a new customised version of a low-cost, self-assembly computer that has been developed primarily for schools.

It also announced availability of two new product bundles for its Raspberry Pi, offering customers better value when purchasing the low-cost single-board computer with accessories, and then signed a direct franchise agreement with China’s Renesas Electronics Co to support customers in China and Hong Kong.

One of the medium-sized leading

companies in the region’s Shareleague table was Vitec Group, the Surrey-based provider of products and services for the broadcast, photographic, and MAG (military, aerospace and government) markets.

It has just acquired Teradek, a world-leading provider of wireless video devices and platforms that are used by broadcasters, businesses and web channels to wirelessly transmit images. The acquisition of the Californian company – which made £1 million profit last year – was completed at a cost of £9.6m.

As usual, many of the largest share rises were among the smallest quoted companies, headed by Immedia Group, the Newbury-based company founded 13 years ago by former BBC Radio One personality Bruno Brookes to provide bespoke services to radio stations and stores.

Large (over £1 billion) Closing price

ELECTROCOMP. SPECTRIS

VODAFONE GROUP WOLSELEY BG GROUP SEGRO

RECKITT BENCKISER GROUP ASHTEAD GROUP DIXONS RETAIL SERCO GROUP

31/07/13 246.1 2110

197.5 3146

1186.5 310.8 4679 706

45.46 627

Closing price 30/08/13 259.4 2221

206.25 3260 1227 292

4385 645

41.25 547.5

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

VITEC GROUP RPS GROUP INTERSERVE

TT ELECTRONICS RWS HOLDINGS

CABLE & WIRELESS COMMS. BIG YELLOW GROUP ANITE

31/07/13 573

225.9 509.5

170.25 727.5

MORGAN ADVANCED MATERIAL 305.5 GALLIFORD TRY

991

40.51 435

128.5

SINCLAIR PHARMA VISLINK

VERNALIS ECKOH ACAL

MCBRIDE

TISSUE REGENIX GROUP FUTURA MEDICAL MICROGEN

COSTAIN GROUP

31/07/13 24.25 40.25 22.38 21.38 255

129.38 9.88 67

137.75 277.5

Sub £50 million Closing price

IMMEDIA GROUP TRIAD GROUP STARVEST

ZINCOX RESOURCES

NOBLE INVESTMENTS (UK) SOPHEON

IS SOLUTIONS

OXFORD TECHNOLOGY 3 VCT OXFORD TECHNOLOGY VCT OXFORD TECHNOLOGY 2 VCT

31/07/13 6.87 9.5

4.13

14.62 198.5 112.5 46 70

103 21.5 THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – OCTOBER 2013

Closing price 30/08/13 635 250 560 186 790

294.5 953

38.61 405

115.9

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

Closing price 30/08/13 28.25 46.5

24.75 23.38 267.5 129.5 9.88

65.63 130.5 261

Closing price 30/08/13 10.25 13.25 5.75

19.13 236.5 104

42.5 63 90

15.5

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

-6% -6% -9% -9%

-13%

Change in share price 11% 11% 10% 9% 9%

-4% -4% -5% -7%

-10%

Change in share price 16% 16% 11% 9% 5% 0% 0%

-2% -5% -6%

Change in share price 49% 39% 39% 31% 19% -8% -8%

-10% -13% -28%

Skills for Business

University builds links with regional organisations

From left: Lorraine Watkins-Mathys; William Baxter CBE; Tim Cook; Stewart Linford; Ian Plover; Michael Garvey

Business partnership organisation 4C Buckinghamshire says it has strengthened its links with Buckinghamshire New University after holding a free business networking event at its campus. Organised by 4C Bucks and sponsored by Epoq IT, it attracted firms, voluntary organisations and charities to find out more about voluntary opportunities available in the region.

It took place in the Old Boardroom at the University in Queen Alexandra Road, High Wycombe, and featured panellists and presentations, as well as stands displayed by, among others, HighWay Productions; Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance Trust; Thames Valley Training & Development; White Oak Finance; and Wycombe Environment Centre. A panel took questions in a discussion on 'business – community – education working together'.

The panel was chaired by Ian Plover, director of the faculty of design, media & management at the University, and comprised William Baxter CBE, chairman of the charity Scannappeal; Tim Cook, deputy headteacher at The Wye Valley School in Bourne End, High Wycombe; furniture maker Stewart Linford; and Lorraine Watkins- Mathys, head of school - applied management & law at Bucks New University.

Mr Plover said: “The issue of how business, education and the community can work more closely together is a growing national issue and our diverse panel of sector representatives initiated

some extremely interesting and thought-provoking discussion. Our challenge now is how to bring some of the practical and potentially complex suggestions to fruition and I believe that 4C Bucks has the potential to play a pivotal role in this.”

Bekki James, of 4C Bucks, said: "Feedback from our members following the event has been excellent and they were very enthusiastic about our question- and-answer approach, which provoked a healthy debate on the relationship between business, education and the community. Our panel of experts gave us some excellent insight into their own experiences and we were pleased to see such a wide variety of attendees from across the voluntary and business sectors. Our special relationship with the University has only been strengthened further and we look forward to supporting it through the business community in Buckinghamshire.”

4C Bucks enables businesses to work in partnership with voluntary and public sector organisations for the benefit of people in the county. The company Be Seen Marketing has revamped its website, which is at 4cbucks.co.uk

The next networking event will be at Missenden Abbey Conference Centre, in London Road, Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, on Tuesday December 10.

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