THAMES VALLEY
Technology remains at the core of ‘Tech Valley’ success
As Bracknell-based Redwood Technologies enters its second year of sponsorship of the ‘Best Use of Technology Award’ at the Thames Valley Business Magazine Awards, managing director Sean Taylor reflects on the vital role technology continues to play throughout the Thames Valley region
“Redwood has been based in the heart of ‘Tech Valley’ for 22 years and there are two factors that have been primarily responsible for our continuing success – our own strategic focus on developing and manufacturing best-in-class technology, and the exciting culture of the region that fosters technological progress.
“The Thames Valley is characterised not only by multinational giants but also by an enormous number of SMEs, with thousands of new businesses being incorporated in the area every year. Technology plays a key part in making this area internationally important, not only financially as the UK’s second-largest economic region after London, but also as a growing rival to America’s Silicon Valley, which is now dominated by larger, slower-moving organisations.
“Redwood’s sponsorship of the ‘Best Use of Technology’ award gives us a fantastic opportunity to see at first hand some of these imaginative applications of technology across different market sectors. There are thousands of businesses of all sizes throughout the region, which are either developing or using technology in new and exciting ways, and this award aims to recognise their achievements.”
Taylor’s business has experienced strong year-on-year growth since inception, but as early pioneers of cloud methodologies a decade ago, Redwood and its sister companies, Content Guru and Radius Communications, are undergoing unprecedented international expansion. The group of companies now targets a turnover of £200 million by 2020.
At a strategic level, Redwood Technologies has always placed not just technology, but also customer service, at the forefront of its ideology; two fundamental strands which have enabled the company to secure some of the world’s largest organisations as customers. Clients range from communication services providers such as Deutsche Telekom and Telefónica, through major banks, including HSBC and Citibank, to US Federal Government agencies responsible for delivering vital services of global importance.
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – NOVEMBER 2015 Redwood technology in use by UK Power Networks, the UK’s largest electricity distributor
“Our client base is hugely varied and spread out across more than 50 countries, but the one thing all our customers have in common is the need for communications technology that is powerful and reliable, and can be depended on to deliver mission-critical services 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. Ours is world-beating technology that has been developed right here in the heart of the Thames Valley, and to see our products used to power so many essential communication services globally makes us tremendously proud,” concludes Taylor.
Redwood also engages with a variety of local organisations and initiatives, from involvement with a ‘Business Buddy’ scheme set up by the Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) to improve engagement between local MPs and businesses, through to leveraging local suppliers wherever possible. The company also invests heavily in corporate social responsibility, directly giving to numerous local good causes and maintaining a fund with Berkshire Community Foundation (BCF) – the TVBMA chosen charity for the second year running – through which it funds several charitable opportunities every year.
“Technology not only helps people and organisations improve how they operate, but as we’ve seen here in the Thames Valley it can generate enormous wealth for those providing it. Nonetheless there are huge numbers of people from across the region who are severely disadvantaged. At this year’s Awards we see all donations to BCF distributed across other community foundations throughout the whole Thames Valley, giving businesses the opportunity to channel some of this wealth into causes that need it,” continues Taylor.
Behind Redwood’s own success lies a carefully- selected, high-quality team. Although the allure of London remains strong for much of the potential workforce, Taylor remains
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positive about the opportunities that a rapidly developing Thames Valley will provide for attracting new talent to its businesses.
“Reading underwent an enormous transformation at the turn of the millennium, and continues to grow into an extremely desirable location to live and work. As the town assumes the mantle of the de facto capital of ‘Tech Valley’, this process will only continue to accelerate with introductions such as Crossrail,” he concludes.
“Fifteen years later and we’re starting to see the same changes happen to Bracknell, where we have been headquartered for over two decades. This progress will enable the region to continue drawing in the kind of talent it needs to maintain this successful Thames Valley tradition of developing world-class technology, and will enable us to mount a serious challenge to London, Silicon Valley and the other major technological hubs worldwide.”
Details: Alex Smith Marketing consultant, Content Guru 01344-852350
ats@contentguru.com www.redwoodtech.com
MAGAZINE
BUSINESS AWARDS 2015
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