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This is the first all-digital version of The Business Magazine in 27 years. Whether you are reading this on your laptop, tablet or mobile phone, it will be on a screen, and not on paper
Like so many other publishers, we have found that to produce and distribute the magazine through a combination of printer, packager and post is an insurmountable problem when so many of our readers are not at their usual place of work.
The COVID-19 crisis has meant huge changes of process throughout all business sectors. Small businesses like ours have kept in touch with clients through zoom, while embracing new internal communications channels with employees.
We now know more about the kitchens and living rooms of our contacts and employees than we ever knew before – and that’s evidence that digital doesn’t have to mean impersonal. In fact, comms across broadband is more seamless and engaging than many of us imagined.
Will we all revert to the old ways once ‘normality’ is restored? Surely we won’t all be jumping into our cars to drive for an hour for a face- to-face meeting? Or will our desire for human contact mean we will ‘revert to type’ and go back to the quite inefficient old practices?
And what about offices? Will they be meeting hubs where employees can physically check in once or twice a week – working at home the rest of the time? In which case, our office space requirements will be significantly reduced. Or will we need more space because of social distancing?
No-one knows where this is all leading. The impact of coronavirus on working practices is profound – and the business world is already looking a very different place.
David Murray Publisher
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businessmag.co.uk
On the International Track Thames Valley
A company that counts more than 800 global businesses as customers – including Bloomberg and NatWest – has proved itself top dogs in the Thames Valley when it comes to racking up international sales.
AVMI, an audiovisual systems integrator based at Sunbury, made it to 11th place in the latest UK International Track 200 league table which ranks Britain’s mid- market private companies with the fastest-growing international sales, measured over their latest two years of available accounts. This was after chalking up an average 146% increase over the past two years, with exports of £20.5 million from total sales of £81m.
Founded in 1990 to supply flip charts and projectors, it now integrates hi-tech audiovisual systems used in meeting rooms and event spaces, as well as shops and courtrooms. Under chief executive Edward Cook the group has a staff of 500.
Although a total of 14 companies from the region made the ‘200’ table, only two managed a top 50 placing.
Reading-based Invenio Business Solutions were 29th after clocking up exports of £20.3m from total sales of nearly £33m, giving an average rise of 96%.
With 16 offices across 11 countries, including Saudi Arabia, India and Mauritius, the group uses SAP business management software to solve business challenges for clients, including the Swiss logistics group Kuehne & Nagel and Universal Music Group, as well as offering analytics and consultancy services.
Founded in 2006, it is run by chief executive Arun Bala, receiving an £11.6m investment from BGF last year to value it at £68m. It employs over 700 people.
Wireless Logic at Hurley (49th, up from 101st last year) specialises in technology that enables wireless transmission of data from devices
such as vehicle trackers, card payment systems and CCTV cameras.
It has more than 3.5m subscribers in 60 countries, and international sales reached £18.8m last year from a total of £67m, an average rise of 70%. Last summer it acquired the French business Matooma, having bought the Dutch firms M2MBlue and SIMPoint earlier. The company is led by chief executive Oliver Tucker and majority-owned by Montagu Private Equity.
Two Oxfordshire companies were just outside the top 50. Audley Trust at Witney (58th) is an upmarket tour operator which began in 1996 by running guided visits to Vietnam, and now offers tailor-made trips to more than 80 countries. In 2018 international sales climbed to £74.8m for an average rise of 65%. Nick Longman, who became chief executive last year, is a former UK and Ireland managing director of Tui.
Oxford Economics (59th) was set up in 1981 by John Walker in partnership with the university’s management college; it provides tailored economic analysis of hundreds of countries, industries and world events, from Brexit to the US-China trade war. Subsidiaries and sister companies on six continents boosted overseas sales to £18.8m under chief executive Adrian Cooper, giving an average rise of 64%.
The High Wycombe frozen drinks distributor Slush Puppie UK (66th) clocked up exports of £10.2m (average rise 60%) from total sales of £33m. Its syrup and ice drink was created in Ohio in 1970, and in 1974 Ralph Peters brought the concept to Britain, selling under licence. His son Mark is now managing director.
Other Thames Valley companies making the table were:
Redwood Technologies Group (74th), Bracknell communications
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – MAY/JUNE 2020
Sunday Times HSBC International Track 200
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