Hartlepool-based Hart Biologicals have joined with The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough after securing £120k government grant to study potentially fatal bloodcots.

Orthopaedic surgical procedures such as repairs to a hip fracture and hip and knee replacements carry a risk of causing a dangerous condition called venous thromboembolism (VTE).

Government research revealed that every year in England an estimated 25,000 deaths occur as a result of hospital-acquired VTE, and the study aims to reduce the risk to patients.

Hart is now expecting to create six new jobs in manufacturing and sales as a result of the investment, and it is hoped the initial study will lead to more high-level work in collaboration with local NHS Trusts and Universities.

The grant, awarded by the Academic Health Science Network for North East and North Cumbria (AHSN NENC) will fund the study being delivered by Prof Amar Rangan, a consultant in orthopaedics at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Alby Pattison, managing director at Hart Biologicals.

The study will develop a novel testing protocol by studying the blood from patients undergoing such procedures, using a relatively new technique of rotating thrombo-elastometry (ROTEM).

Prof Rangan said: “The study aims to assess if ROTEM can be used as a predictor of increased tendency of a person’s blood to clot, and therefore VTE, in patients who would not be classed as ‘at risk’ using conventional assessment.

“The ability to grade the risk and monitor effectiveness of intervention would increase health outcomes for patients at risk of VTE and also decrease long-term morbidity while also offering significant savings to the NHS through better patient management.”

Mr Pattison, from Hart Biologicals Ltd, added: “We will test blood samples from patients undergoing elective hip and knee replacements and from patients undergoing hip fracture surgery at various time points pre and post-surgery on ROTEM to see if there are any significant changes in the blood coagulation and platelet function that could correlate with a higher incidence, or risk, of VTE.

“The funding from AHSN for North East and North Cumbria will enable us to gain further knowledge and understanding of blood clotting in patients who have had operations and lead to further reduction of death and long term effects from VTE and Hart Biologicals will provide further matched funding worth £56,032.40 for ROTEM instrumentation and scientific support.”

IT services company adept4 has won a seven figure contract to provide full IT and telephony services to Crewe-headquartered healthcare provider Baywater Healthcare. 

The five year deal will see adept4, which is headquartered at Daresbury Park in Cheshire, maintain and manage all elements of the company’s IT and communications services; providing 24 hour specialist support to the homecare service provider’s staff of 150 across 11 sites.

Baywater Healthcare provides specialist healthcare services, including oxygen therapy and telehealth solutions to over 25,000 patients and their families in homes across the UK, helping them to maintain their mobility, independence and overall quality of life.

adept4 has overhauled the company’s IT infrastructure including the implementation of new systems and servers, cloud-based Office-365 solutions, secure Cisco firewalls, and HP server hardware.  The adept4 team is also installing and managing telephony services, including Avaya voice solution, WAN and Lync. adept4 will, in addition, provide specialist disaster recovery services to the business.

The team at adept4, has been working closely with Baywater over the past 18 months to develop and design the new bespoke infrastructure set-up.

This is a critical part of the company’s IT transformation and required the adept4 team to carry out extensive due diligence procedures and a strategic review of the company’s existing technology. This has helped the company seamlessly transition its infrastructure to a resilient, secure dual data centre environment, which has been custom-designed to suit the business’s needs.

Adam Sullivan, CEO, Baywater Healthcare, said:  "IT integrity is a critical element of our business.  Responding to patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week means we can’t afford network or communications outage.  adept4 has worked successfully with our team to build a resilient infrastructure which meets the stringent demands our customers expect.

“This major project has been created with significant enhancements to the platform we leave behind and has been executed without any performance shortfall both during and post transition."

Peter Birkett, adept4 CEO, said:  “This is a significant contract for the business, Baywater Healthcare is an innovative, exciting business working in a growing market sector and we’re very pleased to be working alongside their team to improve and transform their IT and communications systems.

“Our team has worked very closely with Baywater Healthcare to really get under the skin of the business and understand its operational structure and the challenges which the team faces day to day.

“This is a really crucial step in the process and allows us to provide our customers with a custom-made solution which maximises usability; boosting the capability and comfort of the team.

“We have designed and provided the team at Baywater with a bespoke IT infrastructure and helped the company to seamlessly transition over to its new infrastructure system with no disruption to its operations.

“The new IT structure matches its operational activity and will allow the business to continue to operate at optimum capacity and deliver ever-increasing efficiencies.“

adept4, which has offices in Daresbury, Aberdeen and London is enjoying a strong start to 2014, with turnover at the fast-growing SME expected to hit £6 million this year – a 30% rise on 2013.

The company has also more than doubled its staff in the last two years, taking its total team to over 50 and is continuing to recruit for people to fill technical positions at all levels within the company.

A US specialist in hospital access policy enforcement is celebrating the launch of its Manchester-based UK division – the first outside North America - with a landmark contract at one of the country’s biggest NHS trusts.

IntelliCentrics UK Limited, based at Manchester Business Park on Aviator Way, has implemented its Reptrax system for improving patient safety, infection control and procurement, at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust –  an internationally renowned centre of excellence that sees around 1.5m patients a year. It is the first Trust in the country to introduce the system.

The online Reptrax system, already the market leader in the US, allows hospitals to control access by healthcare industry representatives (HIRs), by ensuring only those that comply with the hospital’s specific policies gain access to patient sensitive or restricted areas. In Leeds, around 30 representatives from among 500 companies are on Trust premises at any one time.

Entry requirements are decided by individual hospitals but can include an up-to-date DBS (previously CRB) check, relevant immunisations, professional accreditations and compliance with hospital policies. 

Rather than hospital staff having to conduct the checks, HIRs pre-register via the Reptrax system, which confirms their compliance status when they arrive on site, ensuring a secure, streamlined process. The system, which is free of charge to the NHS, helps:

·         safeguard patients by controlling access to sensitive areas

·         improve infection control

·         protect patients, staff and the public from unqualified or inappropriate individuals

·         quickly and easily implement hospital safety and security access policies, ensuring that industry representatives enter premises on the Trust’s terms

The system also helps with procurement, by making it harder for healthcare industry representatives to circumnavigate central buying policies through unscheduled visits to individual clinicians. It is used by more than 6,000 healthcare facilities in the US.

Following strong interest from a number of NHS Trusts, the company launched its UK arm in Manchester last year – with a service tailored for UK requirements.

Azadar Shah, Managing Director of IntelliCentrics UK, said: “We are very proud to partner with such an innovative and respected Trust as Leeds on this new safety and security initiative for the NHS.

“While as yet a little-known concept in the UK, I believe that healthcare industry representative credentialing will become a widely used technology, as hospitals and other public facilities look to improve the implementation of their safety and security access policies. We have a number of other contracts in the pipeline.“

He added: “IntelliCentrics UK has a full Manchester-based team of software developers, testers and engineers, plus product management, customer service and sales staff.“

George Anderson, senior category manager at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said: “Effective monitoring and control of third party visitors is a challenge for any NHS Trust, particularly one as large as ours.

“We’re committed to innovation and so when we discovered IntelliCentrics, and the concept of healthcare industry representative credentialing, it became clear that the Reptrax system was the right solution for us. IntelliCentrics has created a system that is tailored to the particular needs of our Trust.“

He added: “Vendor companies have reacted well to the system since we launched. We are initially introducing it in theatre areas where patients are most vulnerable, and plan to roll it out across other important patient areas in the coming months, including radiology.“

North East software providers Synergi Information Technology have launched a recruitment drive to a number of sales and technical engineering staff to support its rapid growth.

The Gateshead-based business, fronted by well know North East businessman Peter Joynson, is driving the adoption of the next generation of IT business technology tools and is keen to develop the skills base in the region.

Synergi is promoting Microsoft technologies, such as Office 365 and SharePoint, along with specially designed business apps.

Peter Joynson added: “We’re really excited about the future. Companies are not just interested in our products but in our different approach to working with them; we are helping clients use technology better, establishing meaningful business relationships and embarking on a journey where we can get their business to move from good to great to extraordinary.“

Synergi intends to develop a dedicated SharePoint team in the near future but is already anticipating difficulty finding people with the rights skills.

Peter explained: “SharePoint used to be a specialist software tool typically only adopted by large or international corporates. That has changed and the integration of a more flexible version within the mainstream Office 365 package means there will be an explosion in use and support requirements.“

Synergi has held meetings with Gateshead College with a view to establishing some sort of partnership where young people may get hands on work experience within a growing technology business and where the business can play a lead role in helping to develop curriculum and the right courses to ensure young people are fit for employment.

Image source: Firing up the quattro….

Leeds-based Tracsis, supplier of technological solutions to the transport industry has confirmed that it  has acquired Manchester-based Datasys Integration Limited for a total consideration of £4.525 million.

 Datasys provides rail management software systems, business applications and hosting services for the majority of the UK’s train operating companies.  

Its client base includes all of the major transport owning groups such as First Group, Go-Ahead, Stagecoach, National Express, Arriva, and Virgin.

 The principle activity of the business is software development, sales and licensing with revenues predominantly derived from products that assist train operators capture, report and analyse the root causes of delays and other performance critical information.  The vast majority of Datasys revenue comes from long term recurring software leases.

Datasys generated revenue of £2.27 million, an EBITDA of £554k and a profit before tax of £298k in its unaudited accounts for the year ending 31 May 2013.  

The business is, according to the report, debt free, and has cash balances at completion of c. £1.3 million, with tangible net assets of c. £400k.  

Datasys employs 17 staff, all of whom will remain with the business post transaction with the exception of departing shareholder directors who are not involved with day-to-day operations.

John McArthur, chief executive officer, commented: "We are delighted to have completed this acquisition, our sixth since IPO, which continues our trend of acquiring well run, profitable, technology businesses within the transport domain. 

"Datasys is a well-established player within the UK rail market with a strong product suite, an excellent customer base and a great team.  

"There is a strong overlap between Datasys and Tracsis and both companies are respected providers of high value technology solutions within the transport industry. 

"This partnership will strengthen our overall market position and bring benefit to our customer base.  We welcome the Datasys team into the enlarged Tracsis Group and look forward to working with them in the future."

Wakefield’s YESSS has become the UK’s fourth largest electrical wholesaler, just 12 months after opening its first branch, with annual sales of over £100 million, almost 100 branches and more than 750 employees.

 Adam and Ashley Mackie set up YESSS (Your Electrical Supplies, Service and Solutions) in 2012 in a market worth an estimated £3 billion annually. 

With support from general managers Richard Kay, Andy Singleton, Graham Lockwood, Mark Abbey and Mark Nolan plus a solid core of 14 industry experienced regional managers, YESSS Electrical is now one of the UK’s fastest growing companies.

A year on from its UK launch YESSS has served more than 14,000 customers from large electrical contractors to sole-traders and home improvement consumers. The firm has multiple new branches opening from Brighton to Belfast, and Enfield to Edinburgh.

Adam Mackie said: “This first year of growth has been phenomenal for us, and has shown us that the electrical industry was more than ready for something new.

Adam’s brother Ashley said: “Our devotion is to sell excellent quality products and brands in a customer focused environment. We gave our image a great deal of thought and have been dedicated and passionate to the YESSS creative process.

"Our approach brings together the best elements of an electrical wholesaler with the inviting feel of a retail environment.

"For example, we stock thousands of products - from everyday supplies, to cutting-edge eco-green technologies. We have built, created and designed a clean branch environment with a good atmosphere and excellent customer service driven by the best teams with years of industry experience.

Technical installation knowledge and expertise about the long term benefits and ‘pay-back’ periods are also available from the branch teams as part of the company’s long-term commitment to the green sector.

Meadowhall Shopping Centre’s management team is enjoying superfast Internet connectivity thanks to a new partnership with managed services provider, DuoCall.

The Shopping Centre is one of the largest of its kind and widely regarded as Yorkshire’s premier shopping destination with over 25 million visitors a year, 12,000 free parking spaces and 310 retailers including Victoria’s Secret; Pretty Green and Reiss.

The fully managed service provides connectivity to the Internet and Cloud based services for the Management team and on-site training facility; The Source.

Rotherham-based DuoCall worked with Meadowhall’s IT team to ensure a seamless transition to the new 100MB circuit. DuoCall will continue to provide support with 24/7 proactive monitoring of the connection, which will see the IT and Telecom specialist deal with any issues as they arise. This will provide the Meadowhall team with full business continuity and peace of mind.

Chris Breeze, IT Manager at Meadowhall said: “Implementing a new circuit can often be very time consuming due to infrastructure re-configuration, however DuoCall provided us with a seemingly easy change over.

“It’s re-assuring to know that we have a local provider who understands how critical it is for Meadowhall to have a reliable and fully managed service.“

Phil Coley, director of DuoCall added: “At DuoCall we provide top class IT and telecommunication solutions to business of all sizes nationwide.

“We are delighted that Meadowhall chose to work with us. My team and I are looking forward to a long term partnership with Chris and his team at Meadowhall.“

Image source: Estate Agency Events

Zoopla Property Group Plc has announced its intention to proceed with an initial public offering.

Zoopla, owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust plc is valued at £1 billion. 

DMGT currently holds a 52.6% stake in Zoopla and has confirmed, along with LSL Property Services plc and Countrywide that they intend to sell a proportion of their shares in Zoopla Property Group PLC in the offering.

They did not indicate how much they would dilute or sell down their shares. 

The company intends to apply for admission of its ordinary shares to the premium listing segment and to trade on the main market of the London Stock Exchange.

The offer will comprise an offer of shares to institutional investors and to the group’s eligible members.

ZPG is an established digital media business operating in the broader UK property market by providing property search and research services to consumers and property marketing and data services to property professionals (estate agents, letting agents and new home developers).

The Group’s own brands include Zoopla, PrimeLocation, SmartNewHomes and HomesOverseas and the Group also powers the property search function for a number of leading third-party websites and mobile applications in the UK.

Alex Chesterman, founder & chief executive officer of Zoopla Property Group said: "We are delighted to be bringing ZPG to market following a number of years of strong growth and having built a market-leading proposition for both our users and members (being estate agents, letting agents and new home developers).

"In addition, we are excited to be able to offer the opportunity to our members to participate in the Offer and become shareholders in the business as part of this process."

"In 2008 we set out to provide consumers with the most useful online property resources and to be the most effective partner for property professionals in the UK.

"Today, with over 40 million visits per month to our websites and mobile applications, generating over 2 million enquiries every month for our members, ZPG has become an indispensable link in the property search process for consumers and the property marketing process for professionals across the UK."      

"We’re confident about our future as we embark on the next stage of our development as a public company on the London Stock Exchange."

The North East has been selected as one of the UK€‘s leading centres in satellite technology, allowing companies to tap into a market which is expected to exceed £40 billion by 2030.

The region has been designated one of the first three centres of excellence in the country by the Satellite Applications Catapult, part of the UK’s network of technology and innovation companies, to drive economic growth in key sectors.

The North East Satellite Applications Centre of Excellence is a regional consortium led by Business Durham the economic development company for County Durham and including BE Group, Smart Specialisation Ltd, the region’™s five universities and both Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and will work with businesses wanting help and advice to break into the satellite applications industry or get more support for current work.

Satellite applications, data and technology is a rapidly developing sector with the market growing by an average of 7% each year since 2008.

Latest developments include satellite systems using earth observation tools to monitor and track building control and satellite based radar to track ground and building movements in areas prone to landslides or subsidence.

Stuart Martin, CEO of the Catapult, said: "œThe North East Satellite Applications Centre of Excellence offers an impressive partnership looking at opportunities to unlock a range of high value market opportunities within the region. The new centre will ensure the successful commercialisation of new technology and innovation, cementing the UK’™s position in key technology sectors.”

The Centre will provide North East businesses with access to the tools and support to tap into a market that is continually growing.

One of the key objectives of the Centre is to engage regional companies in solving industrial problems using satellite data and technology. These solutions are typically high value with the opportunity to export into global markets.

John Hildreth, North East Satellite Applications Catapult Centre of Excellence manager, said: "This is a hugely exciting and developing sector and we are delighted to be working with our partners to provide a Centre of Excellence for the North East.

"The bid that we prepared covered regional issues and looked at the application of satellite data in sectors such as the offshore oil, gas and renewable as well as the transport and logistics allowing companies in the North East to gain a competitive advantage.

"Securing Centre of Excellence status also adds to the regions ever-growing reputation as a leader in scientific innovation€."

Graeme Gordon, global commercial director of Satcom Global Limited said: "As a provider of global satellite communication solutions based in North East, we are delighted to hear that the Satellite Applications Catapult will be launching a Centre for Excellence here in the region.

"This initiative will provide us and other like-minded technology companies with access to a much needed forum for the sharing of industry expertise, and identifying opportunities for collaboration.

"Satcom Global is committed to driving satellite solutions innovation in the remote-land, maritime and aviation sectors, offering a global commercial outlet for solutions developed and championed here in the North East of England. We are very excited about working with the North East Centre for Excellence, sharing our knowledge and strong industry links, bringing mutual benefit to the region.”

Professor Roy Sandbach, Innovation Champion for the North East Local Enterprise Partnership commented: "Winning the competition to host this Centre is a vote of confidence in North East business and in the consortium of development agencies and Universities who brought forward this proposal, led by Business Durham.

"The North East Strategic Economic Plan sets out a clear strategy for the future of the North East economy - at the heart of which is the creation of business growth, investment and good quality jobs through innovation, with a focus on our key industries.

"Many of these, including sub-sea manufacturing, automotive, digital and health sciences might benefit from engagement with satellite application technologies and the people who develop them. In addition, there may be significant opportunities for applications in our public services. Having this Centre here creates a hub for innovation dialogue and inward innovation investment. Exactly what we need."

"Overall, our aim is for the North East to be recognised as a unique environment for new technology application. It’s great that the Satellite Catapult has recognised this regional goal."

Stephen Catchpole, managing director of Tees Valley Unlimited, the Local Enterprise Partnership for Tees Valley, added: "Being awarded Centre of Excellence status is important as it will contribute to the expansion and diversification of the local economy.

"œIt also will help give companies a competitive edge, placing them at the forefront of high value new technologies and innovation and enable them to tap into new business opportunities both at home and abroad.”

The Loop, Manchester’s fibre network and TelecityGroup, Europe’s industry leading provider of premium carrier-neutral data-centres have announced a significant expansion to the high-capacity fibre connectivity that available to businesses in Manchester.

A five kilometre extension of The Loop’s multi-fibre, low latency, high speed network now provides direct connections between TelecityGroup’s key data centre locations in Manchester, further building on the enterprise-grade IT and telecoms infrastructure available in the city.  

 The Loop,  which is part of Gamma (a technology based communications provider), is a fibre network stretching  82 kilometres (50 miles) around the city of Manchester. 

It offers superfast connectivity along with advanced IP (Internet Protocol) telephony and data services to the local business and data centre community. The services are underpinned and supported from Gamma’s Network Operations Centre in Manchester’s Trafford Park where more than 100 staff are located.

 Ashley Griffiths, Managing Director, The Loop, said: “Working with TelecityGroup to deliver this extension of our fibre network will enable us to provide broader data centre connectivity and wider services to the Manchester business community. 

“This new infrastructure will bring increased benefits to the local economy and supports Manchester’s ambition to be one of the top 20 digital cities in the world by 2020. It’s a great endorsement to be chosen by Telecity.“ 

Rob Coupland, Managing Director, TelecityGroup UK, said: “The continued growth of the digital economy in Manchester means we are seeing greater than ever demand for enterprise-grade infrastructure and network services.

“We believe that investment in networks, internet exchange points and premium data centres in Manchester can enable the city’s digital economy to truly compete on an international scale. We’re delighted to be working with The Loop to provide Manchester businesses with the infrastructure they need to expand on a regional and international basis.“

TelecityGroup operates data centre facilities in city locations across Europe, which provide secure and highly-connected environments for the IT and telecoms equipment that powers the digital economy. It operates four premium data centres in Manchester including Joule House, its new flagship 3.5MW facility close to MediaCity.

Business and education figures from across Yorkshire and Humberside have come together to bring the UK’s first employer-led social media apprenticeship programme to the region.

A group of ten business heads - including Asda’s head of communications, Dom Birch, Finn Communications’ managing director, Richard Rawlings and Chartered Institute of Marketing regional director, Di Earles - have formed an Advisory Panel which will help introduce The Juice Academy to Yorkshire.

They are joined by celebrity headteacher at Thornhill Community Academy, Jonny Mitchell, who has publicly supported apprenticeships throughout his time on Channel 4’s Educating Yorkshire.

The Juice Academy, the brainchild of Tangerine PR in Manchester,  has expanded into the region, following popular demand from employers and young people, for an apprenticeship programme that not only addresses an industry-wide social media skills gap, but also trains young people in its practical application. 

Lucy Adams, The Juice Academy’s senior project co-ordinator, said: “The feedback we have received from young people and employers in the North West has been overwhelmingly positive since we launched last year.

“The interest and support we have received so far from our Yorkshire Advisory Panel, highlights its commitment to helping us bridge the gap between businesses and bright young people. It is the foundation of a positive future for The Juice Academy’s success in Yorkshire and Humberside.“

Founded just a year ago, The Academy has already successfully placed nearly 40 young apprentices with big brands such as BetFred, Pets at Home and Regatta.

To date, the academy has achieved a 100% success rate, with all of its cohort one students securing permanent, full-time roles with their placement employers.

Jonny Mitchell, headteacher at Thornhill Community Academy, said: “The Juice Academy has made a significant impact in the North West and I couldn’t be happier to hear that Yorkshire and Humberside has been selected as its first expansion region.

"Social media is such an intrinsic part of the lives of young people today and I’m going to do all I can to ensure as many of our region’s students are able to benefit from the superb career opportunities opening up to them via this unique initiative.“

Training modules for apprentices of The Juice Academy include Social Media Management, Developing Content for Social Sharing, Developing a Digital Strategy, Keyword Analysis and Social Media for Mobile. 

The Juice Academy will host its first Yorkshire and Humberside boot camp selection process on Monday 14 July, where potential apprentices will meet interested employers and complete a series of creative and strategic tasks. The Yorkshire programme is now open to applications from both businesses and apprentices.

For more information, or to express an interest in becoming an employer/apprentice, please visitwww.juiceacademy.co.uk.

Labour’s Shadow Cabinet Minister has called on North Easterners to contribute their views on how digital technology, and particularly the role of the internet, can improve government.

Newcastle Central MP Chi Onwurah outlined her Digital Government Review to delegates at this week’s Thinking Digital Conference and encouraged people to submit evidence across a range of key areas.

The session touched upon questions around how business could be responsible for accelerating the pace of change for digital inclusion of the population.

Chi, a former engineer, who has worked in the telecoms across the world, told the assembled delegates how her experience of increased telefony connection across Nigeria revolutionised people’s lives - and saw the potential in UK public services.

Chi said: “I spotted a link. Networks are by their very nature egalitarian, and there is an opportunity to develop government services that put the citizen in control.

“We’re not talking about customer or user focussed services, because government isn’t Tesco, but services that deliver real value for people.

“Citizens should be able to design the services they need in real time. The question is - how do you make that happen? You can’t have than unless everyone is online; civil servants are empowered; and the right architecture for the digital infrastructure.

“We have an opportunity here to change the value chain between government and the people. The internet can act as an amplifier, and if we have a digital divide, where some people are not plugged in, we’ll return to a 19th Century model of democracy - where only an elite few can influence.“

Professor Paul Watson of Newcastle University, who is involved in a major research project around digital inclusion, told the audience how his studies had highlighted many barriers to digital inclusion - not just age.

He said: “There are other issues beside age that need to be addressed. Many people are very nervous about security for instance, and there is disparity between how people assimilate information.

“I think there’s something to be said for the public sector showing the private sector the best way to deliver services.“

Paul added: “While in many cases the private tech sector does not cater for the over 50s - it’s actually these people that have the most buying power - so they should be paying attention.“

The Digital Government Review calls for evidence across key themes:

• Access and skills.
• Information Rights
• Citizen Needs First
• People-powered
• Continuous Innovation
• Digital Framework
• Digital Procurement
• Skills and Culture

The Digital Government Review will be delivered in a report, to be published before next year’s General Election. You can read the criteria and submit evidence via this page, before the June 14 deadline.

Ve Interactive the multi award-winning technology company is honoured and delighted to learn that has been shortlisted for the Digital Leaders 100 in the ‘Industry’ category alongside nine other brands that include Lloyds Bank, Akamai and Talk Talk. T

he awards recognise those who have had a substantial contribution in the digital transformation of government and the winners will be announced at a black tie gala dinner in London on the 18th June.

Ve Interactive is the British pioneering company that first put data capture, cart abandonment and remarketing software solutions on the global e-commerce map. With 12 offices worldwide, Ve has since evolved into offering a suite of proprietary re-engagement, remarketing and retargeting apps – all across one platform. This, the VePlatform, helps online businesses successfully reduce bounce rate, increase customer engagement and minimise website abandonment.

Winner of a recent Data Strategy Award 2014 for Real-Time Marketing and a Gold International Business Stevie® Award for Computer Software Company of the Year 2013, Ve now supports over 3,500 domestic and multi-national online businesses and retailers in the delivery of real-time marketing communications at key points within their customers’ journeys. With a highly supportive performance-only model, Ve has increased revenues for thousands of online businesses without increasing their capital expenditure.

Said David J. Brown, Co Founder & CEO: "Ve has continually evolved our offering to adapt to changing marketplace demands and consumer behaviour, but most of all we have developed technology that ensures incremental revenue creation without increased capital expenditure. 

"Consolidating the offerings of remarketing, retargeting, display advertising and online efficiency across all media devices, ensures that our relay of technology, segments live data into actionable insight, ensuring maximum revenue creation."

Tracking £billions of transaction daily, Ve’s comprehensive data set provides unparalleled insight into customer activity, whilst driving each app to deliver highly-targeted content to customers based on their purchasing activity and profile.

The Digital Leaders 100 shortlist is now down to a public vote.

The brains behind a revolutionary handheld DNA sequencing device developed in Newcastle shared a stage with top technology thinkers this week.

Jonathan O’Halloran, the founder and chief scientific officer of Centre for Life-based QuantuMDx stunned the audience at this week’s Thinking Digital Conference with his story - bringing biotechnology to market from his garage.

The entrepreneur had been branded “crazy” for pursuing his idea that diagnostic equipment could be delivered at speed via a handheld device - but now Jonathan’s firm operates from offices across four continents.

The molecular biologist initially began development in South Africa before funding dried up and he was invited to relocate the Centre for Life base.

QuantuMDx’s technology, essentially a molecular laboratory about the size of an iPad, can test samples to extract DNA and provide disease diagnosis.

Doctors in developing parts of the world could expect to wait weeks for the results of such testing - but the firm’s technology makes it possible within minutes, at the touch of a button.

Jonathan said: “It became clear that we needed a simplification of the process. We needed to put the sample in one end and then get a result out the other. Not only that - we needed it in 15 minutes.

“This was no mean feat as the process for extraction can take up to three hours alone. It required a lot of rethinking and re-strategising of the technology that was already there.

“That wasn’t enough for us though. Not only are we helping diagnosis, we’re extracting a lot of information from patients. That information - on a big scale - can be incredibly useful.

“It’s important in terms of surveillance. We want to be able to contain a pandemic with this data."

Jonathan explained that QuantuMDx’s ambition is now to configure the £500 hand-held device so that it can collect data on disease mutations across the world - a scheme he referred to as the “internet of life."

He added: “To get something like this working, to collect all this data and make use of it, is really tricky.

“We’re working with bodies like the World Health Organisation and other NGOs. We’re also working with big international companies that are helping us with the architecture.

“Our work will mean we truely understand the pathogens of our lifetime, and that means a future without epidemics or pandemics."

Image source: MattsMacintosh

New Rotherham business Challenge IT Solutions is planning for global expansion, with the help and support of  Rotherham Investment & Development Office Soft (RiDO’s) Landing Zone.

David Matthewman, managing director of Challenge IT Solutions, returned to the UK after the recession hit Cyprus where he was running an IT business, and is targeting Germany and Russia as key growth markets for the new firm. 

David said: “It is very exciting to be back here in the UK offering IT solutions to both domestic clients and small businesses. 

"I approached RiDO because I heard about the support the organisation offers to new businesses - their help has been hugely beneficial to me in these first few months in establishing my business in potentially high growth overseas markets.”

“Over the next couple of months, I plan to relocate to new premises in the Rotherham area and to appoint a trainee IT engineer, creating new employment opportunities."

Julia Millea, business development co-ordinator for RiDO has supported Challenge IT Solutions by providing language services for his website into German and Russian.

Julie said: “We are delighted to be supporting David at this exciting time for his business.  There is demand for cost effective IT services in Germany and Russia and we expect to see Challenge IT Solutions gain many new business opportunities in these countries. 

"We are looking forward to providing the company with further support with overseas sales in the future.”

The Growth and Prosperity in Rotherham (Soft Landing Zone) project aims to assist Rotherham companies in accessing international markets and also helps foreign inward investors who choose to locate to RiDO’s business centres.  

The project is supported financially by the European Union. It has attracted £842k investment from the European Regional Development Fund as part of Europe’s support for the region’s economic development through the Yorkshire and Humber ERDF Programme 2007-13.

Image source: Jesper Särnesjö

The £21.5 million buy-out and refinancing of ASK4, a Sheffield-based provider of telecommunications services to student accommodation and multi-tenant buildings has been completed by Darwin Private Equity.

ASK4 delivers WiFi, broadband and IPTV services to student accommodation buildings, private residential developments and serviced offices from its headquarters in Sheffield where it employs over 100 staff.

ASK4 was founded by Jonathan Burrows in 2000 to provide internet access services to private residential multi-tenant buildings.

The firm entered the student accommodation sector in 2005 following the acquisition of Horizon Telecoms, which was established by Jonathan Hudson.

The business, which recorded revenues of £10.2 million in 2013, now provides its services to over 100,000 users across the UK. ASK4 works with leading private student accommodation providers, directly with universities and more than 400 businesses.

The deal sees Darwin back ASK4’s management team, which is led by managing director Jonathan Burrows, as the firm looks to build on its rapid expansion since 2005 and target organic growth opportunities in the UK and international markets. The transaction was supported by acquisition finance facilities from Investec Growth & Acquisition Finance.

Jonathan Burrows said: “With demand greater than ever for reliable, high speed internet services, the timing is perfect for us to bring in external investment that will help us take the business into a new phase of growth.

"The team at Darwin has impressed us with its focus and understanding of our market. With its support, we are committed to developing our technology offering and continue to deliver value, innovation and quality service to our customers.“  

Nick Jordan, partner of Darwin Private Equity, who will join the board at ASK4, commented: “ASK4 has transformed over the past decade to establish itself as one of the leading players in the high growth broadband and TV services market for student accommodation and other multi-tenant buildings.

"Having built an exceptional reputation with its customers through its focus on quality, we look forward to developing our partnership with Jonathan and the rest of the team, who are well placed to capitalise on a number of growth opportunities.“

Christian Mayo and Dan Smith from KPMG’s corporate finance team in Leeds advised the shareholders of ASK4, while legal advice was provided by Matt Ainsworth and James Foster from Irwin Mitchell.

Darwin was advised by the corporate finance team at Grant Thornton and legal advice was provided by Macfarlanes. Due diligence was provided by BDO (financial due diligence), PwC (commercial due diligence) and Deloitte (structuring).

EON Reality, the world’s leading interactive 3D software provider for business and education has confirmed a further three year contract with The Loop, Manchester’s fibre network, following a successful first year.

The Loop, which is part of Gamma Telecom (one of the four largest network carriers of voice minutes in the UK), is a fibre network stretching 82 km (50 miles) around the city of Manchester.

The Virtual Reality technology specialist has its European headquarters and VR Innovation Academy at One Central Park in east Manchester.    

The Loop is connected to the One Central Park building where it also serves UMIC (University of Manchester Innovation Centre). 

The fibre delivers superfast connectivity along with advanced IP (Internet Protocol) telephony and data services to the local business and data centre community. The services are underpinned and supported by more than 100 staff at Gamma’s Network Operations Centre in Manchester’s Trafford Park.

Ken Swain, EON Reality’s Managing Director in the UK said: “We create vast amounts of 3D content which is sent across the globe so it’s crucial we have high capacity connectivity. 

“The Loop performs extremely well and really meets our needs.  We’re very fortunate to be located so close to this fibre network which has meant accessing it has been easy and very cost effective.   For us, connecting to The Loop seemed the obvious choice and we look forward to continuing this partnership.”

Ashley Griffiths, Managing Director of The Loop added: “EON Reality was one of our first customers and it’s great to see this relationship develop.  Bringing the fibre into One Central Park was very straight forward as the infrastructure is very close by. 

“It’s great to have EON Reality’s European HQ here in Manchester and together we can support Manchester’s ambition to be one of the top 20 digital cities in the world by 2020.”

A University of Manchester spin-out company which has created a revolutionary non-surgical procedure for the treatment of chronic lower back pain, has secured a total £353,102 investment from consortium of backers.

The investment for Gelexir Healthcare Ltd (Gelexir) has come from The University of Manchester, The North West Fund for Biomedical (NWF4B) managed by SPARK Impact, Central Manchester Foundation Trust (CMFT) and Business Angels.

The company, which was founded on the back of discoveries and developments made at the University over the past 10 years will use the financial backing from investors to continue its program of advanced clinical trials scheduled to take place towards the end of 2015.

Gelexir CEO Dr Philippe Jenny said: "This funding is a great step forward as it provides the resources to transfer the discovery from the bench to the industrial world and pushes the technology through the demanding validation tests, heading towards the first patient."

Gelexir provides an innovative and cost-effective treatment for Chronic Lower Back Pain caused by Degenerative Disc Disease.

The process addresses the condition at an early stage and involves the injection of polymer microgels that restore the disc’s shock absorptive properties and replicate the bio-mechanical properties of a healthy intervertebral disc.

Dr Jenny added: “It has the potential to offer an alternative to spinal fusion techniques, which require invasive surgery and significant recovery times.  This will be a great step forward in providing an improved treatment and faster recovery for patients.”

Professor Tony Freemont, head of Manchester Medical School, and Gelexir Board Member hailed the treatment’s potential significance for back pain sufferers: "There is a real need for a simple, safe, easily administered treatment for back pain that is refractory to simple drug and physiotherapy, but does not necessitate major spine surgery.

"This funding will allow Gelexir to get closer to taking its product, which at its current state of development appears to fulfil all these criteria, closer to clinical trials."

The cash injection will provide the means for Gelexir to continue laboratory-based development and trials - with testing scheduled to commence with the help of patients in the latter half of 2015.

UMIP, the University’s agent for intellectual property (IP) commercialisation, has provided IP and business development expertise and also early-stage Proof-of-Principle funding and seed corn funding from its UMIP’s Premier Fund.

Translational funding has also been provided by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). The North West Fund for Biomedical is a sub-fund of The North West Fund, a substantial pot of money jointly financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the European Investment Bank.

Newcastle ICT services firm Calibre Secured Networks Ltd is looking to double turnover year-on-year over the next three years following a move to larger premises in Jesmond.

The ambitious firm, which provides ICT and cyber-security solutions for public and private sector organisations, is targeting further growth in the core education and local government sectors on the back of relocation to new office space in Windsor Terrace.

The investment will more than double Calibre’s operational capacity and comes as the fast growing firm recently invested in new talent to support expansion plans and underpin the drive for growth over the next three years.

The boost will help to push the firm’s sales though the £3m mark by 2016 and grow staff numbers to around 20.

Earlier this year, Calibre appointed Shaun Phillips as its new technical director, who had previously worked in technical roles for Capita IT Services, BT, the NHS Trust and Sunderland City Council among others.

More capacity will bring closer together the sales, marketing and technical support functions for its range of ICT and cloud-based solutions.

The move is the latest success for the firm, which utilises advanced technology and software systems from Cisco and other leading vendors to develop integrated and bespoke security-focused ICT solutions.

The company works across the UK and Europe for clients who include Sage UK and Ireland, G4S and increasingly within education. The company recently secured a five year managed services contract in the face of fierce competition to deliver a new cloud-based wireless network solution, network, and infrastructure refresh and storage solution.

As it secures its client base and, in turn, revenue, Calibre’s managing director said momentum is gathering because Calibre has established itself as a reputable supplier delivering proven added value expertise with a track record that can be independently verified in a competitive sector.

“The future is exciting for us and we are busier now than ever before. We now have the foundations and plans in place to take us forward over the next three years.

“Clients are already benefiting from the investments we have made in resources. We now have the skills available to spearhead our growth as the economy continues to improve and more and more organisations look to upgrade or purchase new ICT equipment.“

She added that Calibre will continue to support its talented team while continuing to encourage and nurture a new generation of young, highly skilled people within the firm and the wider industry who will be based at the new office.

“We believe the North East is a hot-spot for emerging IT talent and are actively helping to drive and deliver the skills our people need as highlighted at the inaugural Dynamo event earlier this month which is growing the region’s IT economy.“

Image source: MDreibelbis

Leeds-based PinBellCom Group exceeded expectations by excelling their target of £1 million. 

The year ending March saw a 60% increase in revenue from the previous year with  achievements including last month including a tender victory, adding the Bradford CCG District to their directory of clients.

Edward Bellamy, Founder of PinBellCom Ltd, said: "We are delighted that we have exceeded our growth forecasts. We are going through a period of focussing our business plan on our core strengths and this is yielding great quality customer care, high retention, more sales and hopefully more awards to come!"

PinBellCom, the administration and compliance company have attributed in-depth consultations and constant market feedback to the "inevitable" increase in client’s numbers and relations and are ambitious in their scope for the next year.