Top tech firm Computech is spearheading one of the biggest celebrations of business in the Westcountry region for the second year running.
The software development company is backing this year’s
Computech has gone from strength to strength since forming in 1991.
Although based in a Cornish town, it is now smashing the USA market with its flagship product, BusinessMan Enterprise.
It is a comprehensive business management software suite which has done phenomenally well in the States against competition from much larger software developments.
The software development house joined an elite group of companies in 2017 when it won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, which is the highest award for British businesses. It recognises businesses which have excelled at international trade, innovation or sustainable development.
Garry Thompson, company founder and chief executive of Computech, said: “Most of our business is coming from the USA.
“We are working with a lot of companies in the States.”
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He explained the reason why BusinessMan has been such a success across the pond – and it is because of its flexibility to suit any business.
“It has become a framework and foundation for any business, from invoicing right through to sales information,” said Mr Thompson.
Western Morning News Business Awards 2019
Here are this year's categories:
Apprenticeship Development Award sponsored by CCB Training
This award seeks to recognise the businesses that are making a major contribution to the apprenticeship programme by using apprentices or encouraging their use elsewhere. Any type of company or organisation could be included, but it must be employing apprentices or helping other firms with their apprenticeship programme. Training providers will only be considered if they can explain how they are developing the use of apprenticeships. Judges will be looking for examples of how the business has adapted to a changing marketplace and its strategy for the future.
Business of the Year sponsored by Computech
This will be awarded to a profitable, growing business that has a positive impact on the Westcountry’s economy as a whole. The size and age of the business will be considered against its financial performance. The judges will be interested in innovative products, services and processes as well as expansion into new markets and different areas of business activity.
Best Business Start Up
This accolade will be awarded to a business that has been set up between 2015 and 2016. Judges will be interested in the ethos and background to the business, its profitability as well as what difference it has made in its sector since it started trading and how it has overcome any challenges it has encountered. They will also be looking at future projections and plans for the company.
Communication Award sponsored by Livewest
This award will go to an organisation that has communicated effectively with its target audience (internal or external) over the past year. The initiative may have been part of an ongoing programme or a one-off campaign. It may have used a variety of channels such as media relations, public relations, and online media. The judges will be interested in the business benefits that have resulted from these activities and how the company shows integrity and wisdom embodying the spirit of great communication.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Businesses in this category can demonstrate how they make a social, economic and environmental impact. CSR can involve a range of activities such as: • Working with communities and charitable groups • Developing relationships with employees and customers • Environmental protection and sustainability.Customer Service Award
This award will be made to the company that demonstrates a commitment to continuously improving its standards of customer service. The judges will expect to see a clear, well-implemented customer care policy and examples of service exceeding customer expectations. They will also wish to hear how customer care initiatives contribute to the overall success of the business.
Exporter of the Year sponsored by Optimus Performance Marketing
This award rewards an organisation that has generated substantial and sustained increases in export activity. The judges will consider what makes the winning company different to their competitors, the level of export and the products or service exported. Barriers that have been overcome alongside products that have been sold without export credits may also be considered.
Family Business of the Year
This will go to a business, established by a family and still run by members and operating for at least five years. Applicants will be judged on how the profitable business has increased its potential over the last financial year; the size and age of the business will be considered against its financial performance. The judges would also like to know how the business has demonstrated best practice in aspects such as working with non-family members, developing younger family members/future leaders, and implementing successful generation transitions.
Innovative Business of the Year sponsored by Openreach
Have you come up with a good idea which has transformed your business? We want to hear from enterprises great and small who have achieved big results from thinking outside the box. The winner of the Innovative Business award will be able to demonstrate a ground-breaking approach to developing new products or services. Judges will consider all aspects of the innovation process from research and design to strategy and launch activity. They will also look at commercial success achieved by the product or service.
Lifetime Achievement Award sponsored by Browne Jacobson
This award will go to the businessman or woman who, in the opinion of the judges has made a considerable, profitable and lasting contribution to a business – and the region - over a period of at least 20 years. This may be awarded to a business owner/manager or a member of a business organisation who has achieved something extraordinary over a prolonged period of time. The winner of this category is selected by the judges.
Manufacturer of the Year sponsored by Foot Anstey
The ‘Made in Britain’ stamp has always been a mark of quality and this award seeks to recognise the Westcountry businesses that are making things. The type of business and items produced do not matter. What is important is innovation, design, quality, efficiency, sales flair – and all the other skills needed to be a manufacturing winner. Judges will be looking for examples of how the business has adapted to the changing marketplace and its strategy for the future.
Micro Business of the Year
Our Micro Business of the Year will be a company of 2-9 people that has demonstrated strong revenue growth and a product or service of a quality that stands above competitors. The identifying of and capitalising on scale opportunities will also be noted by the judges.
Small Business of the Year sponsored by Natwest
Open to all organisations with no more than 50 employees, this award will recognise the small business that has maintained consistent growth and strong financial performance, understands its customers and has full buy in from staff. The judges would like to know more about the “personality” of the business and the unique selling points which make it a success.
Technological or Creative Business Award
The judges are looking for an outstanding business from the creative and technological industry sectors. These businesses should be producing cutting-edge creative media and/or technology that have made a big noise in the creative world and beyond. Judges will be looking for a company that has demonstrated skill, creativity and innovation in the development of a unique product, service or design. Winning attributes will include a clever business strategy, a determined leader and a strong motivated team. Applicants will be judged on how the profitable business has increased its potential over the last financial year; the size and age of the business will be considered against its financial performance.
Young Business Person of the Year sponsored by Lloyd Barnes Accountancy Recruitment
This award is open to young entrepreneurs aged 30 and under (as of November 2017) who have shown flair, resilience and wisdom beyond their years in building their own business. Judges will be looking for evidence of commercial success, ambition, energy, skill and vision
“But because companies have specific needs we design for them.”
Now, Computech is working on a new product which will allow it to target a client base of larger companies, and has even created a new firm in the USA in readiness.
Computech has risen, like its founder, from humble beginnings. Mr Thompson was brought up in a council house, and joined the Royal Navy at 15. He left the Senior Service in 1990, after 17 years working as a software engineer, and began building PCs.
After this, he started to write a package that could help manage his own business, which is where his software development career began.
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His clients were so impressed by the software that could record and manage each stage of the business process that they started to ask for the same.
When the 2008 global recession arrived, rather than rely on making bespoke software for individual businesses, Mr Thompson decided to bring together all the individual elements he had developed to create one consolidated package, which became BusinessMan.
Mr Thompson worked from home, then a small office in Stonehouse Street, Plymouth, before shifting to larger offices in Tamar View, Saltash, just near the A38, as the business expanded from a mere four people in 2007 to the size it is today.
“We have grown organically, without outside investment,” he said proudly.
Computech leads a host of sponsors for the Western Morning News Business Awards, which includes Browne Jacobson, LiveWest, Foot Anstey, CCB Training, Optimus Performance Marketing, Natwest, Openreach, Lloyd Barnes, Plymouth Pavilions and St Austell Brewery.
This year, the awards ceremony will be held at the Plymouth Pavilions on Thursday, November 21.
The deadline for entries is Sunday, September 15. Westcountry candidates can