Western Mail & South Wales Evening Post - 09 March 2006

£1M INJECTION TO DOUBLE TURNOVER
SHAUN GREANEY, BUSINESS REPORTER

A Fast-growing Swansea company is looking forward to completing a £1 million investment project this spring, as part of an ambitious plan to double its turnover over the next two years. The IMEX Group, which provides print and graphic communication products, says the investment in a new £580,000 printing press and new offices at Swansea Enterprise Park is designed to increase capacity and open up new markets.

The company, established in 1953, has more than doubled its workforce and turnover - to 33 people and £1.6 million respectively - in the last four years.

IMEX last year expanded from its Llandarcy base to its new, purpose-built 15,000sq ft headquarters in Swansea.

Within a month of moving, IMEX Group landed a major contract to manage all the advertising opportunities at Swansea's new Liberty Stadium and it has an impressive list of clients across the UK.

Investment in state-of-the-art equipment for the production of commercial print and large format display graphics and the development of a cutting-edge online artwork delivery system followed the move, and eight new jobs were created.

Managing director Simon Toft said the company plans to double turnover to £3 million in the next two years, creating at least another six new jobs this year.

The company's growth plans are partly based on an exciting new business project, which he hopes to announce within the next three months.

"Our return to Swansea has proved to be a real sucess and very popular with local customers. No other company in South Wales can offer the range of services and products, to the standard of quality produced in-house at IMEX. Our major investment in new equipment this year will enable us to not only meet, but exceed our clients' expectations in terms of quality, service and value for money," said Mr Toft.

The IMEX Group is one of 6,000 businesses in Wales that this year will receive help from post-16 education and training body Elwa to develop a more competitive workforce as part of the Assembly's skills and employment action plan.

Elwa has already helped the company achieve the Investors in People standard and develop the skills of its middle managers.

Mr Toft said: "Investors in People has been very beneficial to the company, and training is going to play a very important part of our plans for growth in the next two years.

"The company's growth has meant a steep learning curve for all the directors and managers, but now they understand what management is all about they are in control."

The company encourages staff to develop their careers through higher education courses, Modern Apprenticeships, leadership, and management and industry-related training programmes.

"It can be difficult for a small company to weigh the benefits of having a better trained staff against the expense involved," added Mr Toft.

"But learning does pay."