News

Ambitious and innovative developments earn ETL Solutions the 2005 Technium Challenge Award

A North Wales company behind a highly sophisticated software product in use by a number of blue chip companies has been selected as the overall winner of the WDA 2005 Technium Challenge competition.

ETL Solutions - which is based in Blaenau Ffestiniog - was chosen from fifty eight entries from across Wales, the UK and Europe.

The award recognises that ETL Solutions has the most potential for rapid growth and job creation while its business plan illustrated the company’s ability to develop and exploit its knowledge and technology led innovation

Winning the Technium Challenge competition couldn’t have come at a better time as ETL Solutions were reviewing their business operations, revising its business plan and considering additional office space in North Wales.

Now ETL immediately qualified for entry into a Technium and the company selected Technium CAST as their new base of operation. They will benefit from a winning package, including free specialist sales and marketing support and IP consultancy advice.

New Hi-Tec HQ’s for Newport

Two new technology enterprises - including one of the UK’s leaders in the latest voice-recognition telephony - have established operations in Newport’s Imperial House complex with help from the Welsh Development Agency.

Gold Europe Ltd., formerly the European arm of Denver-based Gold Systems Inc., moved to Newport from Reading following a management buy-out. The company supplies state-of-the-art voice self service systems to clients that include BSkyB, Bank of Ireland and the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency.

Imperial House’s second newcomer is Utility Retail Systems Ltd - which offers clients in the utility, telecoms and financial sector a unique software system that minimises problems in managing the sales process and customer journey through to new customer set up and billing. URS also offers consultancy services to new business start ups in the customer service sector.

Acclamation for Welsh Software House’s New Financial Tool

One of Wales’s newest software companies is earning positive reviews for its financial management tool that removes the complications of measuring the performance of small-and-medium-sized businesses - and takes the process to new levels of timeliness and accuracy. 

Swansea-based Bank Clarity Ltd has just seen its software tool ‘BankClarity’ reviewed by the Sunday Times in an article that awarded it four ’stars’ out of a possible five.

The company has recently started-up in business and launched BankClarity with the backing of a round of start-up capital, with the finance package including a loan from Finance Wales and an Assembly Investment Grant from the Welsh Assembly Government.

Primarily targeted at owner-managers and finance directors of small & mediuim-sized businesses - and their accountants, for whom the system also provides tangible benefits - BankClarity provides access to a unique financial management information system.

It allows managers access to a wealth of information about their company’s performance at the touch of a button, and means they are able to base their decisions on the most up-to-date data available - rather than on annually-produced and often out-of-date information.

Enterprise management software

DeSL sign new deal

Supply chain software developer, DeSL, has recently signed a contract with Velmore Fashions, a key Marks and Spencer supplier. Using a number of applications from their successful software product, Enterprise Accelorator, they were able to integrate Velmore's systems without upheaval to the companies daily activity, replacing their old system, extending their funcionality to provide them with improved reporting facilities. Velmore are now able to manage their products more effectively, bringing them to market on time and within budget.

Content management software

Avantis, working in partnership with Microsoft

Avantis are to launch its ISAwall security appliance in partnership with Microsoft. The Avantis software offers optimum interoperability with Windows server operating systems and integrated VPN firewall solution for all scales of business.

Enterprise communications software

Fusion Workshop brings home 'best e-trading' award for Cooload

Developed and managed by Fusion Workshop, the Cooload site was commended by the judges of the award ceremony for its "outstanding and innovative use of information and communication technology". Andrew Davies, Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Economic Development and Transport, presented Andrew Sullivan, director of Cooload, with the award.

securetrading supports the DEC's online appeal for the Tsunami disaster

The payment pages product created by Bangor-based securetrading has been integral to the Disasters Emergency Committees' (DEC) online appeal for donations to assist the victims of the Tsunami disaster in SE Asia. The pages have been inundated with donations and securetrading's hard work under the pressure of the sheer number of people wishing to donate to the appeal helped to maintain the high number of generous donations.

securetrading supports the DEC free, despite the significant costs that are incurred throughout the delivery of this service

Vertical market solutions software

A new partner for Comtec

Amadeus has recently announced that it is expanding its agency and tour distribution offering through a strategic technology partnership with Comtec (Europe) Ltd, the UK's leading provider of software solutions for the leisure travel industry. Under the terms of the deal, Amadeus will acquire a 20% shareholding in Comtec.

The partnership will provide the platform for the two companies to introduce a range of products and services to fulfil the leisure travel industry's long held need for integrated distribution services. As a result, travel agencies and tour operators will be able to deliver the widest and and best choice of packages to their customers.

Peter Evans Associates bags top award from the London stock exchange

Dr. Michael Foley, managing director of Cardiff-based software developer Peter Evans Associates, has recently been awarded the London stock exchange's award for superior customer service for their tailor-made securities and investment software; an award that they have now won three times running.

With such quality behind it, Peter Evans Associates has big plans to take their products to the global markets. First targeting Europe through their Cardiff and London offices, and then looking to move into the North American Market.

Target and Picture Financial Group sign a new 5-year agreement

Cardiff-based Target Group Plc, provider of IT and business support services to the financial services sector, has recently signed a new 5-year agreement with Picture Financial Group to manage their complete IT function. The agreement will see Target provide the group with core processing systems and IT infrastructure that will allow them to nurture high quality customer relationships throughout the loan life-cycle.

Consumer software

Draig Technology: new software for Wales' bilingual society

Bangor-based software developer, Draig Technology, has created a sophisticated new peice of software called "To Bach". The software simplifies the use of the Welsh language in IT communications, allowing people to communicate with greater ease and creating gains in keyboard efficiency for Welsh speaking IT users.

With the software, users will gain access to keyboard recognition of the Welsh alphabet, which cuts down on the need to go through long winded key sequences to use letters unique to the Welsh language.

Core enterprise systems software