PICSEL SPARKLES AT INAUGURAL SME AWARDS

In the week it announced a 600% increase in pre-tax profit, mobile phone software developer Picsel Technologies achieved further recognition when it picked up two top accolades at the Insider e250 awards last night (Wednesday 7 November).

The awards, in association with leading independent  professional services  firm Scott-Moncrieff, have been launched to announce Insider’s e250 survey which identifies Scotland’s best and fastest growing SMEs.

Braehead-based Picsel picked up the main award of the evening, e250 Company of the Year, as well as Fastest Growing Company, having seen turnover rise from £6m to £13m in the space of a year.

Judges described Picsel’s progress as “nothing short of spectacular” after the management team bounced back from a hefty loss of £7.2m due to continued investment in the product, to a its current profitable situation.

Picsel has, within the space of a decade, grown from a start-up to a 300-strong global player under the guidance of Paisley University graduate and current CEO, Imran Khand.  The company’s software is used in over 125 million mobile phones, with Samsung, Sharp and Nokia among its customer-base.

Gordon Armour, chairman of Scott-Moncrieff, said:

“Successful SMEs - the lifeblood of the Scottish economy - focus on what they are good at, and surround themselves with employees, investors and advisors who share that approach. In addition, they not only listen to their markets but they also have the ability to be resourceful and adaptable when their markets demand that they go beyond their core offering towards uncharted territory. The success of this approach is reflected in the performance of the companies recognised by the e250 awards”.

 

To find out more about the E250 2008  Awards click here

The awards were hosted by popular BBC presenter Tanya Beckett in front of an audience of over 300 business figures at Prestonfield, Edinburgh.

After-dinner speaker Gerald Ratner spoke with candour about his rollercoaster ride as one of Britain’s best known businessmen, which saw him turn his family business into the world’s largest jewellery retailer, selling products he infamously described as “crap”.  

 

E250 2007 Winners & Runners Up

Innovation & Design

• Total Waste Management Alliance - Winner
• Crieff Hydro
• First People Solutions Group

Most Focussed Business

• Sanquhar Tile Services - Winner
• Blairs Limited
• First People Solutions Group
• Hibs Football Club
• Ashwood Scotland Limited
• Crieff Hydro

Business Leadership

• The Townhouse Company - Winner
• Harper MacLeod LLP
• First People Solutions Group
• Ashwood Scotland Ltd
• Caledonian Bottlers plc
• Sanquhar Tile Services
• William Purves Funeral Director

Top e250 Company: Abbotshall Homes - Winner

E250 Newcomer: Bell Building Projects - Winner

E250 Fastest Growing: Picsel Technologies - Winner

E250 Company of the Year: Picsel Technologies - Winner

Note: The winners of the first three categories and the e250 Company of the Year  were decided by an independent  judging panel. The remaining awards were based solely on financial performance figures. Link: e250 website

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