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The outlook for the SME market in the UK is still mixed, according to the latest reports. The CBI quarterly SME trends survey (January 2010) claims that export orders for SMEs are expected to grow more strongly in the next quarter. Over the previous quarter, domestic orders continued to decline but at the slowest rate since April 2008. According to the survey, numbers employed in SMEs continue to fall, but the rate at which jobs are lost has abated. And research from the Institute of Directors has revealed that small firms are still struggling to access finance, with a rising number of bosses borrowing on credit cards to see them through. The study shows that nearly 60% of businesses seeking bank finance in 2009/10 were rejected by their bank, and that 20% are financing their businesses to some extent with credit cards.
Yet a number of SMEs across all sectors are performing strongly. Below we have profiled a few of the newer companies that Coller IP Management works with. We are pleased that the message seems to be getting out that especially during hard commercial times, companies of all sizes need to ensure their IP is fully protected and commercialised.
Emulate3D, based in Reading, UK, is a software company that produces realistic modelling systems so that companies in the automated materials handling business can demonstrate prototype solutions to potential clients.
Nail Seal Limited is a start up company based in Worcester that is currently seeking seed capital to commercialise a revolutionary design for a prototype retrofit nail gun attachment that solves the problem of filling the hole created when the nail has been fired into wood, by automatically filling the hole with filler.
The company was incorporated in May 2006 and is privately owned. Roy Searle, the founder of Nail Seal, ran a window frame manufacturing business for many years, and used nail guns on a regular basis during the course of his work. continued...
Aquatera was established 10 years ago to provide improved ways of undertaking environmental work, with a focus on renewable energy and examination of how, for example, energy and industrial developments such as wave farms affect the environment and vice versa. The company undertakes concept evaluation and feasibility both in the UK and internationally and is constantly developing innivative solutions. continued...
March 2010
