Access fears loss despite improvements

SOFTWARE and computer services group Access Intelligence is targeting new customers after a period in the red.

In a trading update, the York-based group said its half year loss would be greater than the previous year as the cost of increasing its sales resource begins to show.

However Access, which is made up of a number of subsidiaries based in the North of England, said half year sales to May 31 had finished broadly in line with management expectations at £1.9m, up 10% on the same period last year. Sales were up 20% in the second quarter over the first.

The group’s cash balances exceeded £500,000 at May 31.

Access said Due North, its procurement software business, had benefited from investment into growing its sales after winning a contract with the South West Centre of Excellence representing 51 councils.

The group said its sales team was in discussions with “significantly” more potential customers than this time last year with total order value potential some 2.4 times greater.

Access said its performance this year was dependent on converting these prospects.

The group’s e-mail archiving and storage and retrieval systems, used by both private and public sectors ensure that information is available when required in a secure environment.

Access provides support services to both public and private sector organisations in the UK.