In Brief: Animalcare; EMIS; City Growth Commission
REVENUES are up at veterinary products group Animalcare.
In a trading update for the year ended June 30 2014, the York-based group said revenues across the group are up by 6.3% to approximately £12.9m (2013: £12.1m), ahead of market expectations.
Overall underlying operating profit is in line with market expectations and at least £2.6m for the full year.
Animalcare said it is “very pleased” to report the strong progress of the business versus the prior period and an emphasis on the structure and development of the sales function will further drive the business in the coming period and beyond.
The Yorkshire firm said it believes that the underlying business will continue to deliver growth whilst maintaining the dividend flow during the coming period of increased investment.
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EMIS Group, the healthcare software and services business, has seen continued organic growth in revenues and profits.
In a trading update for the six months ended June 30 2014, the Leeds-based group said it continues to benefit from significant and growing revenue visibility. It said trading was in line with management expectations and the two acquisitions (Ascribe and Digital Healthcare) completed during the second half of 2013 also made positive contributions with further contract wins expected to boost performance in the remainder of the year.
Chris Spencer, CEO, said: “As well as trading in line with our expectations, the first half of 2014 was another period of encouraging progress for EMIS Group. In Primary & Community Care we remained on track for completion of the roll-out to English GPs of EMIS Web while winning a number of significant CCMH contracts and across Community Pharmacy and Secondary & Specialist Care we widened and deepened our connected healthcare offerings.
“Along with politicians from every major party, we are committed to the vision of better and cheaper healthcare through connected software and services. We regard EMIS Group as being uniquely placed to help deliver that vision and are confident in our outlook for the remainder of the year.”
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THE RSA City Growth Commission has launched a report urging for greater independence for cities in a bid to rebalance the UK economy.
The Commission is chaired by University of Sheffield graduate and former chief economist of Goldman Sachs, Jim O’Neill.
In its second report, Human Capitals: Driving UK Metro Growth through Workforce Investment, the Commission is bold in its recommendations to help Britain’s regional cities thrive and complement London’s economic success.
The report states that UK skills system has been slow to adapt to changes in the UK economy, and to employers’ demand for not only new skills, but also new ways of working and communicating.
However, Sheffield University’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) is highlighted as a ‘progressive institution’ which is leading the way providing a model for drawing tutors from skilled trades and ensuring learners apply themselves in a group environment, with facilities located in a growing industrial park.
The report is a summary of the skills challenges facing Sheffield and other cities in the UK.
