Anubis 2 Case Study: DCE
Having been awarded £10,000 to invest in technology, all the winning companies took an innovative idea and weaved it into their businesses. Here is a summary of their successes thanks to the ANUBIS funding.
A business in Sherwood, which won £10,000 in a business technology competition, is investing the money to develop bespoke CCTV signs using sophisticated digital technology.
Data Compliance Equipment Ltd (DCE) has spent the last three years heavily investing in research and development in order to produce products which are both cost effective and high quality and which meet the industry standards.
DCE will use the competition cash to invest in flexible manufacturing and printing technology and equipment to produce the CCTV signage which is compliant under the CCTV Data Protection Act of 1998.
To be compliant, signs must display the name and contact details of the organisation which holds the CCTV data. Over 90 per cent do not comply, which could compromise evidence if needed in a court of law. Cost of non compliance could be as much as a £5,000 fine.
Allan Moore, business owner, believes that other manufacturers have not adopted new digital technology or enhanced the production techniques used for modern day CCTV signage.
“The more traditional method of producing a sign with a black cartoon camera on a yellow background seems to prevail throughout the industry. Producing and printing bespoke CCTV signage economically is a challenge for the industry.
Our technology means choice isn’t limited. We can also offer extra UV & scratch proof protection to makes signs more durable and longer lasting.”
DCE's business owner Allan Moore
DCE’s clients include Metro Transport in Leeds and Templeton College in Oxford.
DCE was one of ten businesses which were chosen as winners in the ANUBIS competition earlier this year. The competition was designed to provide assistance to companies with innovative, technology based ideas.
As a small business owner, Allan Moore has spent a disproportionate amount of his time on research and development. However, he points out that many entrepreneurial businesses with an innovative idea are in the same boat.
“Research and development is crucial to the future success of any business. But as a small business, resources have been limited which has meant it has taken a long time to get to this stage in our business’s lifecycle.”
DCE's business owner Allan Moore
The ANUBIS funding has been allocated through the European Regional Development Fund and is managed by East Midlands Development Agency (emda).
Tim Miller, the Managing Director of EMNET, which runs the ANUBIS project added:
“The ANUBIS project was designed to help companies such as DCE. They have built up a niche market and expertise in this area and the judges believed that they had a very good and innovative idea that would benefit from a financial award from ANUBIS.”
EMNET's managing director Tim Miller
With over 4000 CCTV companies and installers in the UK, the market for DCE’s products provides commercial opportunities for growth. These opportunities mean DCE plans to employ a new graphic designer and other staff to help with customer service and delivery.
Commenting on the ANUBIS funding, Allan Moore said:
“Investing in the technology, upgrading equipment and marketing of the business means we can go up a gear and go to market quicker than we originally planned.”
DCE's business owner Allan Moore
Anubis Winner's Link: visit the DCE website
