CCS Media smashes £80m goal

VAR hails successful FY2012 as it fixes its sights on next growth target

CCS Media has smashed through the £80m barrier for its FY2012, hailing the year as its best ever.

Managing director Terry Betts predicted last year that the firm would hit £80m and is confident of reaching his next goal of £96m this year.

"Generally we have been quite aggressive with recruitment and that has given us the growth for 2012. We have taken on quite a few staff, and have grown product areas as well. Although technical services has been a good growth area, I will never lose sight of our client business - it is our bread and butter."

Betts said net profit for the year had also doubled, although due to CCS being a privately held company, no figures were revealed.

"Despite challenging market conditions and an uncertain economy, CCS Media continues to perform well across all sectors and our continued focus on hiring, developing and retaining top talent has been the key driver of our expansion," Betts said.

He added that the firm has set up its own Sales Academy at its Chesterfield head office to recruit the next generation of talent and has recruited a sales development manager to oversee their training.

"In this industry it is the same people doing the rounds - to get ahead you have to bring in new blood and train people up. As a company we have lots of apprentices and trainees, it is very important. This year I am looking to bring on another 20 to 30 sales staff to support our aggressive growth plans," he said.

Betts added he would like to smash through the £100m barrier, but was confident of hitting his £96m target. "We celebrate our 30th anniversary this year and I believe we are well positioned for yet another year of successes and further growth," he said.

And in separate news, the VAR is sharing its success with its own community. This year it has pledged to donate five per cent of every stationery sale to the Chesterfield-based Ashgate Hospice to help it raise the necessary £2.8m needed to survive each year.

Claire Ollerenshaw, divisional sales manager for stationery and office supplies, said: "The Ashgate Hospice is quite close to home to many of my colleagues at CCS Media. There are some who have had loved ones affected by terminal illnesses and unfortunately, some have been affected themselves.

"The Ashgate Hospice was a natural choice when choosing a cause and we appreciate and admire the work they do."