The Access Group

Access Group
Private
Industry Software consultancy and developer
Founded UK (1991)
Headquarters Colchester, UK
Key people
Chris Bayne, CEO[1]
Products Access Dimensions, FocalPoint, Dimensions Lite, SupplyChain (ERP), Access Insight, thankQ, GoldMine (CRM), Dashboard, Service Manager, SelectHR, SelectPay (HR & payroll), Access Delta, TeamSeer, PeoplePlanner.
Revenue £53.5m (December 2014)
Number of employees
700 (July 2014)
Website www.theaccessgroup.com

Access Group is a software consultancy and developer, selling primarily to UK mid-market businesses.[2] With 14 offices across the UK and France: Stratford St Mary near Colchester, Harpenden, Sheffield, Canterbury, London City, Edinburgh, Canterbury, Hastings, Bangor, Manchester, Loughborough, Nuneaton, Dublin, and Paris.[3]

The organisation was formed in June 2009 following the absorption of five companies - Access Accounting, Armstrong Consultants, Access Accounting Ireland, Asyst Solutions and Access Supply Chain – into a single operation. In March 2011, Access was acquired by its management team and investment company Lyceum Capital Partners LLP in a deal worth £50m.

History

1991-1995: Early development

This period saw founding company Access Accounting focus on building its business and accounting software. Early products included entry-level accounting systems such as Access Horizons and Access Foundations.

Main article: Access Accounting

1996 - 2007

In 1996, Access Accounting developed Access Dimensions. This was joined by middleware application Transaction Broker (1998) to facilitate integration at mid-market level. Integration with Microsoft Office (2002) and Outlook Today (2005) saw the company’s initial entry into Business Intelligence software.

Other software releases include integrated CRM, Dimensions Manufacturing/BoM (Bill of Materials) and Access Analytics ‘data cube’ technology (2006), followed by a reverse change VAT upgrade in 2007 to combat carousel fraud.

Main article: Access Accounting

2008 - 2011

In 2008, Access Accounting released Accounting for Carbon Emissions (ACE) to help businesses calculate and understand the amount of CO2 they produce.

In 2009, the company released its web-based solution FocalPoint.

The company re-branded in June 2009,[4] absorbing Access Accounting and its four subsidiaries to become Access Group. Recent additions include Stock Forecasting functionality (2009) and a Dashboard business intelligence product (2010). The company added HR to its portfolio in 2010 via the acquisition of Canterbury-based Select Software.[5] The company was rebranded Access Select.

In 2011, the group launched its web services API Application Programming Interface, allowing its financial software to be integrated with third-party, on-premise software. In the same year, Access Mobile was released, making functionality such as timesheets and expenses available on the iPhone [6] and BlackBerry.

2011 - Present

In March 2011 there was an MBO of Access led by its existing directors and private equity firm Lyceum Capital.

Since then Access has grown both through continued double-digit organic growth and acquisition. It has acquired the following companies/technologies:

Products

Awards

Access Group has won Accountancy Age's 'Software Package of the Year' award for three consecutive years (2008–10).

Main article: Access Accounting

Other awards achieved by Access Group include:

Accreditations

Access Group is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and is a member of the Business Application Software Developers Association (BASDA).[7] Individual Access solutions are accredited by industry authorities, including HM Revenue & Customs and the ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales).

Board of directors

Name Title Executive/Non-Executive
Mike Audis COO Executive
Chris Bayne CEO Executive
Adam Brown CFO Executive
Gareth Denley Chairman Non-executive Director
Jon Jorgensen Group Sales Director Executive
David England Director Non-Executive
Stuart Allsopp CTO Executive
Chris Tossell Commercial Director Executive

See also

References

  1. http://www.theaccessgroup.com/about-us/meet-the-team.aspx
  2. "FSN Business Systems News and Analysis".
  3. "The Access Group office locations".
  4. Access completes rebrand project with launch of new website
  5. Access acquires mid-market HR solutions provider Select Software
  6. iPhone expense management software released by Access | Access UK
  7. Members

External links