Pictured above: Jon Ingelton
A Leicester publishing and marketing services company, set to
see its workforce double over the next 18-months, has strengthened
its alliance with the United Nations and secured interest in three
new projects on a recent trade mission, organised by UK Trade &
Investment (UKTI).
Tudor Rose, who currently employ 37 people at their Friar Lane
HQ to produce books and magazines, have opened a new office on
Bowling Green Street that will accommodate 21 staff, to meet the
increasing demands for their services resulting from a structured
programme of activity to grow the business over the next three
years for their list of impressive clients, including Microsoft and
the United Nations.
The firm, which has an annual turnover of £2.1 million and
is currently growing at 22% a year, was established 12 years ago by
Jon Ingelton.
The company have worked on high profile books including Climate
Sense for the World Climate Conference, and are currently working
on Risk Returns, published for the International Secretariat for
Disaster Reduction (ISDR). Jon had the opportunity to visit the
ISDR during his recent visit to Geneva, organised by UKTI. The book
will draw on experiences around the world to reflect how people are
living with natural and related environmental and technological
risks, and how people are making their own efforts to reduce their
exposure to disasters.
The UKTI meetings have helped Tudor Rose firm up opportunities
for publishing human development books.
Jon said:
"We have built up an impressive portfolio of UN and NGO books
over the last 12 years and have some optimism that after our recent
meetings we will quickly complete our human development publication
calendar for the next three years. "While this side of our business
only accounts for 10% of our turnover, the references that we have
play a significant role in helping us to win new business in other
sectors."
Tudor Rose approached UK Trade & Investment after seeing an
article about them in a local magazine. Jon said:
"It never occurred to us to approach UKTI to help us win new
business until we read about the experiences of other businesses
and so we approached them to see what opportunities might be
available and were quickly put in touch with local International
Trade Adviser Chris Foster. He understood how he could help support
our goals and introduced us to the British Consulate in Geneva who
arranged a full schedule of meetings with UN agencies and NGOs.
Half of the meetings resulted in a positive outcome - a conversion
rate that we have never before achieved and due entirely to the
quality of research and introductions conducted by UKTI colleagues
based in the British Consulate."
Chris Foster, International Trade Adviser for UK Trade &
Investment, who covers Leicester, said:
"This company was already extremely successful; creating so many
new jobs is fantastic during a recession. That we have been able to
help support Tudor Rose is further evidence that all companies, no
matter how big, small or successful are able to benefit from our
advice and contacts and I'd encourage anyone to approach us to see
what we can add to your business."