Member Article

Birmingham firm doubles growth by bringing new innovations to market

Birmingham firm doubles growth by bringing new innovations to market.

A Birmingham firm which provides specialist fingerprint access control systems to the construction industry has doubled its growth and brought new innovations to market.

Biosite Systems, at the Elmdon Trading Estate, provides biometric workforce management and site security systems to leading construction companies across the UK.

The company has developed technology which reads low quality fingerprints to enable access to building sites even when operatives’ hands are unclean.

Biosite, which employs 34 people, has witnessed significant demand for its access control systems with the products installed at more than 400 construction sites across the UK.

Biosite was established in 2010 and, with the support of Coventry and Warwickshire accountants and business advisers Harrison Beale & Owen (HB&O), has more than doubled its turnover in the last two years, enabling it to bring new products to market.

Li Wang, managing director of Biosite Systems, said: “We realised that there was a huge gap in the market as traditional biometrics are not sensitive enough for use on building sites due to the poor quality of fingerprints.

“The system has completely transformed workforce management and security within the construction industry as site managers are now able to accurately monitor how many workers are on site at any given time and can also permit or restrict access more efficiently.

“We work with some of the biggest names in UK construction including Wates, Kier, Balfour Beatty and Bouygues and have a big presence across the Midlands and London.

“We were recently contacted by Galliford Try to install access control at the Tollbar End extension project as well as providing security personnel to monitor CCTV footage.

“We have worked with HB&O since our inception and its advisors have provided excellent finance, HR and tax support which has facilitated our growth.

“The nature of Biosite means we are consistently investing in research and development to create new products and HB&O has worked with us from the start to enable us to maximise our research and development tax relief.

“We recently launched a Biosite wireless alarm and alert system which can be used to signal either fire alarms or first-aid alerts on site, helping firms to ensure they are compliant with health and safety procedures.

“We are currently looking to expand into new premises and employ around 10 additional staff and have been discussing the possibility of exporting our products over the next two years.”

Wayne Gutteridge, director at HB&O which has offices in Coventry and Leamington, said it is great that Biosite has been able to bring new innovation to the construction sector with its new technology.

He said: “We have worked with Biosite for five years and it has been rewarding to see how it has progressed within the sector and expanded its product range.

“Its software and equipment is manufactured in-house and as its client base has expanded, it has grown from strength to strength.

“We regularly assist the company with its accounts, HR and tax efficiencies including R&D tax relief and will continue to work with the firm to help it realise its export ambitions.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Matt Joyce .