E-commerce and digital marketing agency Visualsoft announced plans to double its market share at an Entrepreneurs’ Forum event.
Founder and CEO Dean Benson revealed that the Stockton-based company is expecting to reach £820m in terms of the value of goods passing through its e-commerce platform, by the end of the year.
Speaking at one of the Forum’s member events, he said that Visualsoft, which has more than 1,000 clients, has drawn up a strategic five-year plan to double its sales figures.
In 2018, the company processed £750m worth of goods – or 1.2% of the UK’s B2C e-commerce sales – through its sites.
Named one of the North’s fastest growing tech companies, last year it recorded a turnover just short of £13m and doubled its operating profit to £2.1m.
He told an audience of almost 50 entrepreneurs from across the North East that one of the biggest challenges facing the region’s digital economy is securing the necessary skills.
The sector employs 7,000 people in the Tees Valley and is growing at a rate of 17% per year, compared with a national average of 8%.
He called upon those within the digital sector to collaborate with education providers, training organisations and universities to ensure businesses have access to a well-trained and agile workforce.
Dean, who sits on the board of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum and is a Governor of Teesside University, said: “The digital landscape is constantly changing and there is more that can be achieved here in the North of England.
“I was born and brought up in the Tees Valley and I want to make it a place where people move to, rather than from – and that means creating the necessary skills and mindset.”
The Entrepreneurs’ Forum member event hosted by Visualsoft was designed to demonstrate the strength and vitality of the digital sector within the Tees Valley.
Founded in 1998, Visualsoft currently employs around 300 people across its sites in Stockton, Newcastle, Manchester and Dubai. As part of its innovative approach, it was one of the first companies to introduce flexible working and unlimited holiday benefits for staff.
Jonathan Lamb, Chief Executive of the Forum, said: “I’d like to thank Dean for hosting this member event and for giving entrepreneurs an inspirational insight into what is possible with drive, enthusiasm and a creative approach to business and charting the development of Visualsoft, which has paved the way for the Tees Valley to become a place of tech excellence.
“This event is a great example of the many ways the Entrepreneurs Forum brings like-minded people together to share ideas, make new connections and learn from those who have achieved outstanding success.”
