Gloucestershire's Apprenticeship Champions 2019

collaboration with Israel Aerospace Industries. In November of that year, there was a collaboration with global consumer goods company Masterbatch and in December 2017 its agreement with the same firm to trial inks and films using its expertise. At the start of 2018 it revealed an agreement with “a global apparel manufacturer”, in February an agreement with shoemaker Vivobarefoot for its China factory and a medical technology collaboration with at Addenbrooke's hospital. In March, Versarien unveiled a collaboration with Team Sky for cycling equipment and a collaboration with a “world-leading aerospace group”, in April an agreement with Lexus, in May a consumer goods collaboration and in June a commercial agreement with MediaDevil for headphones and phone cases. In July, there was an agreement with Arrow Greentech reference tyre production and a collaboration with ZapGo Limited, in August a sporting goods collaboration, another with Axia Materials of South Korea and one reference construction materials with AECOM. September also sawVersarien buy 62 per cent of Spanish energy storage firm Gnanomat for £2.6million. In October, a collaboration with Gloucestershire Advanced Insulation was revealed, as well as a non- binding agreement with a Chinese industrial park. So what of 2019? “With the global progress we have made over the last few months, and with funds from our placing in September, we are extremely well positioned for the future and look forward to reporting further success over the coming months,” said Mr Ricketts l For more information visit www.versarien.com or telephone 01242 269122

still manages to find the time to turn out for his beloved Drybrook Rugby Club, for the 3rds or the veterans these days. He added: “With the global progress we have made over the last few months, and with funds from our placing in September, we are extremely well-positioned for the future and look forward to reporting further success over the coming months.” September’s “placing” or share issue raised £5.2 million. The firm’s hardware and metallic products business has shown an increase both in sales and profitability and its plastics business has increased its sales and its operating profits. “Revenue for the period improved by 12 per cent to £2.43 million (H1 2017: £2.17 million) with an increase in EBITDA before exceptional items to £0.25 million (H1 2017: £0.06 million),” said Chris Leigh, chief financial officer. He added:“Group net assets at 30 September 2018 were £12.3 million (31 March 2018 £7.98 million) with cash at the period end of £6.01 million (31 March 2018: £2.30 million), which includes £4.96 million (net of expenses) from the fund raising announced on 24 September 2018.” The firm also made announcements on its staffing front too in 2018. In July, Versarien appointed Denis Koltsov and Martin Kemp to its graphene tech team, following Stephen Hodge’s appointment as the new head of research. And back in February, Mr Ricketts himself joined the advisory board of the United States National Graphene Association. Its interim results list its key achievements going back to October 2017, when the business announced a

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