Software Management Solutions & Consultancy for Airport Ground Handling Operations

Crawley airport ground handling experts, Avtura Ltd, has been crowned the winner of the South East’s Export for Growth prize. It will now benefit from £5,000 worth of support and advice from UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), PwC and HSBC to help boost worldwide sales.

West Sussex based Avtura Ltd has created a tool to help airlines and airports worldwide manage aircraft turnaround more efficiently, reducing costs and environmental impact.

The Real-Time Aviation Turnaround Tool (RATT™) helps to reduce delays and costs and ensure a safe airside operating environment.  The device reduces carbon emissions by reducing the time an aircraft spends on taxiways burning fuel.

CEO Christopher Meeking gave his reaction to the company having the best export idea in the South East:

“It’s fantastic to be chosen as the winner! The help and support on offer from UKTI, PwC and HSBC will enable us to grow our export business.  Already 97% of our market is international and this will enable us to focus our sales and marketing in key growth markets including North and Latin America, China and India.”

The runner ups are Surrey’s GR2L (Gas Recovery and Recycles Ltd) with Buckinghamshire’s Robosynthesis taking third place. They will both receive grants and support towards targeting international markets.

GR2L, based in Salfords, gained the runners up place for its gas recycle system. It is a cleantech company exploiting technology originally developed at Cambridge University for clean coal combustion.

Rob Grant, MD, said:
“The prize has given us the opportunity to tap into the wealth of experience that UKTI can offer. This will be particularly beneficial to business as more than 60 per cent of our sales will be to the Far East.”

Robosynthesis Ltd, from Taplow, gained third place for its cutting-edge sophisticated robots that can be used by anyone and perform tasks best suited to intelligent, capable machines such as in hazardous environments, nuclear decomissioning, mining and offshore prospection.

Philip Norman, CEO, said:
“This has been a chance to hone presentational skills and receive feedback. We are a multi-sector export-orientated company and a key challenge is making the right moves in priority markets. Working with UKTI has given us invaluable information and guidance. Coming so far through the competition is proof that we have high value opportunities to capture.”

The nine finalists went head-to-head to pitch their export idea to an audience of over 50 influential business leaders at the event held at Wentworth Golf Club, who voted using an interactive electronic system and in front of a panel of judges: Lewis Scott, UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) Regional Director, Mark Garrity, International Commercial Manager, HSBC, Andrew Latham, Partner, PwC and Iain Brown, UKTI International Trade Mentor.

Lewis Scott, Regional Director for UKTI South East, said:
“The standard of entries was incredibly high and the creativity and innovation of the ideas was fantastic.

“However Avtura just edged the top spot with their potential for international sales and we looking forward to working with them. Exporting is crucial for firms to sustain their business and grow which is why we urge all South East companies to take advantage of the support and opportunities out there.”
 
Mark Garrity, International Commercial Manager, HSBC, said:
“The quality of the entries was impressive and innovative, and the prize package will now provide  important support to Avtura.”
 
Andrew Latham, PwC’s Lead Partner for Privately Owned Business in the South East, said:
” The quality of the competitors is a huge credit to the South East and we congratulate the winner and runners up. “
 
For more information on UKTI, visit www.ukti.gov.uk or telephone +44 (0)20 7215 8000.