25.03.04
Future looking fantastic for Twenty Twenty

Further dramatic expansion is on the cards for a fast-growing Falmouth firm that has already landed a number of household names as clients.

Twenty Twenty Displays Ltd is already well established as the South West's leading firm in the manufacture and design of displays and signage.

Now – thanks to a £142,000 investment package put together by business solutions company Finance Cornwall and chartered accountants Winter Rule – the company's future is looking better than ever, with new investment and contracts signalling the start of a further phase of growth.

Finance Cornwall is a £20 million investment fund backed by £9 million from the Objective One European Regional Development Fund.

Over the next few months, Twenty Twenty will be making major investment in new, state-of-the art capital equipment that will enable the company to further build on its market position and keep ahead in its increasingly high-tech sector.

And major new contracts announced this week with the NHS and Inland Revenue have seen the company add further prestigious names to a client list that already includes the Eden Project, BT, the Tate St Ives and the National Maritime Museum Cornwall.

The investment package agreed by Truro-based Finance Cornwall was put together to provide Twenty Twenty with the working capital needed for its plans.

Finance Cornwall chief executive Robin Teverson said: "We work with Cornish businesses to put together the deals – whether straightforward loans or more complex venture capital packages – that allow them to make the most of their business.

"Twenty Twenty is a company that has undergone a major transition and come out the other side even stronger. Now, what Finance Cornwall is doing is to provide the missing piece of finance that enables them to take the next step and forge even further ahead by investing in the new equipment that will let them stay ahead of the game.”

Originally a reprographics and publishing firm, Twenty Twenty has responded to the technological progress that has done away with much of the traditional repro market and, over the last couple of years, switched its focus to large format print, displays and exhibition stands and signage.

Twenty Twenty managing director Jaimie Sibert said the new investment in equipment follows a move from two small sites in Falmouth onto a single new location on the Tregonnigie Industrial Estate.

He said: "Moving the business to one site has made an enormous difference in terms of efficiency and synergy – now we've got one team on a single playing field. Over the same period of time, we've nearly doubled the workforce – which has grown from around 12 people to 20 at present.”

Company chairman Chris Downes joined Twenty Twenty in 2003 as a shareholder and investor, having previously built up a London-based office interiors company with a £30 million annual turnover. He said: "Before selling my London business I'd used Twenty Twenty in the past and, as they say, liked what I saw so I bought into the company.

"We see a dynamic and changing marketplace ahead and by continuing to invest in the company's growth we will ensure that we remain at the cutting edge of that marketplace, providing our clients with the very best and most up-to-date means of getting their products, services and brands to the attention of their existing and potential customers.”

Other partners involved in the Twenty Twenty investment were Barclays Bank, Follett Stock, Brightley Commercial and South West Investment Group.

Finance Cornwall is based in Truro and offers a complete financial solutions package for local businesses. It provides direct access to £20 million of its own funds, ranging from just £5,000 to more than £500,000, combined with access to expert business planning and ongoing support.

To find out more visit www.financecornwall.co.uk

Editor's notes:

Finance Cornwall background:

Finance Cornwall is a £20 million investment fund backed by £9 million from the Objective One European Regional Development Fund.

For more information contact:

Chris Downes
Twenty Twenty Displays Ltd
01326 372520

Jason Clark
Communications Adviser
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Tel: 01872 241379
Fax: 01872 241388
objectiveone@cornwall.gov.uk

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