Key people Chris Bayne, CEO Number of employees 700 (July 2014) Type of business Private | Website www.theaccessgroup.com Founded 1991 | |
Industry Software consultancy and developer Products Access Dimensions, FocalPoint, Dimensions Lite, SupplyChain (ERP), Access Insight, thankQ, GoldMine (CRM), Dashboard, Service Manager, SelectHR, SelectPay (HR & payroll), Access Delta, TeamSeer, PeoplePlanner. Revenue 53.5 million GBP (December 2014) Headquarters Colchester, United Kingdom Subsidiaries Prelytis, Select Software UK Ltd. Profiles | ||
Interview with jon jorgensen of the access group
"'The Access Group is a software consultancy and developer, selling primarily to UK mid-market businesses with 14 offices across the UK and France The organisation was founded in 1991 with its current structure formed in June 2009 following the absorption of five companies into a single operation. Since 2011 Access has been mostly owned by Private Equity companies, first Lyceum Capital and from 2014 TA Associates.
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Jon jorgensen the access group
1991-1995: Early development
This period saw founding company Access Accounting focus on building its business and accounting software. Early products included entry-level accounting systems such as Access Horizons and Access Foundations.
1996 - 2007
In 1996, Access Accounting developed Access Dimensions. This was joined by middleware application Transaction Broker (1998) to facilitate integration at mid-market level. Integration with Microsoft Office (2002) and Outlook Today (2005) saw the company’s initial entry into Business Intelligence software.
Other software releases include integrated CRM, Dimensions Manufacturing/BoM (Bill of Materials) and Access Analytics ‘data cube’ technology (2006), followed by a reverse change VAT upgrade in 2007 to combat carousel fraud.
2008 - 2011
In 2008, Access Accounting released Accounting for Carbon Emissions (ACE) to help businesses calculate and understand the amount of CO2 they produce.
In 2009, the company released its web-based solution FocalPoint.
The company re-branded in June 2009, absorbing Access Accounting and its four subsidiaries to become Access Group. Recent additions include Stock Forecasting functionality (2009) and a Dashboard business intelligence product (2010). The company added HR to its portfolio in 2010 via the acquisition of Canterbury-based Select Software. The company was rebranded Access Select.
In 2011, the group launched its web services API Application Programming Interface, allowing its financial software to be integrated with third-party, on-premises software. In the same year, Access Mobile was released, making functionality such as timesheets and expenses available on the iPhone and BlackBerry.
2011 - Present
In March 2011 there was an MBO of Access led by its existing directors and private equity firm Lyceum Capital.
Since then Access has grown both through continued double-digit organic growth and acquisition. It has acquired the following companies/technologies:
Products
Accreditations
Access Group is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and is a member of the Business Application Software Developers Association (BASDA). Individual Access solutions are accredited by industry authorities, including HM Revenue and Customs and the ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales).