Why in a digital world local still matters

In the latest edition of Marketing Derby’s Innovate Magazine we meet the people behind Focus Group – and explore the reasons behind the technology company’s impressive growth.

Focus Group’s Derby story began with a firm called EVAD, which moved to the city centre from Burntwood, in Staffordshire. Then in 2022, EVAD became part of the Focus Group family.

The original decision to relocate EVAD to Derby city centre was made by corporate director Matt Hill.

At its previous office, he says there was little opportunity for staff to socialise, no natural reason for the team to spend time together outside work and no obvious connection to a wider business community.

The move to Derby meant the team were able to use the city: to meet contacts, bring in colleagues from elsewhere in the country, support local cafés, restaurants and retailers, and to feel part of something beyond the office.

Matt tells Innovate: “I didn’t want to be on a business park outside of the city. I wanted us to be in the centre of things.

“We didn’t want to be another box on Pride Park.”

Today, the company’s office is a prime example of how a national business can still take local presence seriously, and that being physically embedded in a city has value.

It has a number of significant local clients, including Derby County, Derbyshire County Cricket Club and the University of Derby.

It supports local charities through its Focus Foundation, including Safe & Sound, which works with children, young people and families affected by exploitation.

It wants to acquire further businesses in the region. It wants to grow local talent. And it wants to be known not only as a national technology provider, but as a business that understands the places it serves.

Nationally, Focus Group is a force to be reckoned with.

What began as a small business on the south coast has become one of the UK’s leading independent providers of essential business technology, delivering telecoms, connectivity, IT, cyber security, mobile and AI-related services to thousands of customers.

It has an annual turnover of around £300 million and employs somewhere in the region of 1,300 people – around 30 of which are connected to the Derby office.

Growth has come both organically and through acquisition, with more than 30 businesses brought into the group – including EVAD.

Dean Burgin, Focus Group’s regional director, says the firm does its best work when clients treat it not as a supplier, but as a partner.

A supplier sells what is asked for. A partner asks why it is needed.

Dean tells Innovate: “We’re not there to sell you a widget. We’re there to sell you a service that delivers an outcome.”

Matt adds: “The biggest opportunity for us is that we cover a lot of ground. And that’s underpinned with service and a local feel.”

To read the feature in full click here.