John Davies, Managing Director of the access control product manufacturer TDSi, has been awarded the 2016 Chairman’s Award for Contribution to Exporting during the BSIA’s Annual Luncheon, at the London Hilton, Park Lane in mid-July. The award marks his contribution to promoting UK export initiatives within the security sector, as chairman of the BSIA Export Council.
Afterwards John said: “I am highly honoured to receive this special award from the BSIA. As the head of the Export Council my task is to ensure the British security industry understands the benefits and opportunities in engaging with markets around the world. With the current political situation in the UK surrounding Brexit, it has never been more important for businesses here to understand and work with markets internationally.”
Daren Wood, Membership & Export Services Manager for the BSIA commented: “John Davies has been a driving force and keen supporter of the BSIA’s Export Council, serving twice as its Chairman. First elected Vice Chair of the Export Council in 2008, John has worked very closely with the Association to provide advice and guidance to other security companies who were less experienced exporters. John then became Chairman of the Export Council in 2010, becoming a strong figurehead for the industry. Around the same time, he served on the UKTI DSO’s Security Sector Advisory Group, assisting the Government in identifying security export opportunities. John started his second tenure as Chairman of the Export Council in 2015 and continues to be a strong voice for exporting in the industry. He now serves concurrently on the Home Office’s Security Resilience & Growth Partnership as an authoritative voice on exporting in the security sector.”
John says that the UK security industry has a vital role to play in markets as far afield as North America and Asia, “What has struck me having worked with the BSIA (and TDSi on a commercial level), is how well respected UK providers and products are around the world. For instance, TDSi produces all its products in the UK, but we have a very healthy sales pipeline into China, which fully recognises the quality and insight that features so heavily in our offering. Although China has a huge manufacturing base of its own, customers there are extremely shrewd and like to buy the best solutions on the market, with a huge respect for UK suppliers.”
TDSi has a presence in security markets around the world. For example, John has lead the company to commercial success in the People’s Republic of China, including a deal signed last year for a five-year strategic co-operation agreement with China Rail Chen Bang Technology Ltd. This will see the firm’s technology used on rail and metro projects throughout China and will eventually include 20,000 stations on the China Railway network.
TDSi’s sales in China and Asia increased by 33pc last year and the company has a strong presence in markets such as Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines. The company also has ongoing growth in West Africa, particularly in Nigeria, and is looking to expand in other African territories.
The company’s French office, near Paris, also provides access to the French-speaking regions of North Africa and the Middle East, as well as being a hub within Europe. The company is also looking to expand its technical and commercial expertise further into the North American market in the near future.
John added, “The British and European markets are steadily expanding, but there is huge scope in many other markets around the world. In my role at the BSIA I am very keen to ensure British security businesses fully understand the opportunities on offer and don’t let perceived language and cultural barriers get in the way of the exciting sales opportunities on offer. The UK has some of the best scientific and technological minds in the world, with a great reputation for quality and innovation. It’s a privilege to chair the Export Council and I am passionate about its aims, so I am very humbled to receive this award from my peers.”
