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Deloitte Technology Fast 500 names Softalk as 138th fastest growing technology company in Europe

Softalk attributes its 604% percent revenue growth to developing software that is specifically designed for small and medium sized businesses

Deloitte has announced that messaging and collaboration software developer Softalk is the 138th fastest growing technology company in Europe. Rankings are based on average percentage revenue growth over five years, from 2000-2005. Softalk grew 604 per cent during this period.

Softalk's joint CEO, Simon Bates, attributes the company's success to the fact that it develops messaging and collaboration software that is actually designed to work the way that its small and medium size business customers want it to. "Too much software for small and medium size organisations is actually just cut down or artificially restricted versions of enterprise software that is designed for huge organisations," explained Simon.

"We actually talk to our customers and understand how they use the software and what problems they need it to solve. Designing software the way customers want it to work, rather than the way big companies think it should work, means that our customers can benefit from lower costs and more productivity."

"Being one of the fastest growing technology companies in Europe is an impressive accomplishment. We commend Softalk for making the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 with a phenomenal 604 per cent growth rate over five years," said William Touche, UK national managing partner of Deloitte's Fast 500 Awards.

For more information about the Deloitte Fast 500 visit www.fast500europe.com.

About Softalk
Softalk provides a range of messaging, collaboration and contact relationship management software solutions specifically designed to benefit small to medium size businesses. Softalk is in the Deloitte European Fast 500 and the UK Fast 50 of the fastest growing technology companies. It was set up in 1993 and is a privately held company headquartered in Maidenhead in the UK with a US office in New York. Customers include American Express, British Chamber of Commerce, Cancer Research, Cap Gemini France, Cisco, Lufthansa and Xerox. Its products include Softalk Collaboration Suite which includes WorkgroupMail, an email server for small businesses; WorkgroupShare to enable organisations to share Outlook folders without the need for Microsoft Exchange; and Softalk Organizer, a web-based collaboration client enabling users to share calendars, contacts and email. OfficeTalk is a low cost contact and customer relationship management solution enabling the whole team to share business information. For more information visit www.softalkltd.com or join in the conversation at our blog at talk.softalkltd.com

ENDS

For further media information please contact:
Stuart Bruce, Bruce Marshall Associates LLP, stuartb@brucemarshallassociates.com
+44 (0)20 7870 5322 / +44 (0)113 282 5321 / +44 (0)7900 985960

Print quality media photos of Simon Bates and the Softalk team are available at: http://www.brucemarshallassociates.com/html/image_library

New firm puts special needs in the picture

A new service has just been launched which turns information into pictures to make it easier to understand. The picture messages make it much easier and more effective to communicate with adults and young people with additional support needs, learning difficulties or whose first language is not English.

The Say It Works range of illustrations is available from its website and current topics include alcohol awareness, drugs awareness, smoking awareness, preparation for interview, and safety out and about. The illustrations can be used by a wide range of sectors including education, training, community and voluntary work, employment services, drug action teams, NHS trusts and youth work.

Loraine Bones, director, Say It Works said: "We provide a cost effective flexible solution. As well as being instantly available, our images can be adapted by users to suit their own circumstances and are licensed for 12 months.  I know that through our range of images we can make a real difference for those who need to get their message across at every level. Our pictures tell a story with a simplicity that text can never hope to achieve."

Further topics will be available in the next few months. Prices start from £45. To see the range of Say It Works images and for further information visit sayitworks.co.uk.

ENDS

For further media information please contact:
Karen Marshall, Bruce Marshall Associates
0113 282 5321 or email karenm@brucemarshallassociates.com

To download a print quality photograph click here

PHOTO: Deborah Riley and Loraine Bones, Directors, Say It Works Limited