Haynes International Motor Museum, Yeovil – 28 September 2016 – 15:50

Barry Anns, CEO of Double First Engage school management information system

Yeovil-based Double First Ltd is delighted to announce it will be presented with the 2016 Queen’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade at Haynes International Motor Museum, Yeovil on 28 September 2016, 15:50. The award will be presented by the Lord-Lieutenant for Somerset, Anne Maw, and will see Double First welcome valued guests and employees to celebrate the momentous occasion.

Double First Ltd owes its success to its exceptional levels of growth in recent years, most significantly in the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa regions, with sales to international schools now comprising in excess of half of its total activity.

Barry Anns (pictured right), CEO at Double First, says, “At a time when so much emphasis is being placed on the need for UK companies to export, we are delighted to have gained this highest of all recognitions for our international growth. Our success has been driven by our own research, development, support, sales and marketing effort since 2008 when we were purely UK focused.

“We are now a significant earner of overseas income for the local economy here in Somerset, and a global leader in our field. Our development is all UK based, which is also important for local employment and skills development at a time when many companies are still outsourcing, and skills shortages are being highlighted. Our dedicated team has worked hard and we couldn’t have achieved it without their commitment, enthusiasm and skills.

“The presentation of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise by the Lord-Lieutenant for Somerset is a very well deserved accolade for achievements to-date. However it is also just one step in time, and we will continue to help independent schools worldwide succeed, using information to deliver better educational outcomes.”

The company was founded in 1987 and later met the demand from fee-paying independent schools for a specialist management information system (MIS) and financial management package by creating ‘Engage’. Following self-financed research visits to the Middle East in 2008, the company rebranded to ensure its identity was fit-for-purpose for overseas markets. A breakthrough sale to St Christopher’s School in Bahrain was secured soon after. The close collaboration with St Christopher’s led to further understanding on how to sufficiently localise the software for other regions while retaining its core purposes.

Commenting on the award win, Ed Goodwin, OBE, Chairman of British Schools Middle East (BSME) and Principal of St Christopher’s School in Bahrain, says, “Double First’s MIS enables us to handle and manipulate the huge amount of data generated by a school with over 2,200 students. The Engage Parent Portal ensures that we can share information easily with parents and school data on students is always accessible to teachers and senior management. Equally important to users, is the excellent support that is available.

“We were very early adopters of Engage, and right from the start, Double First has consistently listened and developed its software with us. As one of the world’s leading overseas British schools, our advice is often sought on a whole range of issues. When we are asked about the best MIS for schools, we recommend Double First solutions without hesitation, so this award presentation is thoroughly deserved.”

Engage has international capabilities, offers in-region support and is backed by a passionate team that has developed specialist knowledge of the academic and administrative requirements of individual schools through meeting with them face-to-face, across the world. Double First employs over 40 staff at its Yeovil operational base, which is where its products are developed, as well as a number of people in satellite offices around the globe.

It currently operates in 33 countries globally and in four key regions – Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa. Within its integrated services, Double First offers education performance consultancy, training, data conversion, best practice advice, expert support and free upgrades.