Concerns over high personal and corporate debt are helping to drive a 30% predicted rise in revenue for Edinburgh-based recovery specialist, Arum.
The £1.8 million-turnover firm combines credit-management consultancy with developing internet applications for clients such as Adobe and Nato. It is seeking to further increase exports, particularly in Europe, and is recruiting new staff. The firm already earns half of its income overseas.
Claiming to be the UK's only independent credit specialist, Arum consults on credit management, collections and recoveries consultancy, working with major banks and utility companies.
Arum chief executive Aleks Tomczyk said: "Growth overseas will be sharper. There are not that many specialists around in our space and one of the constraints on our growth is recruiting people with talent and experience. Success in this area is down its down to strong people skills and good intelligence.
"We've worked from Moscow to Lisbon and Edinburgh to Athens, plus a job in Bermuda. We are currently assessing a number of likely target markets."
Arum advises on the methodology and best practice of debt recovery, using sophisticated digital analytics, and improving skills and training to prevent and mitigate bad loans
"It's about teaching people to make better lending decisions, and training them how deal effectively and fairly with those who default," Tomcyzk said. "Credit collections has been the growth area partly because of concerns over debt and collections have been at the forefront of the public mind - People are more focused on improving what they do in this area so we expect further growth.
"It is easier to get recovery right with today's technology and analytical tools. You can avoid potential damage to your reputation by phoning people [to recover debts]; using analytics in making lending decisions offers more win-win outcomes."
Arum is a rare example of an SME operating shoulder-to-shoulder with bigger consultancies, including the so-called "Big Four" accountancy firms and the US collections giant, Bridgeforce
While 70% of income is in the recovery side, Arum also intends to grow its technology solutions. The firm has developed "enterprise apps" for innovative Scottish firms. Arum also designed a missile application for Nato, for planning and executing missions.
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