The TALL Group of Companies

Iraq election Dash

A UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) representative in Baghdad has been credited with helping TALL Security Print win a major contract to print ballot papers for the Iraqi regional elections which were held in July. 

Runcorn-based TALL Security Print Ltd, one of the two companies within the TALL Group had to collect the bidding documents it needed in order to pitch for the contract quickly and by hand – but from Baghdad.

Martin Ruda, TALL Group Managing Director, said: “It was an extremely tight timescale and the challenges of visiting Iraq are obvious. But we had to obtain the documents personally.

“So we asked UKTI for assistance and were put in touch with their commercial consultant in Iraq who went on our behalf. Had UKTI not done that, we would not have been able to bid for, or win, the tender.”

TALL Security Print Ltd was founded in 1991. It employs 90 people and turns over around £6 million by printing secure documents and cheques - including those handed out, or torn up, on the ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire?’ TV show.

But the increasing popularity of electronic transactions has led to TALL reviewing its global strategy. Martin said: “The cheque market is in long term decline in the UK and electronic banking is becoming more prevalent. The timescales of paper cheque clearing and the cost of managing the clearing process are key drivers in the banks’ efforts to ‘manage down’ cheques in the UK.

“But we recognised there were markets overseas where our core product was in demand – in fact, growing in demand. For example Nigeria, which is the most populous market in Africa, has a cheque market which is growing at 15% per annum because the telecoms infrastructure to support electronic payments in Africa is not as strong as it is elsewhere. Opportunities were emerging so there was a logical step to be made.”

In 2005 TALL contacted UKTI to help it break into some of these developing markets. Soon afterwards it signed up for the Passport to Export Programme, UKTI’s flagship scheme for new and inexperienced exporters. The programme provides advice, training and match funding towards market visits to help companies achieve their export potential.

Martin said: “We had recognised there were export opportunities in terms of back office export matters – documentation, marketing and so on.”

Since then TALL has used a range of UKTI services and support, and seen its exports grow from around 3% of turnover in 2004,  around 20% of its turnover this year – TALL’s international sales are now worth more than £1 million.

TALL had printed ballot papers for Nigeria in 2007 and was keen to participate when the UN electoral commission in Baghdad advertised tenders for last summer’s Iraqi regional elections.

On winning that bid TALL printed seven million ballot papers, using 80 tonnes of paper, at its premises in Runcorn and other partner sites. Martin said: “There were special security requirements to ensure the entire process was overseen, with the finished items being guarded on their transfer from the factory by road and also on the flights to Baghdad.”

Margaret Bourke, International Trade Adviser for UKTI North West, said: “TALL Security Print has been quick to spot overseas markets for its services at a time when it has noted a change in trade domestically.

“The company’s experience is a great example of how challenges in the domestic marketplace can lead to new opportunities overseas. And, because the company had been dealing with UKTI for some while, Martin and his team knew we would be in a position to help out in Baghdad.”

Martin added: “We would not have been able to participate in the Iraq tender without UKTI assistance. UKTI is an invaluable resource.”