A Yorkshire supplier of automatic defibrillators has outlined its plans for further growth after seeing demand for its life saving services massively increase.
Defib Machines, based in Leeds, posted an 800% increase in pre-tax profits for the year ended June 30 2022, to £412,000 as turnover more than doubled to £2.1m from £899,000. The uplift comes after a number of strategic changes by the company, combined with a greater emphasis being placed on health and wellbeing by employers.
Jonathan Gilbert, co-founder and managing director of Defib Machines, said the number of units placed under contract with customers was up almost 300% compared to the previous year, accounting for £1.8m of revenue. Established in 2015, the company has scaled its business nationwide and more than doubled its staff to 20 since receiving an initial £140,000 from the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund to support its growth.
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The company supplies fully serviced and managed defibrillators throughout the UK to businesses and in public places for immediate use in the event of a cardiac arrest. It has clients including Marshalls Motor Group and MKM Building Supplies, both of which have defibrillators located at more than 100 sites, and also enables businesses, schools, local authorities and community groups to have access to a defibrillator for £1 per day.
As defibrillators become commonplace across the country the business, which also counts Park Holidays, Cullina Group and Bruntwood as customers, is eyeing further growth.
Mr Gilbert said: “The last 12 months have been the most successful since we founded the business in 2015. That’s really positive news, yet we are aware that there is still a long way to go to ensure that everyone has access to a defibrillator when they need it, but we’re pleased to be helping the UK population to be ‘heart safe’.
“Looking ahead, we’ve got some big ambitions to further scale and grow our business fuelled by our passion to change the financial obstacles that stand in the way of many people getting defibs. We want to make sure budget is not a reason for any organisation, from large corporates to community organisations, not to have a working device.
“From entering the market we have changed the game in what is expected as standard. The quality of our defibrillators alongside our service and maintenance package continues to set us apart and we plan to further consolidate this position as we accelerate our ambitious growth plan.
“As a team we are hugely passionate about educating every one of our customers on the benefits of installing a defibrillator and the importance of servicing and maintenance. In the UK there are more than 100 cardiac arrests each week in the workplace. The chance of survival at present is 8%, significantly below other developed countries. There clearly needs to be a change for the better, and that’s what we aim to do. With a defib machine used in the first five minutes, survival increases climb from 5% to 75%.
“It’s these statistics, coupled with the knowledge that to date we’ve played our part in helping 50 people each year survive a cardiac arrest which is fuelling our plans for the future and our mission to ensure as many people as possible have access to and know how to use these life saving devices and that more importantly they will work needed.
“Our hope is that our defibrillators are rarely used. But when each one is, it gives anyone the power to save a life.”
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