Understanding global markets drives growth

While the NHS remains its most important customer in the UK, Owen Mumford is a global company. It has a significant presence in North America, a solid customer base in Australia and on Continental Europe and a fast-growing business in South East Asia.

“Asians are increasingly aware of the benefits of good health care,” said Jarl. “Consumers in markets such as China are insisting on systems or items from the West when they don’t have adequate confidence in their local manufacturer suppliers.”

Conversely, in Northern Europe, the focus is increasingly on cost. “We are now shipping goods to China from Oxfordshire while the NHS is importing the same type of products from China. It is quite extraordinary,” he added.

“What sets the UK apart from others in terms of high-quality manufacturing, is our adherence to regulatory requirements. We treat regulatory compliance very seriously as a nation. We play by the rules and that’s a very important asset for the UK.”

The big, untapped pool of future STEM experts

Oxfordshire’s almost full employment is a problem for companies such as Owen Mumford, because to continue growing, it needs more skilled people.

The company is very active in the local community, including working with Marlborough School in Woodstock, and Chipping Norton School where a full university degree scholarship for the student with the best A level results in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects is just one of the programmes being sponsored by Owen Mumford.

It also offers apprenticeships, employing around a dozen apprentices at a time. “But there is a big, untapped potential pool of STEM subject experts,” says Jarl. “They’re called women. I was delighted to see more women than men achieving better A-level results in STEM subjects this year for the first time ever. This could be a huge opportunity for women to shine in a sector where they are currently severely under-represented.”

Jarl and his Head of Research and Development, Andy Vardé, are always on the lookout for young companies to support.

“Over the years we’ve supported Oxford University spin-outs and invested in other companies,” said Jarl.

One such company is Londonbased Forte Medical which has designed a unique urine collection device. Catching urine midstream is difficult, but if you don’t, it’s immediately contaminated. Forte Medical has developed a product that automatically catches midstream. Owen Mumford is now a shareholder and its exclusive distribution partner in the USA.

It’s connections such as these which drive Jarl’s ambitions for Owen Mumford.

“The business will do just fine on its own, but it will do even better if we support people to develop their ideas from which we can all benefit,” he said.