Dave Pye, chief executive of Highams Systems Services Group, the AIM-listed business and technology consultancy specialising in the financial services sector, made the following statement at the company¹s AGM:

"I am pleased to report, in this period of transition for Highams, on the headway we are making as a company. This stems from the significant investments made throughout this year, most notably in terms of a new London office, a considerably enlarged sales team and the start of our overseas expansion.

"We continue to place a considerable emphasis on the placement of permanent staff in our determination to deliver higher-value services. We expect to see the results of this work coming through in the second half of the year together with the contribution of our new office in the City of London, close to our customer base, which is now fully staffed with sales personnel.

"Our contract business is maintaining its momentum with the focus here being on winning higher margin work by achieving greater influence with our customers. This focus has led to a number of senior placement wins this year.

"With the continuing strength of our marketplace, our emphasis on higher-margin business and our investment in the further growth of the Company, I look forward to the future with confidence."