AN employee-owned audio-visual company is reaping the benefits of people working from home after winning major contracts to help drive its rapid recovery from the pandemic.

Glasgow-based Mediascape have secured what they describe as “significant” contracts with the NHS, a multinational beverage company and several top legal and accountancy firms for their business solutions that seamlessly connect staff working from a company premises with those working remotely.

The firm said technology that enabled “huddle” spaces and boardrooms to simplify video conferencing calls is now being seen as essential in preparing workplaces once the virus becomes more manageable.

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It said demand had doubled in the first two months of this year as organisations accepted that the long-term world of both work and education will require a mix of physical and virtual presence.

Mediascape, which has a turnover of more than £4 million a year, will not be able to return to pre-pandemic levels of business, with the remainder of the year looking promising and several six-figure contract in the final stages towards completion.

Niall MacDonald took over as managing director six months ago as part of the exit plan of company founders Angus and Shona Knight, who sold the majority of their shareholding to the employees early in 2018.

MacDonald said: “The pandemic has hit the AV sector hard, with clients limiting the number of staff in offices, educational buildings shutting down and more of us working and learning remotely. There was no escaping it.

“However, the benefits of our employee-owned structure are bearing fruit.

“We have been able to retain our teams, who have pulled together, and in turn taken an active role in guiding us through this crisis.

“We advocate leadership from throughout our business, and it’s been vital that we have a clear and open communication style, especially during these times when we aren’t physically together.”

Among the company’s most popular solutions are sensor-driven AV systems that can work hands-free, as well as “bring your own meeting” (BYOM) systems that allow users to conduct meetings from their own device while using all of the hardware within the room.

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Mediascape designs, supplies, installs and maintains integrated audio-visual systems throughout central Scotland from its central location in Glasgow’s Port Dundas area, and covers the central belt with a satellite office in Inverness. Its clients include blue-chip names in business, healthcare and education

It became majority owned by an Employee Ownership Trust in 2018, meaning most shares are held in trust on behalf of its employees. The board reports to the trust, and all its employees are owners, which it said ensures pride in the brand and the customer experience.

“Organisations are now at a point where their views on the long-term future of workplaces and educational buildings are becoming clearer,” added MacDonald.

“Most are realising the need for a hybrid approach becoming a long-term norm – but their settings are not often appropriately equipped.

“We’ve seen the huge benefits remote working can bring. But at the same time, we all know what we’re missing from being in a shared physical setting.”