In the latest in the series celebrating firms recognised at the Awards for Achievement, Tom Bradshaw reports on CI Traders large business nominee NRG International ONE of the world’s biggest suppliers of photocopiers is hidden away in St Sampson’s.

But the international arm of NRG Group is so much more than that.

From its office at Garenne Park, the company co-ordinates the manufacture and supply of printers, copiers, faxes and scanners worldwide.

In a very competitive industry, commercial director Paul Rigby said NRGI succeeded not necessarily because it had the best product, but because it really understood its clients’ needs.

It boasts the United Nations and the World Bank among its prestigious portfolio.

‘We have frequent contact with and feedback from our customers to ensure we give them what they want rather than assuming we know what they need,’ he said.

Two years ago it won the medium business award but this time, with the company’s growth coupled with the restructuring of the categories, NRGI found itself in the running for best big one.

‘The key to our success is the people we employ,’ said Mr Rigby, who has been with the company for nine years.

‘We are really one big family and people often go the extra mile with their work without being asked.

‘In this industry you would go a long way to find a company with a culture like ours.’

It employs 65 people locally and 15 staff based in Russia, Lebanon, Paris, the Netherlands, Belgium and the UK.

It coordinates outlets in more than 85 countries with more than 155 distributors.

All the distributors are autonomous and responsible for their own marketing and selling from a wide range of products from its three brands – Nashuatec, Rex-Rotary and Gestetner.

In 2006, it launched more than 60 new products and has plans for another 44 this year.

‘In recent years we have achieved sustained growth of 18% against market growth of 1.2% and the key has been adding value to sales,’ said Mr Rigby.

‘We research our customers’ needs and devise a solution to best suit them.’

With distributors all over the world and Guernsey-based staff regularly globe-trotting, good communication is crucial.

It is one of the only businesses currently using the second generation of Blackberry.

‘Our business managers spend 80 days a year off the island and have a full team of product managers and marketing managers supporting them so it is not just one person needing comms.’

NRGI gets to know its clients’ needs by getting really involved in their day-to-day affairs.

‘To devise the best tailor-made solution, we need a comprehensive understanding of how our clients operate,’ he said.

‘We look at financial statements, training plans, marketing and internal communications and spend time with all the relevant staff.’

As with many of NRGI’s practices, video conferencing plays a key role in this.

The company prides itself on being actively involved in the community

For the last 10 years, the Community Action Team has coordinated projects and sponsorship.

It comprises a chairman, secretary, treasurer and five committee members with all staff taking it in turns to get involved.

NRGI supports a number of sports and events including the annual Technology Challenge, an event each June when 50 students from 11 secondary schools are nominated to take part by their science teachers.