GWD Media on Leeds Road has expanded into three key sectors and increased staff numbers to more than 20 after receiving investments totalling £500,000 from South Yorkshire Investment Fund (SYIF).

GWD Media, who won the Creative and Digital Industries Innovation accolade at the 2007 Sheffield Business Awards, are advancing from its origins in the development of internet kiosks to the creation of management software for public-orientated technology.

This includes vending machine management software, providing businesses with the tools to assess whether all machines are working properly and sufficiently stocked without having to send an engineer out.

Additional areas of expansion include the creation of software for specialist kiosks offering digital photo prints and music downloads, exporting kiosk software abroad via the internet and expanding the vending machine management system abroad, initially into Germany.

GWD Media are also starting a new project, working to create digital screens for public transport services, providing passengers with information and advertising to fit in with their time of travel and exact location.

GWD have added six new employees in recent months to keep pace with the development. New software and hardware engineers, product managers and customer service advisors have all joined to meet the next stage of planned growth.

Chief executive James Oladujoye said: "The funding from SYIF has enabled us to not only add more employees, but create new areas of business, including the vending management software. The expansion into the vending machine market enables us to use our technology in different sectors. We realised that new products would be needed if the company were to continue to grow and that extra staff were required to facilitate this.

"If a company have 10,000 vending machines in one city alone, this software will enable then to provide a more efficient and cost-effective way of maintaining the equipment.

"This may lead to the expansion of their services and meets the needs of an audience who like buying things quickly and easily.

"We are seeing more vending machines offering better quality food and drinks, which are becoming on par with shops and coffee bars on the high street. Also, the machines are moving into other areas such as selling iPods and cosmetics.

"It has been a challenge using modern software in what is a traditional service, with many vending machines developed decades ago. But we are helping to bring an old industry up to date," he added.

Chris Fitzsimmons, investment manager for South Yorkshire Investment Fund, added: "GWD Media has constantly adapted itself and broken into new areas of business by using new technology and the expertise of its employees.

"The SYIF investment alongside funding from the Yorkshire and Humber Equity Fund will help them continue these developments and help them achieve the next stage of growth."

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