Escher to provide digital platform for NELEP

RNS REACH

30 April 2015

Escher Group Holdings plc

Escher to provide digital platform for North East Local Enterprise Partnership

Escher Group Holdings plc (AIM: ESCH, "Escher" or "the Group"), has been awarded a contract to deliver and operate a collaborative digital communications platform for the UK's North East Local Enterprise Partnership (NELEP). The platform, to be known as the Growth Hub, will create a single point of reference with multi-channel accessibility enabling businesses to access vital government support information and services as well as connect with other businesses in the region.

The platform is an integral component of the NELEP's Strategic Economic Plan to facilitate collaboration amongst local and national business and drive economic growth in the North East region.

Escher will deliver the digital communications platform using its innovative RiposteTrEx™ technology. This incorporates a rich and comprehensive range of applications including, federated identity, secure messaging, license management and transactions services. The system is built for scalability and aligns with the long term aspirations of the NELEP for a wider vision of the platform.

Liam Church, Escher's CEO said:

"We have a clear focus to improve the digital philosophy of the industries we work within. This development shows how our RiposteTrEx™ platform can be utilised for secure digital communications between a wide range of businesses and local and national authorities.

"We are looking forward to working closely with the NELEP to deliver a smart and collaborative digital ecosystem."

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About Escher Group

Escher is a world leading developer and provider of outsourced, point-of-service software for use in the worldwide postal industry. Its core software, RiposteEssential™, enables post offices to expand upon their traditional offering, providing additional new services, reducing costs and increasing efficiency. Riposte® is a messaging middleware that enables applications operating on different computers to communicate with each other. The Riposte® software manages data, monitors the system status and communicates across the network. Escher Group operates across two divisions - a Retail Software Division and a Message Based Communications Division.

The Retail Software Solution (RiposteEssential™) serves the postal and courier markets. Transactions include mail and financial services and the system is integrated with utilities and financial services companies, banks and central and local governments.

Escher's Message Based Communications Division (RiposteTrEx™) is based on a digital post office box model and is designed to provide a national digital infrastructure linking governments, businesses and citizens via a secure platform. It also provides a secure platform for unlimited communication and collaboration between widely dispersed individuals and groups on a spectrum from global to local.