An entrepreneur who sells software to retail businesses all over the world is expanding his business after recovering from a severe accident, JULIE HAYES reports

Colin Liversedge, managing director of vrSoftware, which develops software to map out the inside of shops from a converted cattle unit in rural Roecliffe, near Boroughbridge, plans to increase his UK team from 12 to 20 in the next two years after they move to new premises at Newby Hall.

The business, which also employs eight software developers in Romania, is used by almost 6,000 clients in 30 countries, including big-name brands Nike, Calvin Klein, Reebok, Hugo Boss, Tommy Hilfiger, Adidas and Levi's.

Colin broke his neck in a motorcycle accident in 2009 which left him brain-damaged, but he said his vision for the business, and the focus it gave him, has enabled him to come back and develop it further.

He said: “The business carried on growing. It has taken me a couple of years to get back to it. I'm building my executive team around me.

“The business helped an awful lot. That the vision was there and the determination was there sparked the brain into action, it gave me focus, rather than moping around at home.”

Colin set up vrSoftware in his garage in 2005 after working for a computer-aided design company that helped businesses map their premises for facilities management purposes.

He started to work for C&A and his contact with the retail industry led to Terry Green, then chief executive of Debenhams, taking on the software to replace artists impressions of what stock would look like on the shelves.

Colin saw the opportunity, but had to wait until digital cameras became more affordable, then he launched his business. His first customer was an Italian manufacturer and he quickly broke into the American and European markets, given his existing international contacts from working with C&A.

He said: “It’s continuous innovation.” Targeting new markets and advances in technology, the company is now adapting the software for tablets.

"The next product is vrShowroom for the Nike and Adidas sales forces, to show their retail customers what the layout range and merchandising should be.”

He also offers the software to educational establishments for free to ensure it remains a necessary component for retailers, a trick he learnt in the early days of selling facilities management software.

“We sold it very cheaply to universities, so everyone came out using the software, which was fantastic marketing, but good for the students too who came out job-ready,” he said.