SCORES of road safety schemes and improvements in Southend would not have been possible without the backing of one firm – Olympus KeyMed.

KeyMed was formed in 1970 in Southend and has grown from a staff of four to become firmly established as an international leader in the manufacture and supply of specialised medical and industrial equipment.

Today, the group employs about 1,000 people at its purpose-built headquarters in Stock Road, Southend, and has subsidiaries in Plymouth and Dublin.

The company doesn’t like to boast about the contributions it has made to the local community, but over the years it has ploughed millions of pounds into road safety schemes in and around Southend.

From funding big construction projects to sponsoring charity events and putting up the cash for smaller road and travel improvements, the company has boosted Southend’s economy in a number of ways.

Recent schemes the company has played a key role in include helping with the £1.2million cost in 2009 of installing average speed cameras on the A127 in Southend and Basildon.

Last year the company gave £95,000 to pay for new vehicle-actiated road safety signs on the A127. It also helped towards the cost of a new anti-skid surface for a cycle lane, which runs alongside Western Esplanade from the pier to the junction with Chalkwell Avenue, Westcliff, which was revamped in May this year.

The list of projects the company has been involved with is long.

Indeed, Southend Council leader Nigel Holdcroft said one scheme could not be singled out to define the company’s lengthy contribution.

He said: “It’s almost unfair to pick out a project or initiative in particular because there are so many to highlight.

“The company is a massively important presence in Southend, not only as an employer, but in the huge contribution which the company makes to traffic safety by being prepared to fund numerous schemes across the town.

“There can be little doubt the investment has led to crossings or signs being installed, for example, which would have prevented accidents and injuries.

“It is great to have a company based in the town and prepared to invest their own money for the good of the community. It is a shining example.”

When contacted by the Echo the company said it would rather not comment on its many gifts to the town.

Mr Holdcroft added: “The underlying theme is they don’t do it as some form of publicity stunt.

“The grants and donations are truly for the good of the community. They don’t seek recognition.”

The company’s exemplary business record has earned it a string of accolades.

In April 2004 the Queen approved a recommendation from then Prime Minister Tony Blair that a Queen’s Award for Enterprise be conferred upon the company in the category of sustainable development.

This was followed by a second Queen’s Award in April 2006 in the category of international trade and a third Queen’s Award was given in April 2008 in the category of innovation.

In February this year Southend businessman Michael Woodford was named as president and chief executive officer of Olympus, KeyMed’s parent company and the globally renowned camera makers. KeyMed became part of Olympus in 1986.

Mr Woodford MBE, who is in his fifties, joined KeyMed’s sales department in 1981 and became managing director ten years later.

He now splits his time between Tokyo, where Olympus is based, and Southend.

KeyMed’s next contribution to Southend is likely to be controversial initially, but ultimately has the same aim as every other project – helping to reduce accidents.

The company is set to fund new average speed cameras along the Golden Mile to help enforce a 20mph speed limit.

The council is keen to bring the scheme in to complement the new £7.6million City Beach revamp which was finished in April and has involved narrowing the road and removing crossings and warning signs along Marine Parade.