Amplicon founder dies from cancer

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Sep 18, 2006

Jim Hicks was one of the UK electronics industry's most memorable characters.

Jim Hicks MBE has died from cancer.

Hicks was one of the electronics industry's memorable characters, starting Brighton-based manufacturing and distribution company Amplicon with two friends from a front-room in 1973 and building it up into a multi-million-pound business from which he retired in 2005.

A firm believer in investing for the future he was a lifelong and proactive member of the IEE, always supporting ventures and initiatives that strengthened engineering.

Under his guidance, Amplicon became one of the first electronics companies to implement Investors in People and gain BS5750.

He also worked tirelessly to strengthen the links between academia and business, and was an active supporter of the Brighton University Innovation Centre.

In 2003 Hicks was awarded the MBE for services to Sussex industry, and retired from Amplicon having seen through a friendly management buyout in March 2005.

He was diagnosed with cancer in September 2004, and died on Tuesday 12th September 2006.