A FAST-EXPANDING technology company which has tripled its growth figures year on year since its launch has outlined ambitious expansion plans for 2016.
The recently formed SGP Technology Group, in Newcastle, has capitalised on the North East’s strengths within the software sector.
Starting out as a single company – SGP Consulting in 2011 – the group formation is expected to take turnover from £59K in 2011 to a group turnover of £5.2m in 2016/17.
The company now employs 52 people, having started out with three, and aims to boost its workforce to over 100 by the end of 2016.
SGP Technology Group, based on the Newburn Riverside Business Park, is the result of local entrepreneur Stephen Purvis amalgamating his four existing businesses into a technology hub – creating employment opportunities, advancing future prospects, and investing in local start-ups.
SGP Technology Group is made up of:
- SGP Consulting – a leading bespoke software house and IT consultancy provider.
- Technical Due Diligence – a specialist provider of technical due diligence advice to investors on the technical risks involved with investments, on deals from £250k up £13.5m.
- SGP Investments Limited – an Intellectual Property Rights and investment holding company that holds the group’s minority investments.
- Code Academy – an innovative training provider which aims to improve the North Easts software engineering talent pool, a much needed bridge across the digital skills gap. Training computing undergraduates into industry ready professionals, it represents the private sector delivering the foundations of the Northern Powerhouse.
Recently appointed Chief Operating Officer, Charlie Dunn, said: “The creation of SGP Technology Group very much reflects the period of significant growth we’ve undertaken, and is being backed up by a dynamic recruitment drive, new clients being added to our portfolio and the newest division of the business, Code Academy, taking its first intake of students.
“Not only are we committed to growing our business; we’re investing in the region and adding to the 26,000 strong workforce employed by the North East’s Digital Cluster.”
The SGP Technology Group formation has provided three new senior jobs at board level, with 10 new positions of both IT and operational staff being currently recruited.
One of SGP’s newest clients include North-East based Realsafe Technologies, with whom it is working to develop a mobile phone safety app aimed at protecting motorcyclists.
Stephen Purvis, founder and Group CEO, added: “The North East is leading the way in the growth of the technology sector, and that is backed by our continued investment in SGP Technology Group and the associated high growth rate.”
“The North East is an exceptional region, of which I am very proud to call home. Our growth and success is predicated on the investment we make in our people, in upskilling graduates and raising the aspirations of software engineering professionals in the region. The North East has the opportunity to be a leading light in the Northern Powerhouse, and SGP Technology Group is playing its part in delivering wealth creation and highly skilled jobs.”
SGP Consulting opened its first office in Wiltshire in 2010 and then expanded in 2013 to establish its head quarters in Newcastle, firmly positioning SGP in the heart of the region’s technology sector.
