Edinburgh software star in self-driving cars coup

MARK WILLIAMSON

processors to cameras. Mr Richards said: “You have got to produce something that you can put in a real car; something that is small enough. A prototype can be huge.”

He added: “To be able to do this you have got to get software from laboratories into a production vehicle.”

With some products likely to spend a long time in the development process the contract with Ranesas will provide work for years.

It will cement the standing of Codeplay in a sector in which it has achieved rapid growth in recent years.

Founded by Mr Richards and robotics expert Jens-Uwe Dolinsky in 2002, Codeplay has developed a multi-million pound turnover business.

The company has supplied software used in products such as computer games and smart phones.

Mr Richards started his career writing games for the pioneering ZX Spectrum personal computer at home.

He then developed technology to make the most of advances in graphic hardware.

The entrepreneur said the company expects to be able to recruit the staff required to support the Renesas contract without moving its base from Edinburgh.

The strength of Scotland’s universities means the firm can access a strong skills base in the country.

Mr Richards noted the company has recruited people straight from university and trained them up.

The company has shown it can also attract people from further afield.

“We are able to bring people to Edinburgh as it’s a great place to live,” said Mr Richards.

Codeplay has 70 staff in Edinburgh, one working remotely on Skye and one in Canada. ITISON, the daily deals website owned by Glasgow-based entrepreneur Oli Norman, has ramped up profits 100 per cent to £1.6 million in a year which saw it expand into the north of England.

The company, formed by Mr Norman in 2010, also highlighted the impact made by the launch of a new group booking platform, focused on quality dining, leisure and “experiential” offers for parties of six and more. Turnover at the business, which now has more than 60 staff across its offices in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee,