Cardiff IT firm targets multi-million turnover
Cardiff-based IT consultancy and software development firm DevOpsGuys is targeting £100m turnover following a £1m investment.
DevOpsGuys is looking to reach the targeted turnover over the next five years following the funding from Santander Corporate & Commercial.
The funding will enable the business to focus specifically on high growth and help target new contracts.
DevOpsGuys was set up in 2013 by the current managers, James Smith and Stephen Thair, after the pair saw an opening within the market to build an IT development and operations (DevOps) business from the bottom up.
The company exceeded its initial target of hiring 40 employees over 24 months and now has over 70 staff members and consultants. The company’s main customers are government departments and blue-chip clients, including Admiral, Asos, BAE Systems, Defra, Nokia, Fitness First, Waitrose and Travelodge.
DevOpsGuys recently won a new contract with the DVLA worth £10m over the next two years.
“The last three years have been extremely exciting as we have grown from a start-up company into a successful business,” said Mr Smith, CEO and joint founder of DevOpsGuys.
“The funding and support from Santander has allowed us to hire new members of staff and grow as a business by targeting new contracts while fulfilling existing agreements.”
Ashley Charlton, relationship director, Santander Corporate & Commercial, said: “DevOpsGuys is a fantastic example of how entrepreneurial spirit can translate into commercial success. James and Stephen have combined their individual experience in IT development and operations over the past 25 years and utilised a gap in the market for their skill-set.
“We are confident they will achieve their growth plans and look forward to seeing what is next for this dynamic business.”
The company won awards for Creative and Digital Start-Up of the Year and Cardiff Region Start Up of the Year at the Wales Start-Up Awards held in October.
The Wales Start-Up Awards, which were founded by Professor Dylan Jones-Evans and Liz Brookes, recognise start-ups’ outstanding contributions to the Welsh economy.
Mr Smith commented on the night: “To get recognition from the business and academic community in Wales means so much and will drive us to carry on achieving and growing.”
Later that month, Mr Thair was made a “regional director” by Microsoft. Regional directors are expert advocates who promote Microsoft products, services and solutions by sharing their deep knowledge with groups such as customers, the press and industry analysts. The programme was extablished in 1993 and consists of 150 of the world’s top technology visionaries.
At the time Mr Thair said: “I am delighted to have been given this appointment and look forward to sharing my knowledge of DevOps to help Microsoft’s designers, developers and marketers create better products and services.”