A specialist North East software-as-a-service firm is creating new jobs as it programmes expansion plans after securing a six-figure investment.
Sunderland-based Mesma offers a platform used by educational institutions, employment support providers and regulatory and accreditation bodies to simplify its quality and assurance processes.
Having grown organically to this point, Mesma is looking to increase its turnover to around £2m over the next four years and to expand its customer base.
Read more: Find more tech stories from BusinessLive here
It wants its software to be used by organisations with more two million end users between them.
The Mesma management team worked with regional fund management firm NEL Fund Managers to secure a £150,000 investment from the North East Growth Capital Fund, backed by the Government’s Recovery Loan Scheme, which is being used to enhance its business development, sales and software engineering capacity.
It’s the second time Mesma has worked with NEL, the business securing a £100,000 investment from the North East Small Loan Fund in 2020.
Three new roles are expected to be created this year on the back of the most recent investment.
Mesma also wants to provide opportunities for apprentices.
Well-known North East business advisor Neville Bearpark has also recently joined the firm as a strategic financial advisor.
Mesma was founded 10 years ago by directors Louise Doyle and Carole Loader.
It initially focused more on consultancy work than software development, which has become the predominant part of the business over the last three years. Alongside its commercial operations, Mesma has a longstanding community commitment, with members of its team acting as voluntary board members for schools, colleges and awarding organisations as well as acting as advocates for developing links between education, employment support and business.
Mrs Doyle said: “Having access to detailed management data is absolutely essential for our customers if they’re going to be confident they’re providing the best possible service and support to theirs.
“Our bespoke system is delivering the level of insight they need and the success we’ve enjoyed so far now provides a strong platform on which we can build quickly.
“Taking our annual turnover past the two million pound mark
by the middle of the decade is an ambitious target but we’re confident we have the product, sector knowledge and resources we need to get there.
“Training up our own team and providing more local apprenticeship opportunities is an important part of our future development plans and ties in with our long-term goal of contributing to our community through the work we do.
“The NEL team has a very honest, straightforward way of working and quickly grasped the ways in which we were looking to grow with their investment support.”
Jane Siddle, investment executive at NEL Fund Managers, added: “Mesma has achieved a strong position in a niche market where demand for their services is only going to build and it’s exciting to be with them at the start of the next stage of their growth journey.”
