A growing global software business is creating new skilled tech jobs with the launch of its latest UK office in Newcastle city centre.
Softcat has announced plans to open its ninth regional office at St James Gate as part of moves to continue to increase its market share across the country while accessing new talent markets for recruitment. The FTSE 250 company said Newcastle and the wider North East has a rich talent pool through its universities and colleges, which can feed into Softcat’s people investment, apprenticeship programmes and continued growth. The new office will launch with 50 members of staff, with recruitment starting soon.
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Softcat – a leading UK provider of IT infrastructure products and services to corporate and public sectors – has its head office in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, but has other bases in London, Glasgow, Leeds, Bristol, Southampton, Dublin and Manchester. Its UK functions are also supported by offices in Hong Kong, Washington, Singapore, Sydney, Amsterdam and Dublin.
The firm was established in 1993 by Peter Kelly under its original business name Software Catalogue and now has 2,060 employees. The company last month announced full year results for the year to July 31 2022 in which revenues grew 37.5% to £1.07bn, while operating profit also rose by 14% to top £136m.
Softcat’s sales manager Ashley Bilham, who is head of the North Eastern region (Leeds and Newcastle), said: “By growing our regional presence, we can not only better service our current customers but also increase our footprint nationally. We have strong coverage across the UK already however, there is a large opportunity for growth and recruitment between our Leeds and Glasgow offices.
“This new office will help us to provide a local service with a multinational portfolio of products, solutions and services both to our existing customers and new customers. Newcastle Upon Tyne is the perfect location.”
Sebastian Leonhardsen, newly appointed regional lead for Newcastle, started at Softcat as a graduate account manager and said the company is the perfect place to start a career.
He added: “I am very grateful to work for a business which provides so much opportunity for progression and for empowering me to go from a Graduate Account Manager to setting up a new office for a FTSE250 organisation in five short years. Softcat gives you the opportunity to progress and succeed. I’m looking forward to offering all that to new ambitious and driven candidates who are passionate about technology and delivering a world class level of customer service.”
Softcat will launch its Tyneside base next year. The company becomes the latest tech provider to open a North East base, following the likes of Thoughtworks, Arctic Wolf and Monstarlabs.
Dawn Dunn, digital and tech sector lead, Invest Newcastle (part of NewcastleGateshead Initiative), said: “A warm welcome to Softcap who have chosen Newcastle as their ninth UK office. It’s a great to see a global FTSE250 company choose this city as their next base and it is testament to the strength of the digital and tech offering.
“They are joining a thriving tech community and will play a critical role in the development of the city’s future tech talent pipeline, creating jobs for local people. We look forward to welcoming Softcap to the city’s tech ecosystem and to begin working with the team as they grow their presence here.”
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