Cloud software provider Giacom has capped a stratospheric recent rise with the issuing of its one millionth product licence as it closes in on £50 million in annual sales.
What began as a Hull internet service provider is now seeing the huge benefit from a strategic decision to switch lanes on the super highway, turning to product marketing instead of self-developing.
In the four years since that strategy was implemented, turnover has risen from £13.9 million to almost £50 million. Staff numbers are up from 30 to 70, and more of the same is anticipated.
Chief executive Mike Wardell was recruited from KCom to take on the challenge, after backing was brought into the business, and now it is recognised as one of the fastest growing companies in the region, and a Microsoft ‘Market Maker’.
It is also stepping out of the shadows too, putting the brand front and centre, be it the shirts of Hull City, backing the likes of Tech Week Humber or with its own award entries - and subsequent successes.
“While it started as a dial-up company in 1999, it is still like a start-up because we have changed so much over the last four years,” he said, reflecting on the energy and pace of growth that is aligned to such a position.
The past year has seen the turnover he saw in his first year at the Hessle firm added on again, staggering growth of 207 per cent for a mature company, and the way the business started the new financial year in July has fuelled confidence even further.
“A few months in and it is growing pretty quickly, and I expect to continue to be ahead,” he said. “I think we have quite a unique proposition.
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“We are stimulating the market by providing access to products as business models change, supporting the smaller businesses,” Mr Wardell said.
It provides a central link between the huge Silicon Valley names and the IT firms on the ground, serving the business communities they know.
“Four years ago we changed from a tech perspective, all software had generally been bought, but we had the likes of Netflix and Spotify, and the subscription model was heading from consumers to businesses. Allied to that, more applications and software was available, when previously it wasn’t.
“We realised we weren’t able to create software quick enough, but we could partner with the right vendors to provide it.
“We changed the model to a market palace, we spent a lot of effort finding the right vendors, and now Microsoft is a big partner, as well as a number of security providers.”
Cloud Market is the resource through which the business flows, using its proud platform as it serves up the vital tools for IT firms to then serve the mass business market with the nation over.
“We support small IT businesses who in turn help all the small businesses across the 海角视频,” Mr Wardell said. “Small businesses don’t have an IT director, more often than not the finance director has to pull it together. That’s why our brand has been quiet, we don’t go to consumers, we sit behind the scenes. Our job is to make the IT companies as efficient and effective as they can be.
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“We can get products in seconds or minutes, traditionally it would be a server, hooking it up and setting it up.
“You would have bought a server and then you’d sweat the asset as much as possible until it fell over. Now, because people are used to subscription, the model for technology is changing. It updates every few days, it is always getting refreshed, so you always have the latest product. It is growing very quickly.”
Previously finance director across the city at KCom, having worked up from an initial graduate commercial accountant role, he recalled the move to the business that is barely a 5k run from his A-level haunt of Wolfreton Sixth Form.
“Lloyds Bank had invested and spoke to me, I thought it was a good opportunity to make a big difference,” he said, joining as finance director initially. “I came to build, away from building products. We had four developers, the ability to compete was limited. We did think we had the best platform, and we also had a big customer base.”
Now a new strategy is clearly emerging, one of self-promotion of the Giacom brand, aware that recruitment can be a challenge.
The past four years has seen it make a short move along Priory Park to the expansive Bridge Haven One, where it has created an environment in keeping with a tech firm with ambition.
“We have been quite good in technology, we have won lots of awards in the industry, but last year was our first entry in the Hull Daily Mail Business Awards and Humber Tech Awards, and people spoke to me after, and pointed out what we’d achieved.
“I think it is a fantastic company to work for. We really struggle with what we do for staff, but I think people should want to come here. People are blown away with the office, the environment, with what we have done, and the culture. We are trying to get people to see that.
“Employment will have to grow at broadly the same rate [as turnover], and I think it is important we try to recruit people locally.”
And if they support the Tigers then there’s a good chance the name will already be incredibly familiar.
“We’re proud to be partnering with our local club, supporting our city and standing alongside the other great businesses from the region who are associated with Hull City,” he said of this season’s shirt deal.
“The Giacom team is excited to work with the club to develop our partnership.
“I was really impressed with the commercial team. They understood the business, knew about the brand and the value. I’m from Hull, I’m a Hull City fan, and I had to be careful, was it the right thing for the business? I think it will help people know who we are, and it is a good fit the local club and a local company, and I’m pleased with the reaction.
“It is good for PR and people know who we are, and it is good for the staff as well. We want a business people want to work for, and equally we want one people are proud of.”