North East tech consultancy Solution Performance Group (SPG) has secured the largest contract in its history following two rounds of investment from NEL Fund Managers.
Solution Performance Group (SPG), based in Newcastle city centre, will deliver and support a platform for the University of Southampton, under a long-term contract set to run until March 2034. The deal sees SPG and its partner Saviynt provide a solution to manage digital identities across the University’s diverse community of staff, students, researchers, contractors, and returning users.
Founded in 2019 by CEO Gareth Humphreys, SPG has two divisions focusing on technology consulting and specialist tech recruitment. In June 2023 it took on 20 staff from liquidated software outfit Boxmodel Digital Media Limited.
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SPG received its first round of funding from NEL Fund Managers in 2023, followed by a second in 2024. The investments, led by Jane Siddle, senior investment executive at NEL Fund Managers, provided the business with the space to restructure operations and position itself for significant growth.
Since then, the company has secured several new contracts and renewed existing client agreements. The University of Southampton contract represents SPG’s first venture into the higher education sector.
Mr Humphreys said: “This partnership is about more than technology - it’s about giving the university a digital experience that feels seamless for every member of its community; that’s the bar we’ve set ourselves. We couldn’t have taken on a project of this scale without NEL - their investment, flexibility, and advice have been instrumental in strengthening our business and giving us the confidence to really go for it.”
Robert Irving, director service delivery at University of Southampton, said: “The University of Southampton is excited to be partnering with SPG to deliver innovative identity capabilities based on the class-leading Saviynt platform. In a world of increasing licensing costs and cyber threats, granular control of our identities will support more secure operations, save money and deliver increased personalised customer experiences.”
Mark Wharton, senior portfolio executive at NEL Fund Managers, added: “We’re delighted to see that, since our investment, SPG – under Gareth’s leadership – has gone from strength to strength, securing and delivering large-scale transformation projects that help organisations improve efficiencies through innovative technology. Winning a flagship contract with the University of Southampton is a fantastic milestone and a testament to the vision, capability, and ambition within the business.”